THE COUNTRY OF SUPERWOMEN
T
here’s no country in the whole world that practices the concept of equality of gender better than Indonesia.I realized this as I was huddled in a packed Trans-Jakarta bus, along with a dozen of other women, while the (young, vibrant) male members of our society were sitting solemnly, watching us swaying and rocking and clinging miserably to the hand grips in a bumpy ride.So what? Man and woman are equal. Whatever men can do, women can do just as well. Women are strong- to the bones and to the heart. Standing and swaying are nothing for us. We know it and every man in the bus (apparently) knows it just as well.There’s no country in the whole world that I love and hate so passionately all at once- more than Indonesia.
THE SOCIAL INEFFICIENCY OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY
Overheard in a bus, “I just hate self-sufficient people”.Ha! Laughingly I texted my friend Gatot, away in Borneo, for he was the first person popped into my mind when I attempted to vividly picture the epitome of self-sufficiency.I said to him, “Somebody hated you”.I bet he had been hated before (all brilliant, confident people had), but never solely for being self-sufficient. He found it odd. He seemed to think self-sufficiency a remarkable virtue. Pardon me, I beg to differ.Well I have this heartfelt disregard for self-INsufficient people- folks who seem to thrive on the helps and kindness of others. But I can also relate to the uncomfortable feelings creeping and crawling inside of you, surging up a nausea either consciously or subconsciously, when being around one who seems to need nothing else in the world apart from what s/he has already possessed. It is quite irritating the way these fellas keep themselves for themselves. And intimidating.I remember the day I went to Djoko’s room (some time during uni) with tears on the verge of trickling down my cheeks. I remember how I stared hopelessly at him- begging for help. And that day when I arrived in Melbourne (first time abroad!)- hugging Icis tight with sincere joy of knowing that I was not alone. And how Libre Tango sent a terrible pang straight to my dear heart- missing Pristi much much much.I am not ashamed of such exuberant emotions. I think it human to be insecure from time to time; to be in dire need of company and comforts from others. Yet self-sufficient people might never feel these feelings of vulnerability.Might, I say. Probably they just hide it deep down underneath their confident air. But then it leaves them two possibilities: either they are people less human, or perfectly masked cowards who would not reveal their true colours for fear of social inacceptance.Both do not sound nice. While I can assure you that this Gatot bloke is indeed a very nice person. Well probably he is not that self-sufficient after all.Whatever. On the whole, I think it fair to say that in most cases, self-sufficiency leads to social inefficiency; and that being self-sufficient is remarkable remains a remark questionable.Note:
Written during bowling practice with office folks- scribbling it down on a REAL piece of paper with a REAL scrawny pen between my thumb and fingers- and feeling the ink conjuring REAL lines and curves and dots as I moved my hand. The sensation of REAL writing was then undermined by people shouting, “For God’s sake, Elok- stop analysing logs when we’re bowling!”.
ON ESSENCE
The essence of higher culture and civilisationis restrain ourselves against our base natureand bring forward our divine nature.It is self-discipline and love.Nothing else can be said of the matter.The essence of higher culture and civilisation,by deduction, should be Islam.
