Deconstructing old paradigm Enlightening new thought

By Putri Laoli

Intolerance issue is flaring out in Indonesia and always be discussed among people in daily talk, social media, seminars by academics, student organizations and community practitioners with issues of diversity and Pancasila as an affirmation of national unity in the reality of national geographical condition, population, cultures and religions. Initially the issue became a question for me because when I lived in Nias with my family, the school and church environment had good interactions, identically with Nias community or 'Ono Niha' that most of them were Protestant and Catholic. Because of the christians majority, Nias has unique tradition, there is no party without bacon. Every traditional event such as wedding, grief, thanksgiving and welcoming guests, "zimbi mbawi (bacon)" is provided as a symbol of togetherness.

As the time goes on, many people came from Sumatera and Java and lived in Nias for working and trading. Some of them are Moslems and use Nias clan’s name by marriage and slowly there is new interaction among Nias society, people who live side by side in diversity. However, it cannot be denied that at first I was unhappy for a teacher with different religion did not want to eat food other than food provided by  Moslem, the sound of mosque loudspeakers every evening was so loud, the news about terrorists, including my initial perception about Catholic, Buddhism, Hindu, Confucian that they are assumed as religions that worship statues. That was a fragment of my experience that continues to exist in my mind.

Then I continue my study in Governance Science at Rural Development Institute (STMD "APMD") Yogyakarta and stay at a boarding house with students coming from various different ethnic and religions. I really feel difference and it wakes up my curiousity about many things including religion, in which some of them respond well but some do not. Here, I learn to live with my characteristics as well as to continue having adaption to the surroundings. However, the reports on identity politics, especially religion, majority and minority, indigenous and migrants are flaring out on social media. With basic background of governance science, the issue catched my attention to investigate deeper why these problems happen by following a number of discussions and seminars from various institutions in Yogyakarta including Stube HEMAT Yogyakarta with a theme ‘Together, Compiling Indonesia’, which I am involved in.

In this training I met students from various regions, religions and habits, as well as explored their talents. It was not just meeting, but also greetings, smiles and hugs of love, courage to dialogue deeper about other's beliefs without prejudice or hatred and we expressed openly our mutual friendship and brotherhood. Interestingly, I had opportunity to visit place of worship and I chose Vihara to answer my curiosity. I found acceptance of diversity that gave new enthusiasm to understand and interpret Indonesian as a whole which encouraged me to ask questions that could not be asked at any place, while expressing love to others as Christian values. In consequence, I was also open when others wanted to know more about my ethnicity or religion. This openness led to a harmonious human relationship and acceptance of differences. Even one of them said that "basically, we must encourage and get used to be in a plural area to learn about living side by side without errode our own beliefs"

From this training I reflected that in our daily life actually the exclusive attitudes, ethnicity or religion did not happen spontaneously, but a short of accumulation of previous events from personal experience, environment and media. However, the current education system has not been able to accommodate and be a means of awareness and acceptance of diversity. Media also plays big role to shape people's perspectives that easily 'devour' information. Students need space to meet directly with other people in diversity because they cannot get information only from social media. The courage to meet and to have dialogue in diversity will tear down 'truth claims' which tend to generate prejudice, exclusive attitudes, stigmas and stereotypes. So students, get enlightenment and new thoughts about living side by side among diversities. (Putri Laoli).