5 Comments on “Individualism”

1. Bas Says:
   June 23rd, 2007 at 1:57 am

   People are becoming individualistic, they don’t want to know about the affairs of other people.

   That’s a good thing! It’s the police job to find terrorist. Let people live their lives without gossiping and trying to see what others do, with who they sleep, tell others how they must live and what they must do! F*** that dictatorial mentality.

2. Abdul Khalid al Jumhuri Says:
   June 23rd, 2007 at 7:09 am

   Bas,
   Even in modern countries there is a sort of “neighborhood watch.” A country is only an extended size of a neighborhood. I do not see any dictatorship in the making here. What I see is a lot, and I mean a lot, of deaths of innocent bystanders were unaccounted for because of this damn wahabi terrorists. I mean, as a moslem I cannot simply say “Damn idiotic, incompetent, and sloppy Indonesian police!” when a bomb exploded in Bali; and then feel real good about it. They simply don’t jive in my brain; sorry. The fact is, there are “sleepers” in the midst and people are afraid to tell the authority because those sleepers seem to have religious authority (by virtue of dress code, fluency in Arabic, etc.) Which is what wahabis are selling to the naive. Look at what happens in Palestine now!

   I agree that we should not go back to the mid 60s when people’s life could be in danger simply because some other folks gossiping that others are members of the PKI. I believe today’s police is better (in handling arrest, at least) compared to 1966 when soldiers could knock on one’s door, and people just simply vanished to the abyss. I believe it is fair to be watchful and to be alert while at the same time respecting privacy of others. But common courtesy dictates that if I invite strangers to my house I will tell my neighbors who they are so that they know. I do not own the neighborhood, our neighbors also own it. I think, it is fair what the local authority is doing in the local context.

3. Ihaknt Says:
   June 23rd, 2007 at 4:15 pm

   Having a long beard and wearing a turban is fine but it’s just symbolic and not enough to say that that person understands Islam.

   Then how come if a woman doesnt wear a jilbab she maybe labelled a hooker? Even many of the ustadz seem to be salah kaprah and not understand Islam.

4. Bas Says:
   June 25th, 2007 at 12:11 am

   Sorry but what I see here is very far from a normal a “sort of neighborhood watch”. Just as an example, in any free country you don’t have to register to Pak RT when you move somewhere.

   And that security rules are so useless. A terorist will have a fake ID (only Rp. 140.000 in any town). Phone number registering? What a joke, you can register by sms and provide any fake name and address you want. All these things don’t make any good to Indonesia. Just make normal people lifes more difficult.

   Does anyone know where that anti-democratic RT system is from? Isn’t it a legacy from the Japanese occupation? Implemented to watch citizen?

5. Julita Says:
   June 27th, 2007 at 10:12 am

   Said Aqil Siradj.
   The many young people today who are enamored with Islam could be easily fooled by the terrorists’ use of Islamic symbols and language, he said.

   Faith was not enough even, he said, but had to be complemented by charity, prayer, and good behavior. [4]

   Jlta. Excellent! Faith complemented by charity, prayer, and good behavior.
   It is important since charity can overcome many issues. One thing though, which is not less important, ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ How could we be charitable if we are miserable and in need ourselves (it does mean that the poor cannot be charitable people)? How could we give what we do not have? So I hope Mr. Said goes one step further and promote that work/study is also very important. Keep their mind and body occupied and on contrary to what Mr. Said stated, they will not be easily fooled.
   Work is not a punishment, but, on the contrary, dignity of life and a duty imposed by the Creator, for man was created, that he might work. Work is a means by which man shares in the task of creation, and therefore, whatever it may consist of, it is not only something that dignifies man, but is an instrument by which he attains human-earthly-perfection, as well as, supernatural perfection. Work is a blessing, something good, a fundamental dimension of human existence on earth. A talent that man receives in order to make it produce fruit, and it bears witness to his dominion over creation. It provides an opportunity to develop one’s personality. It is a bond, solidarity with other men, and is the way to support one’s family, a means of contributing to the improvement of the society in which we live and in aiding the progress of all humanity.

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