the dog-gag type

So it seems like I’m gonna start writing.. at last

No theme, no stream, just my immeasurably random thoughts. See I once read that there are two kinds of thinker: first the linear type. Talk to them  and you’ll find order, compliance to rules and structures. But meet the other type: the non linear. Talk, and you’ll generally find chaos. Ideas and thoughts sparking here and there. No order dude, no shape nor pattern, splashed here and there. Put it simply, like a dog’s gag.

I find myself, more of the second one. But hey, I write to myself (really, not for you) . But if you, yeah you there, unintentionally bump into this blog I hope u find it, not so much as a dog’s gag, rather… like a small firework,  which sparks ideas and color in your head. Here and there. Sometimes. When they are not soggy.

Wuff

Why in English?

“Why write in English?” people ask me. The answer is pretty simple -and no it’s not because there’s not enough people in Indonesia to read Bahasa-  it’s because every single foreign word I say or write impose less burden, carries less obligation. For me it’s like a lighter baggage. And who doesn’t like a light carry-on that can fit in the cabin?

For example, saying ‘I love you’ is easier then ‘aku sayang kamu’. Does it imply that I’m less earnest when I say the first? Maybe.

My mom always say that a book loses its soul when being translated into another language. See language is, I think, very personal. Every word is attached to a particular emotion, experience and culture. So when we say something in our mother-tounge, it just…affects us and the other person… deeper.

So I, probably unconsciously, try to avoid depth (and having my words taken against me) by using a language not my own. And the only other language I can speak is English . But the things I say and write in English, they’re not entirely devoid of emotion, nor earnestness, just less serious.

So there you go.

When in Doubt

Hidup Namanya

What I Do With Lines

Of Course God Doesn’t Want Us to Get Along

Why would He want us to get along?

First of all, He wants some –who have divine rights- to occupy a certain territory, kick out everyone who’s already living there. By any means necessary; walls, barbed wires, genocide, basic rights deprivation, economic embargo, eviction.

Secondly, He wants us to denounce our fellow human beings who differ from us as infidels. To condemn different views harshly and leave no room for discussion.

Thirdly, He obviously dislikes the building of worshipping places. What about that mosque in New York God? NO, says He. That new church in Indonesia? NO. Burn them all, says He. Or so say those guys who swear by His name.

Heck God doesn’t even want men and women get along. Women can’t drive, can’t vote, can’t appear on TV and should accept that they’re 2nd class citizens.

We spent our lives making sure that we’ll end up in heaven, by hitting each other in the face, spit, curse, shoot, deride each other. By being suspicious, prejudiced and resentful.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam, rooted from Abraham’s teachings and from the same God that Abraham worshiped, yet their followers feel it necessary to live inharmoniously with each other. By God, let us be pebbles in each others’ shoes.

From these hostile followers, it appears to me that God created religion -a set of values governing our lives; our relationship with Him, with mankind and with our environment- to make sure that we spend our resources fighting each other.

Exhibit A:
http://www.economist.com/node/21538667

But what of tolerance?
http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/character/the-statute-of-tolerance-in-islam/

And what of believing our better nature. What of considering perhaps God wants us to work together despite the veil, the yarmulk, the turban and the kafiyeh? To be good business partners, neighbors and share a parking space.

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-studies/the-trouble-with-rage/

Whenever it is A Damp & Drizzly November

(Ishmael, from The Whale)

By far my favorite opening chapter in a book. What I’ve been trying to figure out is, when he said hypos, was Ishmael suicidal?

In life…

If you’re too bad for the good,
But too good for the bad, where do you sit?

So I went

Angle

Perspective defines perception.
A fancy way of saying things are really different if you look at them from a different angle.
Things that appear big can in reality be small.
Works for trouble too.
And achievements, and misery, and everything else.
Those that seem far, can actually be near.
Like God.
And paycheck time.

Upright, upside-down, change your angle. Be surprised.

Differences

Ayah lebaran besok, karena percaya pada sistem rukyah dan prinsip penentuan Syawal pemerintah.

Si Ibu sakit, ngga puasa..jadi agak ngga peduli. But encouraged each of us to make an informed decision.

Gue lebaran hari ini, karena percaya pada sistem hisab dan global moonsighting. Katanya Qur’an itu semangatnya hisab (ar-rahman:5), dan rupanya new moon (a.k.a bulan baru) kelihatan di belahan bumi lain.

Kakak pada prinsipnya sama kayak gue, tapi memutuskan bahwa dia akan tetep puasa hari ini dan lebaran besok demi ukhuwah (dan nemenin nenek gue solat besok). Kata si kakak,  nabi mencintai org yg menjaga ukhuwah.

Semuanya boleh, asal alasannya kuat dan saling menghormati. Kata hadis riwayat Kakak lagi, “yang penting puasanya diterima apa nggak, bukan lebarannya kapan”.

Of Migration

There’s an interesting debate going on in The Economist, on Europe and immigration. Reminds me of my almost famous *and most importantly, almost Paris!:(* essay who was placed among the mediocrity of a group called best 22. Though I must admit it has a nicer ring to it when added -out of 2000 papers submitted-. Quirky but nice. Anyway, it made me quite happy that I couldn’t function properly that day when the announcement came out.

Of course, right after submitting the paper I planned a thank you speech..you know.. in case I did get to be on stage *had started to think about what dress I’m gonna wear and that it might be best to start rehearsing the speech in front of a mirror*. It would have been my almost Oscar moment, in which I’d be thanking my parents, Paris, and Ratman: a friend and a constant reminder of perseverance and the joy of life, in whatever condition.

Here’s the paper

 An Enlightened Generation – Isya Hanum Kresnadi

*The instruction from the 2011 Worldbank Essay Competition was to write something on youth migration