Category: Writings in the Media

America’s problems with guns somewhat resemble Indonesia’s problems with religious intolerance.

Why are we are more interested in instilling in our students, through religious and citizenship educations, the values we deem appropriate?

Maybe we are still reluctant to have overly critical students, who one day may challenge our values. Are we not, in a sense, happy just to make our students photocopies of ourselves?

Yes, apathy- and skepticism-based golput is fine, but, elections are for humans, not angels. The perfect candidate is next to impossible to find. Most of the time, politics happens in a way that means a less bad candidate being defeated by a bad candidate. The rule of every election is simple; President Barack Obama put it eloquently: “Don’t compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative.”

Admitting that there is a problem is almost always a first good start to actually solve the problem. Or: what Indonesia needs to solve its tolerance problems.

The challenge to make changes is not only about how to push the government, but also about how to erode ignorance. There may be times that we cannot rely on the government to influence the society we live in, as it might be too weak or too indecisive. But there will never be times that we cannot rely on people — if only we awaken them in time to realize the real condition of our society and understand what is at stake. Because maybe, it is not about what is in the head that makes a radical, but rather what is in society.