Antara Möller dan Sobary

Aku mengetahui kedua orang tersebut di judul, lewat media yang sama yaitu harian Kompas. Aku mulai membaca tulisan-tulisan Mohamad Sobary lebih dulu melalui versi cetaknya, sedangkan tulisan-tulisan André Möller mulai aku baca melalui versi onlinenya ketika aku belajar di negara tetangga tempat asal negara Bung Möller (semoga beliau tidak keberatan jika dipanggil dengan sebutan "Bung", dibandingkan "Pak").

Seingatku, keduanya tidak pernah menulis dalam konteks persoalan yang sama persis atau mendekati sama sekali. Namun, hari ini aku menemukan bahwa keduanya menyajikan tulisan yang memiliki konteks hampir bersinggungan (kalau belum boleh dibilang hampir sama) Mohon dicatat bahwa aku yakin sekali bahwa keduanya benar-benar tidak ingin menulis dengan konteks yang bersinggungan pun sama. André Möller memulai lebih dulu di artikel rubrik bahasa pada hari Jumat, 20 Juli 2007 lalu yang berjudul "Warna Orang-Orang". Mohammad Sobary kemudian menyusul di rubrik Asal Usul, Selasa 25 Juli 2007 dengan judul artikel "Kemiskinan".

Jika anda memperhatikan dari judulnya saja, maka jelas sekali tidak ada kaitan sama sekali antara tulisan Möller dan Sobary. Namun, jika anda baca dengan seksama dan - mungkin sedikit memaksa - maka ada satu topik besar yang sama yang sedang dibahas oleh Möller dan Sobary. Topik tersebut yaitu masalah pelik dalma penggunaan bahasa Indonesia oleh bangsa Indonesia sendiri.

Möller membahas tentang penggunaan warna-warna dalam bahasa Indonesia yang lebih sering menggunakan serapan bahasa asing (Inggris) dibanding bahasa Indonesia sendiri. Seperti ditulis oleh Möller dibagian awal tulisannya:

Sekarang ada dua warna yang bunyinya sangat keren dalam bahasa Indonesia: ping dan orinj. Dengan kata lain, pink dan orange. Atau dengan kata lain lagi: merah muda dan oranye. Atau: merah jambon dan kuning kebakaran. Ah, yang terakhir itu terlalu bahasa Swendonesia. Namun, warna itu juga disebut (warna) layung atau lembayung. Mambang kuning dan merah jingga pun tercantum dalam Tesaurus Bahasa Indonesia.

Sebagaimana (jika mungkin) disadari oleh orang Indonesia, sangat mudah dalam berbahasa Indonesia untuk menyerap bahasa asing (Inggris) dan langsung mengaplikasikannya dalam bahasa Indonesia. Contoh lain, jika boleh menambahkan apa yang sudah disebutkan oleh Möller, yaitu warna silver atau dengan kata lain perak. Aku kurang paham, apakah itu bisa dikategorikan warna atau perhiasan. Belum lagi penggunaan gaya bahasa - aku dapat istilahnya dari Möller juga yaitu - Inggronesia, seperti: 'me-manage', atau 'men-challenge' (catat: kata ini sering sekali digunakan oleh salah seorang calon rektor Universitas Indonesia ketika beliau mengikuti debat calon rektor beberapa waktu lalu).

Semangat 'ketidakjelasan' berbahasa seperti disampaikan oleh Möller, menjadi lebih ironis dan tajam dampaknya setelah membaca tulisan Sobary. Seperti ditulis oleh Sobary dibagian awal tulisannya

Secara kebudayaan kita bangsa kaya. Tetapi, mengapa dalam berbahasa para politisi, para pejabat, para artis, dan bahkan juga para pengamat dan para ilmuwan kita begitu miskin? Tiap saat kita menyaksikan pameran kemiskinan
artikulasi, kemiskinan kosakata, kemiskinan metafora, dan kemiskinan idiom, atau ungkapan. Mengapa dalam berbahasa kita tampak miskin? Banyak kaum terpelajar yang bahasa Indonesianya belum lengkap.

Pemahamanku atas tulisan Sobary secara keseluruhan adalah betapa Indonesia tidak hanya miskin secara ekonomi namun juga miskin mental, budaya, dan yang penting bahasa. Sebagai contoh bahasa yang digunakan oleh calon rektor tersebut. Padahal bahasa adalah bentuk awal untuk berkomunikasi yang pada gilirannya membawa keadaan sosial ke arah kerjasama dan perubahan. Jika berbahasa saja miskin, bagaimana perubahan bisa disampaikan dan dimengerti? Bagaimana kemajuan bisa dicapai jika tidak ada yang tahu bagaimana caranya menyampaikan dengan "bahasa yang jelas" apa dan bagaimana kemajuan harus dicapai?


Setelah membaca tulisan Möller dan Sobary, aku jadi ingat untuk lebih sering membuka Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) untuk memastikan apakah aku sudah menggunakan kata yang tepat atau aku juga ternyata telah mengalami 'pemiskinan' bahasa (?). Padahal, aspek berbahasa bukankah tidak hanya terdiri dari kata-kata saja, melainkan juga susunan kata yang menjadi kalimat dan makna yang ingin disampaikan lewat susunan kalimat tersebut. Semoga belum terlambat untuk mempelajari lagi dan menyempurnakan penggunaan bahasa ibu sendiri.

Sepak Bola Indonesia: Bravo!!

* Foto: Website PSSI

Aku bukanlah seorang pecinta sepak bola sejati. Karena itu, aku tidaklah tahu secara mendetail tentang dunia persepakbolaan di jagat raya ini. Namun kali ini, aku benar-benar peduli dengan sepak bola, terutama sepak bola Indonesia. Mengapa demikian?

Kemarin, Tim Nasional Sepak Bola Indonesia telah melaksanakan pertandingannya - yang sayangnya - menjadi pertandingan terakhir di ajang Piala Asia 2007 atau 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Membaca berita-berita suratkabar dan media massa lain hari ini, maka jelas sekali kekecewaan bangsa Indonesia karena kekalahan tim nasional Indonesia atas Korea Selatan kemarin. Namun, di sisi lain, terlihat juga sebuah optimisme yang cukup langka belakangan ini di Indonesia. Optimisme tersebut adalah bahwa sesungguhnya kita bisa bangkit dari keterpurukan. Tim Nasional Sepak Bola Indonesia adalah sebuah figur baru yang menunjukkan semangat tersebut.

Meskipun hanya melakukan persiapan selama 2 bulan untuk menghadapi Piala Asia 2007, prestasi dan permainan yang disajikan oleh para pemain Indonesia bisa dibilang luar biasa. Di tengah keterpurukan prestasi olahraga yang Indonesia alami di hampir semua cabang, sepakbola seakan memberi celah bercahaya terang bahwa kerja keras dan semangat untuk memperbaiki diri pasti akan membuahkan hasil yang gemilang. Dengan segala keterbatasan skill, pengalaman, serta stamina dibandingkan lawan-lawannya, tim sepakbola Indonesia menunjukkan bahwa mereka telah menemukan semangat Indonesia-nya.

Kita semua sepakat, sepakbola Indonesia telah bangkit. Jika kita boleh bercermin pada pengalaman ini, maka bolehlah pula kita secara nasional di berbagai sektor mulai dari sosial, ekonomi, budaya untuk bangkit dan menunjukkan bahwa bangsa Indonesia adalah bangsa yang bermartabat, mampu menjadi bangsa yang berhasil di berbagai bidang. Menurutku, tidaklah berlebihan jika tim sepakbola Indonesia kali ini kita jadikan ikon semangat Indonesia. Jadi, terima kasih untuk tim sepak bola Indonesia atas pelajaran yang telah kalian tunjukkan kepada kami. Sepak Bola Indonesia: Bravo!!

Hindu vis-à-vis symbols and old teachings

I read an article in The Jakarta Post special column for Bali (July 12, 2007). I Wayan Juniartha is the writer of that article. The article has evoke me with one experience happened long time ago. That experience made me wonder how to find a reasonable answer to other non-Hindu people when they served me with questions related with Hindu's ritual. Let me first discuss a bit about The Jakarta Post article then I link with that experience.

The article title “Scholars call for new ritual interpretations” initially discusses about Kuningan celebration at Serangan Island that focus to Hinduism rituals and its symbols in relations with environmental condition in Bali. One quote gives me confirmation that Hindu’s teaching for sure has a spirit of environmental conservations, however not all Hindu Balinese realizing it:

"Respect for nature, for land and water, is the core teaching of Balinese Hinduism. Yet, why do only a few people really care about ecological preservation? Why do most of us fellow Balinese believe that holding a religious ritual for (honoring) nature is more than enough to reverse the ecological disaster that is threatening the island?"

However, the above statement makes me wonder, what’s wrong with Bali or particularly the Balinese Hindu?? Then, it comes to the typical reply for every question I raise about Balinese ritual, “Nak mule keto!” (It’s already just like that!), without any further logical or sensible reasons. Now my experience will apply for an example.

Once upon a time, I got one question, “Why the Balinese (Hindu) cover a big tree with that black-white-chess pattern cloth and pray against that tree?” When I asked that with my parents and relatives in Bali, they gave me argument focus with a creature that living on such tree that if we did not serve them then it will harm you. It was definitely a scary reason, but it did not satisfy my curiosity and logic at all. Continuously, I got another reason that the tree had a special power to protect the village from danger or black magic. It is another non-satisfactory answer for me.

Someday, I found the answer from non-Bahasa Indonesia book that explaining about traditional method of environmental conservation. The book said that in traditional civilization, in order to maintain big tree capability to store up underground water stock, the elderly-wise leader during ancient era create such a psychological pressure or mental-suggestion for people to prevent them of cutting the tree. At that time, people would be very difficult to accept if we used biological-environmental argument related with the function of tree in hydrological cycle as a reason of prohibiting big trees for being cut down. But, they might be believe (due to their low education and lack of scientific knowledge) if we used some ‘magic things’ or ‘scary story’ to touch – indirectly – their consciousness on environmental conservation issue. Thus, ghosts or scary creatures or even special magical power that come up from the tree becomes a reason and being spread out across the society.

That argument become basis for answers that I always served to my non-Hindu friends when they asked me about similar cases. I always give some explanation about the reason and condition of ancient time of Hindu and add further explanation by connecting those traditional believe with today scientific arguments. For example, I used the relation between ghosts or magical power as native motivation with environmental conservation purposes as scientific motivation for question of why Balinese cover trees with cloth and pray against them. So far, I found that my friends who raised the question somehow accept that argument, in a sense that they did not continue debating the logic of that reason. Hopefully, they may understand that Hindu always covered by many symbols. It is not so straight and easy to interpret the symbols since those symbols already utilize for centuries (please remind them that Hindu is one of the oldest religion on earth!).

However, for Hindu followers per se, it is a must now that they face with a new century – a new era where ancient and old symbols or rituals need to revitalize to match with current condition. Just like the article said:

"Today's Hindu followers must have the courage to reinterpret those symbols, to make the ancient teachings relevant to the challenges we are currently facing"

I could not agree more with that statement. All religions and civilizations all over the world now have been challenged by vast changes. Ignorance, fanaticism, or radicalism of religious teachings and rituals will only lead human race to stagnation of knowledge and spirituality. While combining faith with non-stop searching for universal knowledge and anticipate the dynamic of society will maintain the existence of ones religion and increase the human contribution for peace and welfare. Let's keep wishing and trying!

Borobudur??

* Photo sources: www.differentbaliindonesia.com/photo-gallery.html

This editorial is a simple contemplation for me. The second paragraph that said:

"Indonesia has failed to reap much benefit from these treasures because of ignorance and an unwillingness to preserve the sites. We can blame no one but ourselves for this failure to preserve and promote the country's heritage for the betterment of the people"...

just like admitting not worthy of our Borobudur to receive the World Seven Wonder title.

Please feel free to read the editorial as I posted below and comment on how we could reduce another failure on preserving and promoting our beloved country's heritage for the betterment of - not only the people today - but for future generations as well. I made some highlights on - I feel - very important paragraph that actually punched us very hard as Indonesian. One post made by a friend also quite interesting to read.


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Borobudur, no wonder

This newspaper ran interesting articles about two of the country's priceless but neglected heritage sites in its Sunday and Monday editions: Lake Toba and Borobudur Temple.

Indonesia has failed to reap much benefit from these treasures because of ignorance and an unwillingness to preserve the sites. We can blame no one but ourselves for this failure to preserve and promote the country's heritage for the betterment of the people.

The first report, on the Sunday Post's Travel page, described the vast volcanic Lake Toba in North Sumatra. The lake is believed to be the result of largest volcanic eruption more than 840.000 years ago. Few Indonesians, even among the Batak tribes living around the lake, know about the violent birth of Toba.

Local residents and tourist industry people only complain about the declining number of foreign visitors to the area because of its geographical handicaps, poor infrastructure and the lack of tourist attractions. With better knowledge of the lake's history, it would be easier to attract tourists by packaging the history of the lake.

The National Geographic television station has in the past aired a wonderful program about the eruption. After watching this program most people would find it ridiculous that more people visit Singapore's Night Safari -- which offers only animals from other countries -- than Lake Toba.

The story that appeared Monday is even more concerning for Indonesia, because in it we learn that Borobudur Temple, the pride of the nation, does not appear on the new list of the Seven Wonders of the World.

When asked about Borobudur, most -- if not all -- Indonesians will repeat the old, but incorrect, conviction that the temple belongs to the Seven Wonders of the World.

Since childhood Indonesians have been taught that the world's largest Buddhist temple is included among the world's seven wonders, although the claim is not supported by documented evidence.

Indonesian officials quickly played down the new list of the world's wonders, arguing that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) was not involved in drawing up the list. They probably forget that 100 million people across the globe voluntarily participated in the voting, just like the American Idol process.

A private Swiss foundation on Sunday announced the results of the poll, where 100 million Internet and phone voters chose seven out of 21 short-listed sites, from an original list of 77. Borobudur did not even make the top 21.

According to Unesco's list of 851 world heritage sites, just seven are in Indonesia, including Borobudur Temple in Central Java and the Sangiran's early man site in East Java.

Other countries, like Brazil and Peru, have been much more active in promoting their historic sites and natural assets, realizing this is one of the most effective ways to attract visitors, and their money, to the country.

Many jealous Indonesians may say Borobudur is more deserving of the honor than India's Taj Mahal or the statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro. Whether or not this is true, Indonesia has not done enough to draw the world's attention to its attractions.

As in North Sumatra, the local government in Central Java has complained that visitor numbers to Borobudur have continued to decline despite efforts to provide more commercial facilities around the Borobudur compound.

Tourists are reluctant to visit Lake Toba because of its distance from Medan, and also because, unlike culturally rich Bali, tourists can only enjoy the beauty of nature. There are no attractive cultural programs on offer for visitors.

Visitors to Borobudur Temple are often annoyed by the presence of overzealous vendors. The government apparently believes the temple alone is more than enough to bring in tourists, so no extra effort is needed.

Borobudur is our cultural pride and Lake Toba is the crown of our natural riches. But pride alone is not enough when the nation fails to compete with other countries in attracting tourists.

Quote of the day

This is a very touching quote from Kompas by Gede Prama titled "Manusia Dengan Berkah Agung" (Human with Noble Blessing):

"Memandang perbedaan sebagai keindahan, melindungi diri dengan perisai kesadaran, kekayaan adalah rasa berkecukupan, hidupnya diterangi matahari kesadaran, dan kalau terpaksa mengeluarkan pedang, ia mengeluarkan pedang kebijaksanaan"

(To look at diversity as beauty, to protect oneself with the shield of consciousness, wealth is a sense of sufficiency, ones existence is being enlighten by the sun of consciousness, and if being forced to unsheathe the sword ones will unsheathing the sword of wisdom)

Why is it so difficult for Indonesia, a country with strong and huge religious claim, to create a simple heaven of peace on their on earth rather than "fight" for ones own heaven after life later?