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The balancing hand of
culture, the true mirror of diversity
(The Jakarta Post, 14 October 2006)
"With more than 350 ethnic
groups, each proud of their roots and identity,
Indonesia is one of the world's great and surviving
experiments in diversity and pluralism. Permeating
lifestyle an behaviors are various cultural streams
relating to customs and practices, architecture
and heritage, languages and dialects, dressing
patterns, symbols and totems and various strains
of influence linked to historical, trading, religious
and geographical ties.
And it is the strong influence of culture that has helped the country
to endure the boggling range of difficulties it has faced from natural
disasters to colonialism to political turmoil and economic collapse.
Yet today the positive and refining aspect of culture appears to be ebbing
from the national discourse. The print and airwaves are dominated by
shrill opinions from politicians, the bureaucracy and the corporate sector.
One seldom hears the voices of writers, artists, musicians, singers,
theater actors, archeologists and other proponents of culture who probably
have a different, possibly unique, set of ideas related to the challenges
confronting the nation.
Not enough voices of women, the young, the tribal or the remote are heard.
Some see culture as being only rituals. Still others want to shut out
the extraneous which they regard to be corrupting. The impact of this
is a pluralism that appears to be in retreat, a growing lack of patience
and a confused youth.
Youngsters who are being disproportionately shaped by malls, junk food,
play stations, sitcoms or sms texting than by exposure to the sheer diversity
of their ancient culture. Then there are the "Orchard Road elites" who
wax eloquent about cultures foreign rather than their own. Because culture
is being elbowed out from the public domain by scandals and consumerism,
awareness of heritage is reducing. And overtime this can result in a
devaluation of the cultural wealth in the minds of the uninitiated".
" According to the philosopher
Kahlil Gibran "the most solid stone in the
structure is the lowest one in the foundation".
The true culture of a county has always been
drawn from the masses and this should be allowed
to flourish without agenda driven influences.
According to another famous proponent of culture, Jawaharlal Nehru, "the
art of a people is the true mirror of their minds". If there were
artists painting the scene at the Ubud Writers Festival on Oct 2 they
would have seen a true reflection of the greatness of this Nusantara.
Yet the same artists, if asked to depict some of the themes of public
discourse today, might use the imagery of the irksome mudflow that dominates
the media. Let the balancing hand of culture hold up the true mirror
to the intrinsic diversity and goodness of the Indonesian people and
be the much-needed guide going forward. And in doing so provide the context
in which to debate and resolve some of the pressing challenges of our
time".
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