From: hsiahaan@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: alt.culture.indonesia
Subject: Re: What is the porblem ?
Date: 21 Jan 93 14:59:03 CST
Organization: University of Kansas Academic Computing Services


Mr Bill Alves writes:
>Well, I wasn't going to get drawn into this, but since you asked, I vote
>a very emphatic YES. I am neither Muslim nor Christian, but I found the
>posts very interesting. I most certainly did not find them insulting nor
>offensive. It is true that I am not Indonesian, but I am a subscriber
>to this newsgroup. I believe my perspective is just as valid.

Now, Sir, keep in mind that your are religion-less; this may bias your
opinion on this. Further, you are not an Indonesian which reduces your
'perspective validity' in this issue (remember, this issue is not only
unique to religion-owners , but to Indonesian in particular. Also,
note that the debated postings are by non-Indonesians). Not that I dont 
want people like you (religion-less/non-Indonesian) to participate in this 
news-group, but what you are not may affect your opinion.

>In my opinion, religious tension is not created by talking about religious
>issues. Quite the opposite. Silence and censorship create the kind of
>ignorance and lack of communication that promotes stereotypes and intol-
>erance. Religious prejudice and other forms of bias are overcome by knowing
>members of other religions as people, by trying to understand (if not agree
>with) their belief systems and customs, and by openly communicating.

I agree. Talking about religious issues may not create religious tension, as
long as several considitons are met:
	1. It is not a negative campaign about other's religions. 
You see, this is just what the potings debated are all about. They are not
informative about the writers' religion(s), but rather discuss what is wrong 
about other religion according to the writers'. This certainly can create 
tension.
	2. Rather than an open discussion on a newsgroup, it is better to
have such discussion on one-on-one or special-group base (hopefully among the
mature-minded participants). So, why to A.C.I while there are soc.rel.* 
newsgroups ? You may argue that religion is part of culture which makes it OK
to talk about it here. Well, then you must know Indonesian culture better
before you issue your version of 'valid perspective'.
	
>You may disagree, and that's fine, but this isn't Indonesia - this is
>the usenet: an open forum for people all around the world. I subscribe to
>this newsgroup, among many others, because I want to read and discuss
>ideas that I would never otherwise be exposed to.

So, you've been exposed to it, and hopefully you learn about our culture and 
our stand on religions and religion discussions.  

>>I think you are
>>not familiar with the situation in Indonesia regarding religion aside from 
>>the fact that 80% of Indonesia is technically Muslim.

>I think the poster was familiar with this fact, which is why he thought that
>this would be an appropriate newsgroup.

On contrary, I think he is not. That is why he posted to A.C.I. The only thing
that I think motivated him to post his writing here is his stereotyping of all
Indonesians are Moslems and (Indonesian) Moslems have small tolerance on (In-
donesian) Non-Moslems.

>>while most
>>educated people does not care what religion their friends are in, as long as
>>they are nice people, the topic of religion is a very sensitive matter.

>Then, to me, the answer is more education and the teaching of religious
>tolerance...
	     ...APPROPRIATELY.

HSIAHAAN
Newsgroups: alt.culture.indonesia