Into a time machine at Times Bookstore

Although Times Bookstore in Karawaci was already opened in June 2008, this is my first visit to the bookstore. I was once visited Amir Sidharta in the University of Pelita Harapan, but it was a long time ago! I am sure if Times was not even there at that time. Lately I rarely go to Karawaci. I went there before for interior projects of private houses, then occasionally for its Time Zone to bring my kids to play. Then the Sumarecon Mall Serpong opened another Time Zone (which closed down the one in WTC Serpong), so I still had another alternative than Karawaci. The bad traffic also discouraged me to go to Karawaci from Serpong.

I circled the mall three times without finding any parking lot, so I do need to go inside the mall's parking lot. Fortunately I can park near the gate that is opening the way to Times Bookstore which stand across the road. I thought the last time I went to this mall this gate wasn't open.

Passing the gate I saw people enjoyed their afternoon at the cafe on the pedestrian. It gave me a sparkling memory of other places in Europe. The bell for the zebra cross light reminded me of those similar sound in Singapore, yet here the people were more relaxed than those neighbours who were running for the MRT. I ran into my time machine...

I used to go to Singapore when my father was posted there. I stayed in Elizabeth Tower and I did enjoy strolling along the Orchard Road. Actually I forgot which of the Times Bookstores in Singapore attracted me the most. I only remember that I had enjoyable time at Times. It had various of books, complete books for my architectural text books, and books to cater for my interest in languages and cultures.

Having crossed the road I then entered the bookstore, said to be the largest Times Bookstore in this region. The seats were already half taken. The author Ayu Utami and the moderator Mdm. Venilla R. Pushpanathan then moved to sit in front of those seats, on the edge of a sunken green pool like floor (which made Ayu Utami felt like sitting on the edge of a swimming pool).

I was interested in the quotes that they use as their interior elements. Another quote was printed on the Privilege Card Application Form (this one sounds good, a privilege card that will give you discounted price for Times Bookstore anywhere in the world). The printed quote was the one from Dr. Seuss: "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." For me the more that I've read the more places I've been (that's a mental journey which I've already been through...)

It was a nice chance to hear Ayu Utami read fragments of her book "Saman" in English. The poetic segment of the book was made even stronger in English. I ventured back to the first time I read this book in bahasa Indonesia. It was published in 1998 and I was quickly gobbled it up. Critics were all talking about her way to talk about sex openly, some may even say it was vulgar. For me, it was a bit too open, yet I didn't actually found it as something vulgar. Back then, I found a lot of interesting things in that novel, so that I overlooked the impression of her frank way of presenting it. I can still sense the poetry and prose in it but I was busy with other thoughts. I was amazed that the Marsinah's case was already five years away, which made it seventeen years away today. And, it is still lie in the darkness of that "jungle". The jungle where money and power are the acceptable weapons and the law was wheeled under the power of those weapons.

In that afternoon discussion, as she cited the story from the point of Shakuntala's view, I asked why she was brave enough to use that kind of language presentation in Bahasa Indonesia which for some may be a bit too open or vulgar. She answered me that she didn't want to use euphemism in language to soften a chosen word about sexuality. I thought may be that's the reason why I thought she was too open. I wasn't really accustomed to that kind of Bahasa Indonesia in Indonesian novel. We always pick the right, nicer words for those term in sex. I knew how difficult to change the way culture was built upon us. For example I used to use the word "vagina" and "testis" in introducing those genitals, but then I made my son confused as his kindergarten teachers forbid him to use that language and gave him the term "dompet" (wallet) and "burung" (bird) instead. Remember that translated book about how a baby was created and born? It was banned! Actually it didn't have any inappropriate pictures, that book just need the existence of parents to read it for their kids. I can see Ayu Utami's point of view about euphemism. She also reminded the audience about the paradox of our experiences. She said that behind the serene, noble, and peaceful performance we should not forget that there are always the violent parts of living. People usually made a duality separation of body and spirit, while men are associated with logic and spirit, women are said to be attached to their emotion and body. Grim images used in Saman were to show emotion bitterness, a part of the author's personal experiences taken into a creative process where she developed all the blending of characters.

I wrote in my diary (in 1998) that I didn't find the novel "Saman" as vulgar. I've read books that we can call vulgar. And I also didn't find it too focus on the topic of sex. But, it did shaken my head that I might have been blinded and did not seeing the reality about free sex around me (at that time...remember 1998 was the opening gate to get the real information from the media, before that we've only got the censored information. Yet, now the situation seemed worse, may be because it is worsened or because we're exposed to the news).

I always think that we should take the good lesson from the West but leave those bad lesson which is against our Eastern culture (this is going to be arguable...mistress and prostitute existed even in the Bible, who will say that they were not exist in Srivijaya's or Majapahit's era?).

Ayu Utami's "Saman" might not be a new writing approach in international literary. But, to Indonesian Women, it was probably the pioneering work of how a woman portrayed sexuality together with other problems that were considered to be reserved only for men i.e. politic. Later on women writers follow her footsteps, and then the women artists also shared their point of views.

As for the new paradigm vs. Kartini Day, the topic that they forwarded that day, Ayu would like to ask people not to look at Kartini only from the physical appearance like the face and the kebaya (traditional clothes). She asked those who came to realize that women should know their own sexuality and be able to talk about it without feeling guilty. For her, what is important for women are the need to have a choice and to be able to choose her own choice. I couldn't agree more. We do have good man and bad man. There are men who treated their spouse or their women like hell. So do we have good woman and bad woman. I would not use the term immoral as one of the audience who asked a question, as we can't judge one's morality by appearance. But, there are also women who deliberately use their sexuality to gain their own pleasure of life without thinking of others...and that's bad for me. Yet, women who should struggle through their lives do exist. A story that I've read in the Readers' Digest Indonesia showed how a woman (in "Melawan Mafia Prostitusi Anak") survived not only from being a victim of child trafficking but also that she stood up to help her fellow victims. The story didn't conceal the trauma that she had to endure in her life, in which the frightened feeling tied her even after her freedom now. These kind of women are the victim of bad people, either men or women, and they had to bear the heavy cross through their gloomy life.

Personally I think that the new paradigm is actually should not be seen as versus Kartini Day. Kartini passed away in her young age after delivering her baby. That's one of our Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). Fighting the maternal death, and also educating women in order to have better care for the younger generation are really important. The latter was also the basic of Kartini's work, to provide education that can empower women. The new paradigm is that now women knew better about their bodies and their needs. Then, with their education they can have better stand to decide what they would like to do with their lives. Reading has a lot of input in empowering women. Ms. Jo Lee, CEO of Times Bookstores in Indonesia said that Times seek to inspire the people, especially the children and youth, through community activities centered around reading and writing and the growing of their minds. Through her words I can really feel the spirit of Ibu Kartini which aim to spread the education for girls, to plant the seed of what would be the root of our future youth.

Mdm. Venilla R. Pushpanathan who introduced the ASEAN Secretariat Women's Wing
to the audience, said that it is going to help empowering women in ASEAN. They were helping out in health issues, and also they are providing scholarship for women who can't continue their study due to their lacking financial condition.

Yes, education and self respect is the answer to women's problem. Ayu showed how she face the repressive action from the New Order regime. Being banned as a journalist made her concentrate on Saman. She wrote this book in eight months, and it was awarded the Prince Clauss Award in the year 2000. She turned her problem into an opportunity to open her other doors.

Before I went home, I enjoyed this 1,900 sqm Times Bookstore, an outlet where you can enjoy quiet conversation with friends while sipping your coffee or other beverages. Times Bookstore offered the comfortable cozy corner as its café on the second floor. At the cashier I found a special offer showing a bigger discount for women who have the privilege membership card and would like to buy books on that Kartini Day (actually I would prefer to have discounted prices for books about women offered to both gender, so that we can get those men reading about women too). I think the essence of Kartini Day is actually that women keep themselves enriched with knowledge. Reading books is a way to gain more knowledge before we can share it to our younger generations. Then writing is the next step in sharing that knowledge. As Ayu Utami said for her closing word, "Don't be afraid." We can take it as don't be afraid to write out your thoughts, don't be afraid to explore your own limit as a woman, don't be afraid to challenge the world....One short sentence (but so meaningful) that bring me back into the present time. I did the past, and I won't be afraid for my future as I still have my present to strengthened my future.

"Abad Bapak Saya" and the spirit of netizens

Last Thursday, 14th January 2010, I was blessed with a chance to attend a workshop with Geert Mak. He is a Dutch writer who wrote the book "De eeuw van mijn vader" which was translated into "Abad Bapak Saya" (The Century of My Father). The Indonesian book launched last Thursday in Erasmus Huis. The chance to meet the author is not the only blessing, we were also presented with a copy of the book...for free! What a blessing! (An example of a good day said a friend, Krismariana. There, I've met friends who are also contributors to wikimu.com and another friend that I previously met in Pesta Blogger 2008, and also made new acquaintances). The Dutch edition was first published in 1999, and after ten years it is now accessible in bahasa Indonesia.

Geert Mak said that he was never in his wildest dream imagine that his book will be presented in bahasa Indonesia for Indonesian readers. Yet, as his story covered a part of his parents' life in Indonesia made that book an interesting book for Indonesian readers. His way of presenting it together with the world's history is another interesting aspect that would make it a nice source of knowledge on history.

I was really fascinated with the enormous "treasures" of old letters and pictures that he used in his book. I wonder how long it was for him to collect and rechecked all those facts. Actually I came to the workshop because I was still thinking about my grandmother's biography. At the moment I'm actually stop doing anything on that case as families seemed to have an objection on me continuing it. Various reasons are behind that objection. My mother objected it as she feels that I'm going to spend more time on that book and neglect my children. My aunties perhaps think about the private content (which of course is possible to be edited). I'm also afraid that there is a frightened feeling of being exposed as a part of Chinese Indonesians. My family were so widely distributed that we are no longer belong to a certain part of Indonesia, but Indonesia itself. For me, I'm Makassarese even if people would not accept it as I'm also Chinese Indonesian. Through personal process and the help from the era of Reformasi I am now able to accept my own background. Writing this book is kind of reminding ourselves about our root...so I think it is so sad that I've got to "forget" that book.

Based on my own lack of knowledge about writing a personal memoir that employed a lot of historical facts, I asked two questions:

1. Did you create this book basically from your own memory and enriched it with other inputs, or were you starting from your journalistic research and enriched it with personal memories?

2. It seems that you've got great support from your family in writing out this book. I wonder if there were members of the family who objected the idea of writing it down. How would you deal with it?

Actually half part of my questions was answered when Mak answered previous questions, so the answer that I write here is not exactly the answer that he gave me. I posed my questions so that I could get more technical guidance. Here, I combined his answer with his previous answers that would go inline with my questions.

Mak clearly stated that he started the book as a journalistic experiment, an experiment of writing a readable book of Dutch history at the era of his father. In the process it would also serve to create understanding between generations. Younger generation could read what was happening at that moment which prompted the older generation to act out their history. History always moves. Every generation has their own questions on history. He tried to write it out to give more clarity to his readers. The story teller in his book is the writer (Mak himself), but the experience that he described belong to the point of view of his parents. His own memory came a bit later in the book as he entered his age of understanding what was happening. He mixed memories and history but he stressed the fact that he rechecked all the data from the letter, and he only wrote dialogue if he was really sure that the dialogue happened (verified). He was very lucky as his grandfather (a school teacher) kept all the letters that were helping him in his research.

For the second question he answered me that he was not ready to write it out until fifteen years after his father passed away. He also sorted his facts, and then put only those related to the history (or his book). Yes, I think being a part of the family will help him sensible enough to sort which details are for public, which weren't. Glad that he published the story!

One important lesson I've learned that day is the description of a journalist. He said that a journalist never write about himself. I think it is the essential part that differentiate blogging and citizen reporting. Blogging seems easier as it conveys only messages from the blogger (the writer), it can touches various aspects of life...mostly aspects that are closer to the writer's life. Yet, it's not really that easy as you've also think about your personal boundaries. Mak was able to write the book after his parents passed away. Reporting is more complicated as we've got to check and recheck information, we've got to visit and do some interviews if needed. Then from the huge data that you've had in your hands, you've got to slim it down and present a readable and understandable piece of writing. Yet, your personal life is safe untouched...

Mak also mentioned about the vanishing of letters as telephone and short messages took up its place in exchanging news. Then, I think that is the hole where bloggers can fitted in. Our news will be the treasure for the generation in the next century.

Blogging is not journalism said Gina Chen in her blog "Save the Media", and actually during these three years of blogging I've kept asking myself about the term "citizen journalism". I came to blogging through citizen journalism websites, but that is not why I would like to see citizen journalism websites continue to exist as a counterpart of professional journalism.

Why "citizen journalism" is also important in the process of blogging? Or why we do need it for the journalism itself? In my case it is basically due to the spirit of journalism. Journalism tried to see things objectively. If we are trying to blog within the corridor of journalism, then we're going to see "things" objectively. For me, it also helps me to be more curious on what is happening around me. It helps me to see the reaction of readers, or how a certain matter can be viewed through different point of views. When writing for a newspaper or a newsletter, you are aware of your readers' type. Usually writers made their own research to find out the background of their readers. The internet has widely spread readers, so it will need double work to explain things to readers (who don't really know, or may be never even imagine a bit about your country, or your culture).

One great example came from the workshop with Geert Mak. One editor asked Mak how to handle different facts in a book. The example is Indonesian Independence day, she was editing a book which stated the Indonesian Independence day is December 27, 1949 (the formal soverignty was transferred to the United States of Indonesia; term taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica) while for Indonesians the Independence Day is August 17, 1945. Mak answered that professionally she could call the writer asking about it, or add footnote (as she already did).

Another participant asked Mak if he was also avoiding to state the exact date of the Indonesian independence as he did not wrote down the date 17. Mak answered that question by underlining that he was not aware about not writing the complete date, and he added that he wrote it for the Dutch readers...where the symbolical meaning of the date is not significant. He would like his book readers to judge his stand for Indonesia by reading the whole book.

It is a coincidence (or perhaps not?) that the Jakarta Post's opinion column published that same morning presented an article "RI's Indeoendence Day: A forgotten piece of history". It is a scholar's perspective over a seminar about Indonesian independence movement which was held at the Central Museum of Utrecht, the Netherlands. Perhaps it was why that questions came into the workshop.

In the section of the Museum Volunteer Tour Guide of the Indonesian Heritage Society, we've once faced that kind of problem. A Dutch lady mistakenly cited the wrong date of Indonesian Independence. I forgot how we found it out, either one of her visitors complained and she reported in, or the visitor reported it formally. It was decided that to be professional every volunteer tour guides should honored the date used by the Indonesian government. No prejudice, we worked it out peacefully...

The question in Mak's workshop made me wondering about history lesson. It was explained by the moderator (I forgot his name) that now history is not an obligatory subject. So, only those who took the subject would be better informed about the history of the Dutch-Indie period.

Actually I would like to hear more about it, as we (Indonesian) are going to face the same problem about how to put East Timor in our history books. Younger generations will have different way of seeing things as perhaps my father's generation or even from my generation. That is how I see blogs and the product of citizen journalism websites are functioning, as a bridge to cross, a place to clarify prejudices, and also a way to differentiate between objective views and subjective views.

The spirit of netizens is sharing and communicating. As a reporter I do hope that we're going to bridge misunderstanding between generations and between nations. As a blogger I'm letting out my piece of thinking and put it together in the universal cyber storage to be "the treasure" for the next century. I'm still not sure about the term "citizen journalism" as I'm always preferring the word "citizen reporter" than "citizen journalist", but I do hope that writing netizens are going to make the world better!

Sharing Obama's Dream

I've always love to read memoirs and biographies, but Obama's memoir is not just an ordinary memoir. It was written before he won the presidential election (read this blog too). The greatest token from Pesta Blogger 2009 is a translated book of "Dreams from my Father" from the booth of the USA's Embassy. Pesta Blogger 2009 was giving me some treasures as I've got variety of books (from the USA Embassy) and a book "Makassar dari jendela pete-pete" about my hometown Makassar (given by Panyingkul's founder, Lily Yulianty Farid). I've also got more friends and more knowledge...

I am reading Obama's book during this Christmas holidays, and was enchanted by how he could put his heart's battle into a memoir. Now, I also know more about his brother which was mentioned in an article that I've pasted here as a post showing how rich is Obama's background (at that time without really knowing their real relationship and background). Reading memoirs that was written before he was elected as a president gave me an impression of honesty.

It is also showing me another aspect of the USA that I would probably not able to see through the Hollywood movies. It is enhancing my previous note on racism. So, it is a universal problem, and nobody could claim that their part is more miserable than others. That little Obama grew up with more identity problem than me. Googling through the internet made me encounter this other post (in Bahasa Indonesia) commenting about the same article from Jakarta Post's weekenders.

His biography also give me a chance to see the struggle of identity that came in generations before him. Barrack Obama (Barry)was very lucky as he gained good supports from his close relatives. I think his Indonesian father should also be credited in that process. That's how he can share the essence of his biological father's dream (also his grandfather's dream). He was blessed with the distance that his other siblings didn't really get. That's how Mark (his younger half brother) can only remembered a different version of nightmare (read more here).

Obama's struggle is reminding me of the Papuan struggle to obtain their identities. Seeing the film "Denias" is really different from "Laskar Pelangi". Both Denias and Lintang has the same problem, an access to the education. Yet, the problem faced by Denias is more than financial matter. . Denias needed to face his own Papuan brothers. That is the kind of discrimination that I can also feel in Obama's memoir.

Last week I brought some foreign friends to see the old film "Indonesia Indah 1" in the IMAX theatre, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. I was embarrassed that some Indonesian; while seeing the Papuans dancing their dance (using only their kotekas) shouted out loud "pornography" in front of their children. It is actually an insult of others' traditional clothes. For the Papuan, the history of koteka is also the history of Adam and Eve (Emogiki Pane and Emobeku Pane), koteka and moge are their "clothes" after realizing their nudity in front of God. It is also a tribal symbol and one's pride. A dialog through citizen journalism website made me aware of this reality. Yet, I didn't have the courage to ask those shouting people to respect others' culture. It was in public, but I do hope that school can give an example of respecting others' culture. If they are kept being pushed to deny their real identity, then no wonder if they do not feel that they belong to Indonesian brotherhood. We can see how Obama's grandfather changed himself. It is something that come from inside one's heart, just like when Adam and Eve realized that they were naked, that they need clothes...men changed their way of living.

Obama's dream and hope are universal, it is not about any race...but it is about real freedom, equal right as human beings. If the Papuans want their freedom, I think it is not actually a political demand. It is more their own struggle with their emotional feelings of being the righteous owner of their own land. I am always sad when some part of Indonesian archipelago asking for their "freedom". Are they sure that they can survive by themselves? We need to be together as a country to stand the universal world. It is also a universal struggle, a struggle of humanity...to be able to sit as real brothers and sisters.

Obama has succeeded in stepping farther through his identity struggling period. Now is his time to show the world that he can help us gaining more positive approaches toward a peaceful world. It is not easier than his own identity struggle, and it is surely need lots of prayers and actions to support this universal goal.