Letter: The problem is not Islam | The Jakarta Post
Letter: The problem is not Islam
The Jakarta Post | Mon, 05/10/2010 11:00 AM | readers forum A | A | A |
I refer to a letter What has happened to Islam?, (the Post, April 27).
The problem is not Islam. Its the people who are taking control of our religion. Islam in Indonesia was beautiful and Indonesia was world-famous until about a decade ago. Religion was interpreted through a gentle culture so Islam was strong and we were respected and loved by everyone who came to our country. In the last 10 years, many Islamic teachers have come back from the Middle East and Pakistan.
They are very confused between Islam and Arabic culture. These people have been preaching and have removed centuries of old, gentle and wise Islamic Javanese culture and are
making many Indonesians behave like Arabs, which is not Indonesian culture.
They teach intolerance to our people: Which is neither true Islam nor Indonesian culture. Even greeting each other has become a religious issue now. Indonesia has a bad name now, and our image as a peaceful and very gentle nation has been spoiled.
If we want to support Palestinians, we can gently do it. We dont have to kill other people in our country to do so, or behave badly against our own countrymen who follow other religions.
I think we must respect the fact we are Indonesians first and we must protect our own people. Most government people keep quiet, as maybe they have been influenced by these Middle East-trained preachers too. Indonesia is a great and gentle country.
I feel sad to see so many dangerous men spreading hate now and poisoning peoples minds. It is not good for Indonesia in the long-term future.
To be a good Muslim, we dont have to start behaving like Arabs, we can be Indonesians and we can be good Muslims.
Yuwono
Yogyakarta
Letter: The problem is not Islam
The Jakarta Post | Mon, 05/10/2010 11:00 AM | readers forum A | A | A |
I refer to a letter What has happened to Islam?, (the Post, April 27).
The problem is not Islam. Its the people who are taking control of our religion. Islam in Indonesia was beautiful and Indonesia was world-famous until about a decade ago. Religion was interpreted through a gentle culture so Islam was strong and we were respected and loved by everyone who came to our country. In the last 10 years, many Islamic teachers have come back from the Middle East and Pakistan.
They are very confused between Islam and Arabic culture. These people have been preaching and have removed centuries of old, gentle and wise Islamic Javanese culture and are
making many Indonesians behave like Arabs, which is not Indonesian culture.
They teach intolerance to our people: Which is neither true Islam nor Indonesian culture. Even greeting each other has become a religious issue now. Indonesia has a bad name now, and our image as a peaceful and very gentle nation has been spoiled.
If we want to support Palestinians, we can gently do it. We dont have to kill other people in our country to do so, or behave badly against our own countrymen who follow other religions.
I think we must respect the fact we are Indonesians first and we must protect our own people. Most government people keep quiet, as maybe they have been influenced by these Middle East-trained preachers too. Indonesia is a great and gentle country.
I feel sad to see so many dangerous men spreading hate now and poisoning peoples minds. It is not good for Indonesia in the long-term future.
To be a good Muslim, we dont have to start behaving like Arabs, we can be Indonesians and we can be good Muslims.
Yuwono
Yogyakarta
