The pages of The Silent Pilgrimage have already discussed the gatherings of Padhang mBulan, Mocopat Syafaat, Gambang Syafatt and Kenduri Cinta. This year in September saw the establishment of the latest gathering, at Surabaya, “Bangbang Wetan” Gatra magazine carried a report on the event from Surabaya on September 7th, 2006. They quoted Emha who said that the nation no longer displayed a clear attitude, and that Indonesians could no longer tell apart pride from shame.
"We often don’t know the difference between when we should be proud and when we should be ashamed. Often, when we should be ashamed, we’re proud. We can’t tell our faces from our backsides," he said at the inaugural “BangbangWetan” gathering at Balai Pemuda Surabaya, beginning on Wednesday evening and stretching into Thursday morning.
Emha noted that not only do we demonstrate this ‘inability’ not only in the context of our social lives, but also in the context of our religious lives.
"You don’t know whether you’re Sunni or Shia. Sometimes you act as if you’re socialists, sometimes not. The Muslims among you sometimes act as if they’re Christians, sometimes as if they’re Catholics. On the other hand, some Catholics sometimes seem to be more like the NU (Nahdlatul Ulama, the Muslim mass movement based in East Java)," said Emha, to roars of laughter from the assembled crowd.
Because of this, Emha encouraged the audience to make a reassessment of their plans for the future of the nation. Through this gathering, which would take place every month, Emha invited them to ponder this matter.
"Come on, let’s think about it together. If you were the President’s nephew or the Governor’s brother, you wouldn’t have to think. No-one thinks about my people, or you,” he said. At the same time he called on the people of Surabaya and East Java to rise up for the sake of the future of the nation; to realise that their hopes and aspirations as conveyed to and managed by Jakarta as the seat of power were largely devoid of meaning.
"What can you expect from Jakarta? Nothing. So, let’s get ourselves ready. Now it’s the turn of the East,” he said, referring to the twists and turns of history from the time of the kingdoms to the fall of Soeharto.
Emha revealed that the gathering, which would in principle be informal in nature and would not merely focus passively on the knowledge presented by invited speakers, was to be held once a month. However, he asked the people to correct him.
“I give you one year, in accordance with the schedule that we have outlined together. But if you think that next month we don’t need to meet, then fine, it will have been enough with this ‘first edition’. If you want six months, that’s fine too. This is YOUR forum,” he said.
Emha also revealed that there were no sponsors for the events, aside from the contributions that those in the audience who cared and wished to see the gatherings contune, would themselves like to make. The “Bangbang Wetan” gathering was also addressed by social analyst Prof Dr. Hotman M. Siahaan, the Surabaya-based comedian Kartolo and Priyo Aljabar.
“Bangbang Wetan” is derived from “Abang-abang teko Wetan”, which is Javanese and means “the red from the east. The title indicates that there is a red light from the east and from which will emerge clarity.
"We often don’t know the difference between when we should be proud and when we should be ashamed. Often, when we should be ashamed, we’re proud. We can’t tell our faces from our backsides," he said at the inaugural “BangbangWetan” gathering at Balai Pemuda Surabaya, beginning on Wednesday evening and stretching into Thursday morning.
Emha noted that not only do we demonstrate this ‘inability’ not only in the context of our social lives, but also in the context of our religious lives.
"You don’t know whether you’re Sunni or Shia. Sometimes you act as if you’re socialists, sometimes not. The Muslims among you sometimes act as if they’re Christians, sometimes as if they’re Catholics. On the other hand, some Catholics sometimes seem to be more like the NU (Nahdlatul Ulama, the Muslim mass movement based in East Java)," said Emha, to roars of laughter from the assembled crowd.
Because of this, Emha encouraged the audience to make a reassessment of their plans for the future of the nation. Through this gathering, which would take place every month, Emha invited them to ponder this matter.
"Come on, let’s think about it together. If you were the President’s nephew or the Governor’s brother, you wouldn’t have to think. No-one thinks about my people, or you,” he said. At the same time he called on the people of Surabaya and East Java to rise up for the sake of the future of the nation; to realise that their hopes and aspirations as conveyed to and managed by Jakarta as the seat of power were largely devoid of meaning.
"What can you expect from Jakarta? Nothing. So, let’s get ourselves ready. Now it’s the turn of the East,” he said, referring to the twists and turns of history from the time of the kingdoms to the fall of Soeharto.
Emha revealed that the gathering, which would in principle be informal in nature and would not merely focus passively on the knowledge presented by invited speakers, was to be held once a month. However, he asked the people to correct him.
“I give you one year, in accordance with the schedule that we have outlined together. But if you think that next month we don’t need to meet, then fine, it will have been enough with this ‘first edition’. If you want six months, that’s fine too. This is YOUR forum,” he said.
Emha also revealed that there were no sponsors for the events, aside from the contributions that those in the audience who cared and wished to see the gatherings contune, would themselves like to make. The “Bangbang Wetan” gathering was also addressed by social analyst Prof Dr. Hotman M. Siahaan, the Surabaya-based comedian Kartolo and Priyo Aljabar.
“Bangbang Wetan” is derived from “Abang-abang teko Wetan”, which is Javanese and means “the red from the east. The title indicates that there is a red light from the east and from which will emerge clarity.
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