On being part of minority group

A recent article in the newspaper had hit the nail directly to my head. I am feeling sorry to those people but at the same time I am feeling sorry to myself. With all my due respect to the victims, I could not see why the newspaper editor should pick the story among others. To my eyes, the only immediate reaction the article provokes to the readers would be anger toward Moslem community. This is not something new though, several times before there were equally provoking articles.

Experiencing differential treatment is the cost one usually pays as a member of a minority group. When I was in Germany I didn’t give a damn on it, especially since I’ve got the advantage of not understanding the language. But here, in the land of freedom (as what they usually be proud of) – to my surprise they are less tolerant to others who decided to follow different beliefs. Or perhaps, their freedom imposes their right to say anything despite of the fact it causes intimidation to other.

Anyway, that is just my personal judgment… which I believe I am free to speak it out

One more thing, I could not help but thinking of what my friends and colleagues (who are not part of religious majority in Indonesia) might feel about being subordinate. I really hope they are not feeling the way I feel right now, I hope they are not disadvantaged despite of their status. I wish they live happily and free from different treatment. After all, a peaceful and synergic community can happen only when each member respects each other.

Blogging – a trend or a need?

Herewith several facts related to "blogging" which stick to my head:
- my bestfriend told me to write in my blog (and read her blog), so that we can update each other on what had happened in our life
- in a friend’s blog, she made a correlation between blogs and housewives…. kind of funny but very true – I started blogging since I joined the force and since I got a high speed internet connection at home
- she also mentioned most mommy’s do blogging for their little one – also very true
- blogging can be a very effective way to provoke others, both positively or adversely. A positif example is Ruth Nasrullah’s in reader’s blog at chron.com (I am going to elaborate this later)

Anyway, I am glad I have this blog to write my personal thought or feeling. In addition, I recently adopted the trend and develop a blog for Mila and Alith simply to make them happy (as now they have their own website) and as a remembrance for the future. This way, blogging has became one of my need

Did you ever feel violated?

Yes, I did recently. When I made a seriously dummy mistake by leaving my handbag in the restroom at a big toys store. I was imagining that though criminals are everywhere, there would be a kind-hearted person find my handbag and leave it to the ‘lost & found dept’ at the store.

And of course only a fool would think that way, and for sure my handbag was not there anymore and neither someone returned it. That’s it, I lost my purse – which includes quite some amount of money, a credit card, a debit card, my insurance card (and my kids’ as well), driving license and maybe some other membership cards.

Loosing them had cost me money and the trouble of getting new cards – and I learned my lesson. But as if those are not enough, the  thief also used my credit cards right away. I came to know it when I immediately call the credit card company to have my account blocked – they said he (or most probably she) has used it three times within 2.5 hours. Wow, so fast!!

Not a surprise for sure, in the holiday season people are most in need of money to buy this and that. I don’t mind loosing the money which amount is enough to buy a new power wheels jeep – hopely she really spent it to buy presents for her family. Nevertheless, I do feel violated when she used my credit card. I wish she would not feel a peace of mind upon the crime she had committed :p