In praise of Indonesian weblogs

How to get to know “everything you always wanted to know about” RI?

There is the press (or http://www.indonesia-news.com/) of course. Usually that results in rather scanty information. Considerable superior insight can be provided by books on Indonesia – but they usually take a lot of time. Even more tempting is going there. Some may do it as a backpacker, others may prefer a package deal, Bali included. But the chosen ones, as is the case with me, can consult his (her) Indonesian daughters in law. Or one may combine each and every one of these possibilities.

However I left out one of the best and easiest methods: Indonesian weblogs.

I have to confess I’m a rather careless and incompetent driver on the digital highway. I usually blunder into all kinds of ICT problems. My next of kin have to help me out at least once or twice a week. But fortunately you don’t need a driver’s license, nor other skills or intelligence to have and give opinions. So, that’s what I’ve made my specialty: using every opportunity to read and leave comments on weblogs. Lately I’ve been focusing on Indonesian weblogs – that is those which are in English.

The Indonesian Blogosphere is thriving. In “the blogger of the week” A. Fatih Syuhud has highlighted over 75 of the best ones. I think he usually makes a good choice. Here I take the liberty to mention my own choice. The best three only. Three authentic Indonesian bloggers in English which are very informative and worthwhile. Informative, worthwhile and contradictory to the current prejudices on every country that has a population which is overwhelmingly Muslim. Yes, hardcore zealots have done a lot of harm to the public relations of their religion.

Actually the situation is often different from what it appears to be. Check for instance a Bandung based voice of the liberal Islam . It’s a network, they claim, so it’s a kind of joint venture I presume. It consists of factual articles, cool attitudes, sound reasoning, open mindedness, free of religious righteousness. In stead of being defensive, this site presents the reasonable views of the intellectual mainstream in Indonesian Islam. There’s only one drawback: the entries, albeit being challenging, brave and intelligent, are rather scarce.

Another one that made quite an impression on me is Nana Podungge – she is a lecturer in English in Semarang. And a one woman army of feminism as well. She has well founded convictions and presents them eloquently. Her voice is loud and clear and can not be overheard by the old, macho, chauvinist pigs. There is no doubt in my mind she still has some severe struggles to fight however. Women’s rights are not equal yet – not at all. A lot of the same issues the second wave of feminism in Europe had to deal with, she deals with now. Even the topic of polygamy has been made respectable by the religious zealots. But Nana may lead the counter attack.

The third weblog of my choice is proudly presented by a young woman by the name of Marisa Duma . It is a sophisticated one, by a seemingly sophisticated lady from Jakarta. I can not but admire the looks of the blog. And the way Marisa handles it. The articles often have the quality of essays. And although there is a wide range of topics, they are limited enough to be focused. Moreover the weblog is overtly highbrow with global ambitions. Refreshingly self confident, but without any smugness. To cut it short: a good one, a great one.

Well, indeed, my conclusion is: Indonesia is versatile, the Indonesian blogosphere is vibrant.