If the meltdown of the economic system can be stopped in time, some of us will leave the financial safe houses where we have run for cover and fly to Indonesia next year. There will probably be visits to family in Sumatra, friends in Jakarta, places of leisure in Bali or Lombok and reconnaissance operations [...]
Usually I try to keep clear of the construction workers of the castles in the air. Good doers and softies. But there is nothing wrong with people who practice their ideals. Courageous guys and dolls who persistently work towards reducing conflicts, helping mutual understanding and enhancing harmony in society and between societies. Especially in times [...]
Is it information or disorientation? Time after time reports about violence in Indonesia are in our newspapers. They never fail to blame intolerant Islamic minorities and the army.
Like today, after I started up my PC, I immediately read my provider’s message about a violent attack by FPI on AKKBB. Allegedly the militant [...]
Jakarta is a very modern, urban city. Amsterdam is a very modern urban city. Jakarta citizens and Amsterdam citizens both are 100% human – the same virtues, the same vices. We all live in a global village, a distance of 12.000 km doesn’t make much difference. Or is there? Take for instance “Alles is Liefde” [...]
Whether we like it or not, who we are is in part defined by others. Personally I don’t mind if other people, knowing my nationality, think of Erasmus, Spinoza, Rembrandt, Van Gogh or even Johan Cruijff. Or if they associate Dutch social security, the 0,8% for developing countries and liberal laws on drugs, abortion, [...]