The Edge Of Grace

Some colleagues say to me that they do not want to be stationed in certain Departments of our office due to the extreme work culture required. They dread the unusual working hours where staffs there often work into the wee hours of the morning just to get some reports done. Their weekends are spent constantly checking in with the office. Work begins to take up nearly their every waking hour. And it is contagious! My colleagues just avoid to enter the working to death environment.

Another story goes the opposite way. Some colleagues of mine often brag about on how they have to juggle their mundane tasks with the deadline. Their boss needs them as he relies on them constanty. It makes them feel important and worthy. Their goal of life is to work and save and build weath and assets until such time as they believe they can retire and ‘enjoy’ life. As a result, they always have outstanding work performance every year by working so hard with longer work hours. Yes, the company dubs them as exceptional employees who give an unremitting struggle to perform  their best and to sacrifice everything.

Of the two, I think I have been there in both vessels. I have worked arms and legs just to get my works done to my ideal. My job becomes my existence. Oh, how naive I was back then. Holding on desperately to my ideals, thinking that working hard nail to toes would bring happiness, one step closer to what I strive for in office. Then, a hard slap on my face brings me back to reality, waking me up from the dreadful dream. Overworking will not get me everywhere but to the land of physical and physhological strains. Work life balance is the answer to the psychosis environment. I work hard but I do not overwork.

Sadly to say, we live in a culture that applauds overworking. Overworking means role model employee who goes hand in hand with outstanding performance, bigger paycheck, boosted prestige, a success and land into the circle of the golden children. Working up to the wee hours will certainly be met with a pat on the back rather than a look of concern. Such employees become so emotionally tied to their job which provides fundamental source of meaning and recognition as well as helps them determine who they are. They would feel lost without it and desperate when it is threatened. Often, it is in the expense of life.

Then, the death of a Chinese banking regulator Li Jianhua who literally worked himself to death last June has again cast a spotlight on the extreme work culture in the financial industry. China is now facing an epidemic which a decade ago has threatened Japan. It is called karoshi, sudden death from overwork as it is called in Japan. The china Youth Daily reported that about 600,000

Chinese a year die from working too hard. What a scary statistic! Yes, believe it or not, the toll for achieving an economic success is dready!

In regards to this stunning reality, I remember having one senior colleague who tragically met the same fate. Barely fifty, he died from heart attack which was believed to be the result of his overworking lifestyle. The major medical causes of karoshi deaths are heart attack and stroke due to stress. I believe if a study conducted, we would have higher casualties in statistics. In emerging markets like Indonesia, I am sure the ethics of  overworking to gain success still prevails even in the cost of one’s health or well-being.

With unemployment on the rise, people are worried about losing their jobs. The working environment become so competitive. There goes the much befitting survival of the fittest.They need the pay check to make ends meet for their family. It is absolutely a noble cause to do, a grace of a man.

Yet, as companies cut back to squeeze more productivity out of the existing employees, many of us feel like we’re working at double-speed just to stay in place. Many will do overwork due to this circumstances, making them vulnerable to suffer sudden occupational death. Many might fall from grace.

Perhaps, in a perfect world, we would not do ‘this death by overwork thing’ anymore but the reality is that for very competitive jobs, people still expect it and many will do it if they want the job badly enough. In the end, it’s about how far will you go to reach your goal?

For me, given the fact that I’ve been on both sides of the arguments, I think I choose to have my monthly paycheck without having a karoshi. What’s more rewarding than getting home early to see you kids or soulmate await you with a smile, having normal conversation in normal hours, and just enjoy the new day unfolds before you.

LIFE DOES NOT COME CHEAP

I breathed in a relief hearing, the newly issued regulation on abortion, No. 61/2014, based on the 2009 Health Law, remains endorsing that abortion is prohibited in most cases, unless the mother’s life is in danger or in the case of rape. I am happy that Indonesia does not tread the path of many developed western countries that finally legalize abortion as we have more diverse as well as different socio-cultural perspective.

I support the regulation that abortion is illegal unless the pregnancy endangers the mother's life and in the case of unwanted pregnancy due to rape. A fetus is a human being once it is conceived. The baby has the right to live thus abortion is a form of murder and demeans the value of human life. Abortion eliminates legal rights of the unborn child.

To begin with, the abortion decision is often made by minors or young adults, who don't have the maturity and life experiences to make sound decisions. The decisions are often driven by the needs to avoid bad social stigma and dreadful responsibility as a parent, thinking that they are too young for such burden.

Consequently, women who have abortion in their younger years end up living the rest of their lives in perpetual guilt and often suffer major psychological damage from the experience. Even if that women doesn't consider it murder at the time, that may change as she matures. The experience will haunt them forever, and they could never turn back the time.

Back at my hometown, I have some friends who made mistakes during their younger days. Having sex out marriage, then they got pregnant. They had to drop out of the school and their parents marrying them off to the fathers of the baby. Abortion is not an option in my village.

However, in most big cities, teenagers with pregnancy because of their irresponsible sexual activities, often go to back alley abortions to get rid of the unwanted child out of shame or fear. Personally, I think this is just morally and religiously wrong to kill a child due to shame and fear. They should think a million times over before committing sex if they have not ready for the consequences!

The so-called sexual revolution leading to happy-go-lucky sexual intercourse is not something to take on lightly. Sexual licentious is not a liberty to do irresponsible act, then have an abortion!

To prevent abortion, teens should be educated that free sex only brings fleeting pleasure but lasting harms. It helps to spread sexual transmitted diseases (STD), premature pregnancy leading to abortion and family rift. It also accelerates the destruction of a marriage institution and moral debauchery as marriage is what defines human different from animals, which satiate their primal need without any rules of laws.

Therefore, abortion legalization is not the answer to protect the reproductive rights of these teenagers as has been widely campaigned by the pro-abortion activists! If abortion is not available, perhaps people wouldn't be so careless in the first place. They should have keep their pants on and perform abstinence. Free sexual intercourse out of wedlock is morally and religiously wrong so if people especially teenagers just follow this guidelines, abortion will no longer an issue. Marriage is a legal and sacred institution to bring a man and a woman exercising their basic instinct, building a family, raise and nurture their children to carry on their legacy.

Another argument comes that abortion is against doctors' Hippocratic Oath, requiring physician to uphold specific ethical standard, of saving live instead of taking live. Preserving live is a doctor’s sacred duty. Therefore, if a pregnant woman went to see her doctor, wanting an abortion while there was no emergency, any good doctor would tell her that s/he has a conscientious objection to abortion and therefore can't help.

In addition, abortion shouldn't be a form of birth control for married couples as well. Other birth control is readily available. There are dozens of birth control methods that can keep ones from becoming pregnant, including the 100 percent effective one: abstinence. Thus, it is logically wrong to kill the unwanted baby resulted in the consensual act of the couple. It’s injustice to demand only pleasures from the act and have no courage the bear the responsibility.

In a case due to economic deprivation, the couple could not care the child properly, there’s always an adoption scheme. It is healthier than having an abortion, which might endanger their reproductive organs leading to infertility. Choosing an adoption over abortion means choosing a life over a death. Adoption does not mean giving up the baby but it gives life – life instead of death.

Women should keep in mind that many families actually go on waiting lists to adopt newborn babies, couples who have been waiting for years to adopt the baby they've desperately waited to hold in their arms. Even many experienced good loving parents with wisdom, resources, and plenty of love are reaching out to adopt another child regardless of race, religion, gender, or disability. They want a baby whom they want to cherish, value, and raise for the rest of that baby’s life.

It is so sad to think that instead of babies going to these families, they go into a trash heap or down a garbage disposal. It is sometimes frustrating to think that any mothers could feel that killing their children is a better option that choosing families for their children.  

Believe me, I know exactly how it feels to see such miracles of life go in waste in garbage bin. I have circles of friends who have been for years trying to have babies of their own. How it breaks their hearts to see others who given such miracles, but throw them like a sack of rotten potatoes! It is so cruel and unfair. How many nights I’ve shed tears just to dream of the tiny little baby squirming in my arms. How I love my adopted nephew, so much as he fills my days with love, trickle of laughs and joys.

Having said that mothers should choose a life over a death for their unborn babies as these little treasures might lighten up the days of other families! Their unborn babies might be the source of happiness of others. Life is a treasure to cherish. It does not come cheap.

And Thou Shalt Not Kill Indiscriminately in The Name of Religion

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/09/01/your-letters-the-hijacking-islam.html

And Thou Shalt Not Kill Indiscriminately in The Name of Religion

“And Thou shalt not kill, and do not take any life, which God has made sacred, except by way of [Haq]-justice and law (due process/just cause); thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom.” (QS. 6:151)

The recent havoc wrought by The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), needs to be condemned. This terror group has obscenely hijacked the religion of peace, Islam. No verses in the holy Quran justifies their brutal killing of innocents, the persecution of minority group including the Christians and Yazidi, the conversion of non Muslims into Islam by force and any other horrific misdeeds they have committed. There is nothing whatsoever Islamic in their cause, thus the ideology should be extinguished.

My eight years old nephew asked profoundly, "Auntie is ISIS Islam? Why did they kill people?" He searched my face expectantly after accidentally we watched the news on the screen.

I stopped short for an answer. So many jarring arguments and answers swam in my brain as how best to provide reasonable answer for a child like him. I bet there are many Muslim children also have such critical question. It dreaded me to watch the gruesome images of an alleged ISIS boy holding a decapitated head of a Syrian soldier like a toy, smiling proudly along with his misguided father. Even those hardened by gruesome scenes in war-torn regions would find tough to stomach such vivid contrast of innocence and brutality. I thought of my nephew and raw emotions assaulted me.

It is a tragedy of humanity. How could a stupid ideology turn a man into a monster who encouraged his sons to follow on his shoes? My hearts ached. Frustration welled up inside of me. O, The foolishness of people! Surrendering to their carnal and primal savagery!

I looked my nephew in the eyes. Repressing the emotion, I hugged him close before providing any answer.

"My dearest, ISIS or ISIL is not Islam. They are a group of lost people. You know the mango tree in the backyard of your Grandpa? It bears many juicy fruits every season, right?” He nodded but confusion engraved on his face.

"Well, sometimes, among the fruits, there some which are rotten, full of maggots. They are not eatable, thus should be thrown away lest they would bring disease and make us sick, right?" Again, he nodded.

This world is full of fruit trees just like religion. ISIL OR ISIS is like a rotten mango in your grandpa's tree. As any other fruit tree in the garden, each will have its own rotten ones. You should never touch or eat the bad fruit. Take only the good and you will be just fine. So, I said and hugged him again, silently praying that Merciful God keeps him safe and sound, away from the path of the astray and the lost.

My nephew looked me, scratched his nose and nodded again. Smiling, he said, "Oh, ok I got it! No bad fruit! Then, he ran to meet his friends who called him out to play.

After he left, I was still in bad mood. I hoped my silly explanation could make him understand in the simplest way.

It angered me to see the exceptionally brutal methods imposed by the group bearing Islamic symbol with them. It’s an identity stealing. The mass beheading is sickening. The capture of the young beautiful Yazidi women on the ground only God knows why by those sick men are nauseating. These terrorist have brought shame and disgrace to humanity. They have hijacked Islam.

The most frustrating fact is that the bad ideology has spread its wings up to Indonesia. Intelligence reports said some Indonesians join the group despite the constant education from the Muslim clerics and the government that the ideology is haram and has no place in Indonesia.

It is fearful to think that youngsters are being brainwashed with radicalism and terrorism in the cloak of religion. Their logical thinking is blocked and assassinated. They ignore the very first verse revealed to our Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), "Read."

Instead of put the verse into practice, they follow any ideology without any question to any group who disabuse Islam. Don’t they read that in Islam all forms of life is sacred to God, and that murder is forbidden - as it is listed as one of the Seven Greatest Sins in Islam. They live a life of their worldly interpretion instead of taking The Phrophet as the uswatun hasanah (the best role model in words and deeds).

How could they fail to learn that love and mercy is the epitome of Islam personified by The Phrophet. One such act of the Prophet’s mercy was when he emerged victorious after the conquest of Makkah with a force of 10,000 men. Instead of taking vengeance, he practiced the greatest act of mercy, allowing the pagans to go free telling them not to worry, and that he forgives them for what they have done! He could have killed all the pagans, these were the people who have slaughtered his beloved uncle, imposed cruelties and brutality to Muslims, have prosecuted and exiled them. Yet, he forgives them and pardons all of them. Not even a grass or animal should endure pain when his armies marched in. What better act of mercy can we get then?

In our day, the ugly fighting and conflict going are choking all over the world. The misguided zealots twisted the morality of the Qur’an, to justify their acts against the non-believers. Tragically, they fall into the deepest pit pf hell on earth as they farther depart from the path of justice, blinded by their bestial instincts. They spread hatred based on creed, caste and color.

And certainly ISIS or ISIL do not reflect the morality of Qur'an and Sunnah. Instead, they are the epitome of hatred, prejudice and violence. Not only did the group hijack planes, countries and destroy life, but they also hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam and split the brother and sisterhood of mankind.  Does Islam command its followers to wage war against unbelievers or kill them without provocation? Absolutely not!

Unfortunately, this is a popular misconception among people living in the United States and the west in general. The statements of a few radicals in the Muslim world don't help in ending this false idea in people' minds. They in fact help to spread and reinforce the fallacy. They stupidly become the agents of such propaganda.

In fact, Islam forbids the taking of any human life except for a just cause under the law (i.e. the Qur'an & Sunah), that is capital punishment for convicted murderers, fighting in wartime, or self-defense.

“…Whoever took a single life (one soul), except if it be for murder or spreading mischief and corruption in the land - It would be as if He killed the whole of Humanity; And (likewise) if any one saved one life, it would be as if he saved the life of all people. (QS: 5:32)

The Drama is Finally Over

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/26/your-letters-the-drama-finally-over.html

The Drama is Finally Over

Finally, the heart- thumping drama is over. As the Constitutional Court presiding Chief Judge, Hamdan Zoelva, struck the gavel to mark the final and binding verdict, the victor in the Presidential Election is no longer disputable. The Court has reinforced and legalized Jokowi-Kalla pair as President and Vice President in the next five years in line with the General Election Commission’s (KPU) decision. Despite the increasing tension outside the court, in which the mob wrought havoc, facts and truth are honored and triumphed. Every charge from Prabowo's protracted legal challenge of the legitimacy and constitutionality over the electoral result is rejected. This shows a victory for the nation's arduous journey toward stronger rules of law and democracy. This is the victory of the people, a new beginning in the chapter of our history.

Further, this is also the end of the noisiest democracy in Indonesia. For the past four months, the political hullabaloo has created nuisances that turned friends into enemies, lovers into nemesis, kin into opposite warring tribes, and neighbors into foes. The polarity has weirdly affecting personal relationship by turning many a sheet on a lover’s bed cold, and froze the warm coffee of a friendly chat. Such nuisances invades in the social medias as well as tweets relating to unfriend”, “unfollow”, “block” or “unshare” spiked during these exhausting months. With the final verdict, it is hoped that the rifts can be mend and scars can be healed.

However, although the Red and White Coalition have expressed their acceptance of the court ruling, the poisoning dissatisfaction is still high in the air. At the press conference, the spokesperson said, “Even though the Coalition accepts the verdict, we insist that the decision does not reflect substantive justice nor truth in Indonesia." Neither Prabowo nor Hatta was present. The groan of discontents is masked in rhetoric words.

There was no concession speech to woe their supporters to support the new government. It was no more than an inevitable bitter acknowledgement of court ruling acceptance. It is regrettable that the losing pair did not even congratulate the winner in reconciliatory notion. The gesture to uphold political ethics is met with cold shoulder.

They failed to learn from the maturity of their constituents. Instead of expressing words of wisdom to seal the wound and scars left by the rift in the grassroots, the élites keeps throwing inflammatory statements, which is not conducive to mend the loosening knots of the people’s unity.

I just shook my head in disbelief. I should have known better! Indonesia is indeed in dire need of good politicians and statesmen. The shenanigans of power-lust politicians are nauseating. They have suffered insurmountable deficit of trust from the people.

Perhaps, this is one of the many reasons why there are more and more people hate politics and politicians. The legislative body’s corrupt image is hard to erase with the increasing politicians and lawmakers arrested for alleged corrupt practices. Their recent acrobatic foolish movements worsen their already tainted image.

We still remember vividly how their unscrupulous use of their political authority for personal gain destroyed any credibility in the House. We will not easily forget their tolerance of corruption and moves to undermine the fight against corruption as evident in the House’s support for bills to weaken the KPK. Politicians constantly and publicly dress up the frailties of petty politicking, tedious tribalism, gossip and self-interest as humble public service. Such hypocrisy is rarely good for their credibility. As an old saying goes, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”

This nation craves for honorable politicians, figures who create good examples for the implementation of honorable politics and democracy. Figures who work very hard for their constituents and in the national interest for the good of the country and never get a gratis peerage from a thankful nation at the end of their careers.

We are thankful that amid this spine-tingling drama and worsening political behaviors of the elite, Indonesian people come out mature as a growing democratic nation. There’s no political uprising and disastrous horizontal conflicts such as in Egypt, Thailand or Pakistan just to name a few. Indonesian people have exercised their rights to vote and voice their concerns in this electoral feast with high degree of responsibility resulted in a peaceful general election. Along with the General Election Commission (KPU), they safeguard a fair and transparent election. The Indonesian Army is also responsible for the smooth process of the deliberation of the MK ruling, thus should be praised for their neutrality to safeguard our democracy so that unnecessary violence and bloodshed could be avoided.

It is now time to open the new chapter, leaving the old ones behind. It is time to move on and continue to keep safeguard the new government in delivering their promise. Many hopes pin on the the winning pair.

We realize that having the new elect President will not make problems disappear in a blink of an eye from this nation. The increasing current account deficit threatening the economic stability due to the ballooning fuel subsidy, the growing intolerance in society, and the deforestation are just a few problems to tackle.

There’s no guarantee that Jokowi-Kalla will succeed to overcome these problems and bring Indonesia into a much better and stronger nation. But, the Indonesian people have given their trust for the pair as they are too fed up with the politicking of dishonor politicians. They rest their hopes in the new elect Presidenta. Thus, Jokowi-Kalla should not disappoint the people and do their best to bring Indonesia for the better.

The Inaugural Issuance of Rp. 10,000 to Mark the Indonesian Independence Day

The Inaugural Issuance of Rp. 10,000 to Mark

the Indonesian Independence Day

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/20/citizen-journalism-new-banknote-marks-independence-day.html

Something special is present in marking the most special day for Indonesia in my office today. Jubilant faces were lined up orderly in the field to follow the sacred procession of flag hoisting ceremony led by Agus D.W Martowardojo, the Governor of Bank Indonesia. In his speech, the Governor disclosed that this Indonesian Independence Day is also in coincidence with the inaugural issuance of Rp100,000.

The new redesigned bank notes—dubbed the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia/NKRI) money is the first bill in compliance with Law No. 7 of 2011 on Currency that seeks to promote the use of Indonesian Rupiah in domestic transaction conducted in Indonesia. The law is among others stipulated to grant the Finance Minister the right to sign banknotes together with Bank Indonesia. This new banknote with the joint signature should be printed and circulated stating Aug. 17, 2014. The law would give the government a stronger legal base for managing the rupiah in the future.

However, the new bank note will not be replacing the one currently in circulation just yet. As Peruri's printing capacity is limited, the amount of new banknote printed is still small.

The scorching heat as the sun slowly set high, did not stop the annual feast, to commemorate the day when Indonesia acquires its freedom after more than three centuries of fear, terror, tear, and blood. Yes, we may not experience the bloody history, but we learn it by heart. Therefore, we feel the joy in celebrating the day. Freedom is priceless. It is our sacred duty to honor our fallen heroes and founding fathers by doing our best for the benefit of our country.

As the governor left the field, heading for the Sacred State Flag hoisting ceremony at the Palace, we were dismissed. Many took selfie pictures, posted in their social media page fan. Some were rushing to the parking lot, avoiding the traffic around the building, by departing early. While some others went straight to the cashier counters at C Building Complex to get the new Rp. 100,000 bill. I followed the latter, curious to know the atmosphere in the bill exchange room. Yes, we had the opportunity to collect the bills for the first liners.

Excited faces have queued in front of the cashiers. To my surprise, it was not overcrowded as I expected. Only tens of BI staffs joined the line, waiting expectantly to get the bill. All were served in a timely manner. Many took pictures of the new bill, waving the money with beaming face. I just smiled seeing the action.

On closer look, the new banknotes have "Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia" (Republic of Indonesia) written on them, replacing the name of the current issuer, Bank Indonesia. They still have the same denominations as the current notes, still have pictures of national figures, and are claimed to be harder to counterfeit. They also have Indonesia's first president and vice president, Soekarno and Hatta, on the observe side (face).  Another new design is the elimination of BI deputy governor's signature; replaced by the signature of the Finance Minister. The bills still hold BI Governor's signature.

This joint signature of BI Governor and Finance Minister indicates that another person and another institution are now also accountable over the money issued. In plain view, there are now two parties responsible for the Indonesian money: the government and the central bank. It means that the Indonesian currency is not only supported by the monetary sector, but also by the fiscal sector.

Asked as to why my colleagues collected the new bank notes, they voiced several reasons differently. Mega and Dony, staff at the Human Resources Department wanted the bill as this is its inaugural issuance so it would be totally cool to have it first. Nuki of Assets Management Department went to a great length for the new bank note out of curiosity while some others whom I interviewed said in a chorus that they wanted to show it off.

On Debate on Jilboob and Jilbab

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/12/your-letters-debating-jilboob-versus-jilbab.html

A few months ago, some colleagues of mine kind-heartedly advised me to modify the way I wore my jilbab (Islamic headscarf). They said the change would accentuate my face and I would be more fashionable. It would still cover your hair, they argued. My brows knitted in between excitement and doubt.

The temptation to be stylish, modern and beautiful feels far too strong. Afterall, woman is a creature of beauty, isn't she? Yet, I banish the idea as it is not what I am. As always, the way I dress does not define me. I wear jilbab and clothes that suit me. I choose apparels which provide comfort and convenience for my daily activities, including backpacking. So, it is not reserved only for religious reason or just following the trend. It is more of my personal affair.

Then, for the last few days, ‘jilboobs’ has been trending in social media and on screens. A Facebook page titled “Jilboob Community” was launched which displayed many pictures of women with jilboobs uploaded. The page triggered heated discussions online and offline, either condemning or supporting. My friends newsfeed are flooded with streaming on the topic. The issue has drawn the ire of conservatives as well, resulted in the issuance of religious edict from the country's highest authority on Islam.

Jilboobs is used to explain the trend of combining Muslim women dress, jilbab with tight-fitting clothes. Consequently, such combination accentuate their shapes and curves. This trend has came into surface because most of the women who are wearing jilbab want to remain fashionable and pretty. Most just follow the example of their favourite artists or patrons. Even long before the jilboobs comes into a spotlight, this phenomenon can be found anywhere including in Aceh since 2000s.

In Muslim-majority but secular Indonesia, the government does not regulate clothing for Muslim women the same way Islamic countries do. We can find Muslim women either fully covered from head to toe, dressed in a revealing tank top and miniskirt, or somewhere in between. So, there is no definite dress code for women here.

However, most women still adhere to the social and religious norms in choosing their dress. The so called 'appropriateness and politeness’ requirements are still on top of the list. Women are still mostly judged by how they dress as in the adage "you are what you wear". Well, off course this saying does not ring true completely as there is another saying to ‘never judge a book by its cover.’

As cultural modernization and globalization keeps spreading their claws, most women in the big cities now have more liberty in exercising their choice of  selecting their apparels.  Always keeping up with the latest fashion and brand to look ‘awesome’ is the new god.

As with the internet, so many choices are laid bare. Most renowned designers and brands dictate the lifestyle. Most public patrons especially celebrities set examples on how to dress. Enforced by the power of media, this lifestyle as reflected in fashion set the trend in motion.

Such phenomenon also spreads among the muslim women. It is the vanity of women to always want to look good and beautiful. We, the jilbabers (muslim women who wear headscarf), as with any other women around the globe, want to look good and beautiful too. It is our natural urge we sometimes find it impossible to deny.

Because, even though the world is full of normal and pretty women, the world we see – the world of television, films, magazines and websites – is full of women who are top-of-the-scale beauties. If we're a woman, a huge proportion of our role models, including jilbabers, are beautiful. So if we’re normal looking, we feel ugly.

For this reason, women, many of whom wanted their faces to be more beautiful than they were, were looking at products and procedures that might help, including in choosing their fashion. They increasingly crave beauty – and for good reason. In a world that tells pretty women they are ordinary, and ordinary-looking women they are ugly, increasingly radical “solutions” come to seem normal, including jilboob.

For me personally, jilboob or jilbab is a matter of personal choice as with a prayer or fasting. It is our personal affair with God. When a Muslim does not perform five daily prayers and fasting, we have no power to impose a sanction for him/her as this ritual is a private affair with God. We can only advise him/her to perform his/her ritual with good words and judgement in the spirit of brotherhood. We can only warn him/her that we are the ambassador of our faith.

In this spirit of good faith, I should say that Muslims should not react so negatively to the jilboobs phenomenon. It is not a criminal act in need of punishment or heavier sanction. The fact that women, especially young teenagers, are now increasingly willing to wear a jilbab is a small step that should be appreciated. It is understandable that they still want to look trendy and modern. It is a hijrah (a migration or journey), a process to be better. Thus, they should have a commitment to gradually dress with the jilbab better.

The jilboob phenomenon should also be perceived as a constructive criticism on how muslim women should wear their jilbab. As the ambassador of our faith, it is our sacred duty to safeguard our behavior, words, and even the way we dress that represent our faith as the religion of peace and love.

As for me, jilboob does not really suit me. Once or twice or more I used to wear such style. Looking at the mirror, I blushed and felt walking naked in that fashion. Somehow, I always see a woman wearing jilbab covering the head up to chest, look more elegant and beautiful. There’s something regal in that dress code especially if the manners and behavior of its wearer also reflect the code. And I am still a continuous learner on how to dress and behave properly so I can be a good ambassador to my faith.

In the end, I drop the idea of modifying the way I wear my jilbab and back to my regular style. Jeans and loose skirt with jilbab suit me better.

The Parody at The Constitutional Court

Feeling blessed today for being confined to bed due to cold, I received most exciting entertainment of the year. A parody presented by the plaintiff's witnesses at the Constitutional Court (MK) was amusing to watch. This was the trial the Indonesians have been waiting for to find out who would be declared as the winner in the Presidential Election legally.

Oh yes, the allegedly massive, structured, and systematic fraud in the election as the basis of a legal challenge against the official presidential election result announced by the General Election Commission on July 22, by the losing Prabowo-Hatta pair is indeed publicly proven in a live show! The public can directly see the shaky and nervous witnesses offered hearsay evidence, inaccurate data, forgotten numbers and names! 

The claim that the losing pair won by 50.52 percent against the rival camp who secured 49.74 percent based on Prabowo pairing vote calculation was also geniously delivered by the presentation of less convincing and inaccurate sporadic data! Even, one witness said there was only one vote inaccuracy in one of the polling station under his watch. Another brilliant witness confessed willingly that during the opening of the ballot boxes under dispute, he did not even attend the whole process! Hilarious indeed!

Furthermore, the Prabowo-Hatta team did not manage to bring in “10 trucks of evidence” as they have previously claimed to support their accusations. The first round of 26 witnesses also failed to present convincing evidence to support the claim and many showed inconsistency in their stories. The MK judges had to warn them several times the oath they had taken to tell nothing but truth, annoyed by the constant inconsistency and irrelevant stories to the claim.  

I frown in disbelief! These are the qualified witnesses the plaintiff's boasted. Wow, in my personal naive mind, this is a contempt to this esteemed court! This is not a stage for clowns!

Nonetheless, I still kept my positive thinking. Perhaps, these preliminary witnesses were still flexing their muscles! They have yet to find their rhythm. They were saving the best for last. So, I patiently continued to watch the trial on my TV screen as an enthusiastic student of law would look like.

Then, another genius stood on the witnesses rows cleverly and proudly said that the mayoral top ranking officials in his region have been impartial by devising scheme to support the winning pair. Recounting his stories, he confidently said there’s been a structural fraud to support the Jokowi pair.

Well, I thought this would be the strong evidence I have waited for! My ears twitched in anticipation. My body tensed with excitement for the first real qualified solid proof. And my heart skipped a beat.

The anguishing wait turned into a tragic laugh! Another hearsay evidence was rolled on and on! The genius witness said this accusation was based on some articles in newspaper! As if it was not enough entertaining, he went so far as to show off his emotion at play. With a faltering voice, he was almost on the verge on tears!

Bravo! He is certainly having the complete package of an actor!

I had to smile emphatically when the Chief Judge warned him to stop bubbling and rambling lest the court would evict him for disrupting court order. I thought it was not his fault to have such blind loyalty for his idol. It was the stupid ignorance of the brilliant lawyers who presented the man at court!

Never before, I have so much great interest in the trial process of any case. But this year presidential race law suit drawn me like a magnet. It's not the winning pair that made me follow the trial up close but it is the banal stubbornness of the losing pair and their supporters! 

Not to mention that in the preliminary hearing Wednesday, I was shocked to hear the honorable Prabowo Subianto told the court’s nine judges that some of the alleged election violations were worse than in totalitarian countries like North Korea. My jaw dropped! Comparing the democracy process in Indonesia with the totalitarian Nort Korea is absurd and a mock for Indonesia.

His raw ambition is displayed nakedly for the public to see. His language is nothing but a rhetoric of a combatant digging in for a siege. It is not the words of one seeking an honourable way to concede defeat.

His adamant reluctance to accept losing is perhaps fueled by his altruism, a belief that he’s the rightful heir of his former father in law who had ruled this nation for 32 years. He is destined and born to rule as has been foretold.

Backed by some richest men in this country including the tycoon Aburizal Bakrie and most popular religious parties which have strong grassroots, he has hard time to surrender the throne. It’s rare chance he has never received during his two previous contests. It’s just an inch away from his grasp! To let it go easily would be stupid and a shame!

Thus, it is no big surprise to see many acrobatic movements and schemes have been brought to the public sphere. The most recent is the statement made by Nurcahaya Tandang, the chairwoman of Srikandi Gerindra, saying that Prabowo is the reincarnation of God!!! That the rival pair is communist! So, it is a 'jihad' to ensure Prabowo-Hatta ticket for President and vice president. A claim she later apologized as a slip of the tongue! But the damage has been done.

Then, mobs of supporters have sieged the KPU’s gate to ‘safeguard’ the trial process be fair and impartial. They claimed to stage a peaceful rally but they chanted to take the KPU chairperson into their street justice. The Prabowo pair team also, ignorance of the public outcries for the country to move on, planned to canvass another tactic for a parliamentary committee to examine the election. If successful the Presidential inauguration scheduled for 20 October could be stalled, pushing the nation into politically hazardous territory.

I hope this is not happening! With the transparency of the judicial process so far and the increasing disappointment of the people with the Prabowo pair appalling movements, surely the lawmakers at the House will restrain themselves to agitate the public and plunge the nation into a deeper rift.

Having seen all these infuriating drama, I just want an end to all these foolish game. Like most citizens in this country, we want to move on! We want peace and unity after such a divide in the last presidential election. We have seen enough fools! We are sick seeing these wolves on stage fighting over the crown out of their reach!

So, please please please after MK gives its final binding verdict, all parties accept the decision! The result will be a victory of the people with regard to the development of democracy in the country, and in view of that, let’s hope that all sides will accept the result.  Let's support any President enforced by the decision and work together for the better future of Indonesia.