Archive of English and Indonesian Articles
(including PDF files)
The anatomy of a kiss
by Jennie S. Bev A kiss is not just a kiss. It is more and sometimes it is less than itself. A kiss may mean many things, yet we all are so infatuated with kisses. We kiss and are kissed. We love watching kissing movie scenes and cheer whenever we see lovebirds...
Virtue, liberty, and rational control
by Jennie S. Bev 2009 was filled with drama. A high wall between the Indonesian people and their government continued to exist. Great divides were present between hope and reality, between policy and implementation, and between the powerful and the powerless....
Minority rights, cladistics, and language watch
by Jennie S. Bev One of the most common form of harassments experienced by a minority is verbal. Often it is so subtle that the targeted group doesn’t even realize. In Indonesia, it’s common that abusive and oppressive remarks are made by the media and even by...
Statelessness, refugees, and human rights
by Jennie S. Bev The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed in Article 14 that everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. In Article 15, it stated that everyone has the right to a nationality...
The Mindanao conflict, ‘rido,’ and foul politics
by Jennie S. Bev The Mindanao conflict is one of the oldest and the most misunderstood conflicts in human history. The complexity of this conflict involving intricate relationships pertaining to self-determination and access and control pertaining to land, which is...
Universal jurisdiction and global governance
by Jennie S. Bev International law has risen to a new level where it is no longer a series of norms that nations agree to adopt but rarely enforce. It has risen to a new plateau where it is more than a political instrument. Landmark cases are being...
Charter for Compassion and hope
by Jennie S. Bev On November 12, the Charter for Compassion, a document promoting peace and tolerance, will be officiated and hopefully it will serve as an antidote to religious fundamentalism. It is the brainchild of religious scholar Karen Armstrong whose...
Asian culture is thriving in America
by Jennie S. Bev In today’s mainstream society, Americans illustrate a greater acceptance of Asian influences, values, and culture. Asian pop culture is thriving. From suburban noodle houses to Zen-style spas, Ayurvedic restaurants,...
Verisimilitude, bullshit, and meaning
by Jennie S. Bev Every single incident captured through the senses has at least one meaning, if not several. Meanings are both attached and given. As a writer, I give both concrete and abstract meanings to many things, since verisimilitude is a principle that I always...
The stoning law, wan’ni, and sharia implementations
by Jennie S. Bev Bylaws in Aceh for stoning adulterers to death and 100 lashes for premarital sex should be nullified as they are not merely against human rights and unconstitutional, but perpetuate the myth of inequality and overindulge in the...
Jennie M. Xue is an award-winning author and a bilingual columnist based in Northern California. She writes in English and Indonesian and is known as one of the most prolific Indonesia-born bilingual authors and columnists. Her English-only site and writing portfolio is JenniferXue.com.
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