Archive of English and Indonesian Articles
(including PDF files)
Is Indonesia slipping back from its historic tolerance?
by Jennie S. Bev This month marks the 10th anniversary of the reformasi movement in Indonesia. Begun with the shootings of four Trisakti University students in Jakarta, a week of violent demonstrations throughout Java followed, and the subsequent political turmoil,...
Ten years after May 1998 tragedy
by Jennie S. Bev This May, we are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the May 1998 tragedy, which is better known as the May 1998 riots. This historic incident is an important life-changing milestone in many people's lives, whoever they are. I lost my innocence...
Compassionate democracy: myth or reality?
by Jennie S. Bev Democracy in its simplest definition refers to rule by the majority, in which their voice determines decisions. In other words, this definition implies that minorities have very little, or even no voice at all. While there are instances of...
America the undereducated?
by Jennie S. Bev In a global world that will judge us on our intellect, the United States is falling behind. The Mountain House Branch Library allows every member to check out 50 items at a time. But according to Susan Jacoby, in her highly acclaimed book, The...
“Fitna” and digital exclusion
by Jennie S. Bev In October last year, Indonesian Internet users enjoyed momentary happiness when Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh personally promised "free speech among bloggers,” and then when both the government and private sectors agreed...
Banality and compassion
by Jennie S. Bev Modern lifestyle is known to be quite monotonous and routine. Many people work, live, and even breathe on cruise-control auto-pilot mode. Those who follow the rules are oftentimes stamped as “good gatekeepers” and those who despise and challenge the...
Romancing the Koran in Indonesia
by Jennie S. Bev Indonesians have been flocking to a wildly popular novel by a young Indonesian named Habiburrahman El-Shiraz, and now an equally popular new movie, Ayat-Ayat Cinta, (translated as Love Verses). At first blush the work sounds hopelessly and religiously...
Prophetic mindset
by Jennie S. Bev Easter is associated with the resurrection of the Savior. For two millennia, Jesus Christ has been regarded as the one who sacrificed himself to save humankind with his divine power as granted from God. However, not many people, even Christians,...
Gender equalities and urgency for fair masculinism
by Jennie S. Bev March 8th is international women’s day. Indonesian culture and laws reflect a utopian message that men and women live in harmony, in an environment that each gender understands and executes their responsibilities wisely. In this notion, men serve as...
Islam and competing in doing good
by Jennie S. Bev Indonesia is a country with three legal systems: civil (continental), Islamic, and adat (customary). Above all, Indonesia is said to be a country based on the concept of rule of law, which is reflected in the 1945 Constitution. But there are also gray...
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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