Parking lots (female only?)

Well hi its been a while since i wrote the last post :) i had so many things to do! yeah busy days are ahead of me, upcoming exams, tons of assignments, tons of reports but just gotta love em all haha otherwise I'll be flunked and no one wants that!! hahaha

By they way I'm here to discuss something that Ive been wondering about, just thought I'd share to you guys :) Ive been hmmm thinking about an issue regarding women roles and women ability in public spheres. It's about parking lots for women. I did not keep track really but I have been encountering this in many public spaces. For those who might feel unfamiliar with this its fine because at the very first time i found this very confusing! Let me explain it to you a bit, car parks for women, as you can interpret, are indeed built for women only. Many malls in Asia typically have these kind of car parks which is weird for me because hmmm I'm kinda wondering about what are these car parks for. Well, you might as well have to take a look at the positive side, many women feel that female car parks are very helpful that they dont have to go all over the lots to get their car parked because they are provided with certain places as their lots but then if you see from the other side, which is quite negative is that it's gender biased?

The thing is... the car parks for women are built in the same level & places with the car parks for disable people. Wait! I'm not talking shit about disable people and nor am I complaining about the parks that are provided for them but then again women are not disabled!! Not all women are bad at driving? Like, I know heaps of women who drive 24/7 anywhere and anytime they want to and they aint got shit during their time driving cars. When I shared this with my friends, she said that I'm complaing to much about little things, and that I should just shut up and accept because it is helpful for women. Well, let me get this straight. I'm not saying that it is NOT helpful. I personally think that it gives a lot of benefits for women. What I really need to emphasize here is that, we, as women, need to have some critical thoughts!! Why would they compare us to disable people?

So, before I even posted this, I did a little research on WHAT are their reasons of building parking lots for women. I didn't get that many informations but all that I could get is that because women doesnt have strong sense of distance. Oh wait what?! You need to calm down a bit right there, because that surely is a stereotype. I know a lot of women who drive even better than man? Myself, I have been learning on how to drive since like, a month ago and I don't really find such difficulties and I'm ready to surf the roads!!

Society judges too quick especially when it comes to women issues. Ever since the 1st feminsm movement was invented women are restricted to have roles in public spheres. But now that time flies, things changed. Yes, we do get our rights. But  have we got the equality yet? I think we haven't

Talking about equality, especially in the country where I live in, Indonesia. Women are excluded although there are so many women who have reached better quality of life still they are not treated the same way as men are treated. Examples? too many to explain but this parking lots thingy is just one of them!

Women are not the second citizens and that we do have to go over everything that we encounter in our daily lives. We need to take a lot closer and find if it really is good for us and if it is not find the reason why. A lot of us, even me, sometimes, do not really pay attention on the things that are provided to us. We would just accept it as it is but that is now how to live life. I'm now getting myself used to be critical in everway of my life. Remember, the truth is not always true. What is true for us might not be true for others :) Again, as women, let's be critical!! It's not that we oppose everything that is given to use, its about how we make use of our brains and questioning if its really good!

Thanks so much for reading this and have a nice day!

Aku bosan

"Hei, kamu kenapa diam aja?"
Suara itu mengejutkan ku, suara lembut yang sangat ku kenal, suara itu suara...
"Daniel! bikin aku kaget aja! lamunanku sedang jauh, udaranya dingin jadi bikin aku menghayal jauh sekali" ujarku.
"Why don't you come in, then? udaranya memang sedang tidak stabil, ayo masuk" Ucapnya sambil menyerahkan jaket kulitnya kepadaku sambil tersenyum "Nih, pake" Perutku mencelos! Daniel selalu cara untuk membuatku tersipu malu. Belum sempat aku mengambil jaket yang diulurkan Daniel, petir menghambar, suaranya menggelegar dan...

"Taniaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!"
Tersentak aku dari bangunku. Oh tidak lagi! Jangan bilang semua yang terjadi hanya mimpi! Daniel? Daniel mana kamu? Belum sempat menyadarkan diri dari mimpi, teriakan mama memaksa ku untuk membuka pintu "Iya ma ini aku sudah bangun"
Ah mama, selalu saja memotong mimpi indahku. Aku kan sedang bertemu Daniel. Kapan lagi aku bisa bertemu dengan pria seperti Daniel kalau bukan di mimpi! Nah, sekarang semua tahu kan? Daniel itu buah mimpiku! Sudah dua tahun dia selalu menemani mimpiku. Walaupun tak setiap hari menghampiriku, dia selalu menghadirkan kisah-kisah baru dihidupku. Sekarang pasti kalian menganggap aku gila! Aku enggak peduli. Selama ini cuma Daniel yang bisa mengerti perasaanku. Aku bukan gadis remaja yang beruntung seperti yang lainnya. Hidupku biasa saja, bahkan bisa dibilang dibawah rata-rata. Aku tinggal di permukiman padat bersama mamaku. Jangan tanya ayahku, aku bahkan tidak mau mengenalnya lagi. Hari hariku biasa kujalani dengan kegiatan kampus, iya, sekarang aku sedang menjalani semester ke 4 ku. Tania bukan gadis yang pintar, tidak punya teman banyak, bahkan tidak pandai bergaul. Begitu kata mereka semua. Iya memang aku tidak pernah bergaul. Aku benci masyarakat, aku benci dengan segala justifikasi mereka, aku benci cara mereka mencibir mengenai kehidupanku, aku memang benci hidupku tapi itu bukan urusan mereka! Aku benci semuanya. Satu satunya yang aku punya cuman, Daniel. Aku enggak terbiasa mencurahkan perasaan ke mama. Mama itu pendiam, mungkin karena bebannya banyak. Aku enggak mau membebaninya dengan tetek bengekku. Bahkan tidak untuk urusan finansial. Aku bekerja part time untuk membantu mama membiayai kuliahku. Nah sekarang bisa lihat kan betapa membosankannya hidupku!

Hari ini hari Rabu, hari pertamaku bekerja di restauran baru. Pekerjaan lamaku terlalu berat sehingga mau tak mau aku harus mencari pekerjaan lain. Beruntung mama punya teman yang bersedia menempatkan ku di restauran barunya. Semoga saja hariku akan menjadi lebih baik hari ini. Satu hal yang aku senangi dari pekerjaanku sebagai pelayan restauran, beda dengan pekerjaan lamaku, sekarang aku bisa melihat watak watak orang yang berada disekitarku. Anggaplah mereka adalah representasi dari masyarakat di kehidupan kita. Ah memang, terkadang ada ada saja tingkah laku orang orang. Ini baru hari pertama, dan aku sudah menemui tingkah laku yang belum pernah aku temui sebelumnya.

"Kamu pegawai baru ya?" Tanya seorang pria berbadan besar kepadaku
"Ngg.. Iya.. kebetulah ini hari pertama saya" Aku sedikit gemetar, raut muka pria itu menunjukkan sepertinya dia tidak senang akan kehadiranku.
"Yah, semoga sukses bekerja disini, kamu bakan bertemu banyak orang, semoga saja kamu tahan"
Ucapnya dengan intonasi yang sangat kaku.
"I..iya pak, terimakasih atas sarannya, saya pamit kebelakang dulu" Sahutku sambil melengos ke dapur.
Belum apa apa aku sudah dihadapkan dengan kekakuan orang disekitarku! Ah, aku rindu Daniel. Aku benci kekakuan ini. Tapi Daniel selalu mengingatkan ku untuk tetap semangat, dan untuk berhenti menghujat hidupku. Mau tak mau inilah hidup yang harus ku jalani.

Bel berbunyi, aku harus segera bersiap untuk melayani pelanggan. Perasaanku sangat aneh, disatu sisi aku senang, disisi lain aku gugup dan sedih.Oh itu manajerku sudah datang, dia lah teman mama yang berbaik hati menempatkan ku di restaurannya.

"Hei, Tania, ini hari pertamamu ya di sini? Semoga kamu bisa bekerja dengan baik" Ujar pak Aris, begitu panggilannya
"Terimakasih pak, saya akan berusaha untuk yang terbaik"
"Yah, bagus kalau begitu, sekarang bersiap siap, pelanggan sudah menunggu"
"Baik pak" Ujarku sambil tersenyum. Memang aku tersenyum, tapi hatiku sedikit gundah, atau mungkin aku hanya rindu Daniel..

"Selamat pagi, ada yang bisa saya bantu?" Sapaku kepada pelanggan wanita yang baru saja datang. Sepertinya wanita ini seorang wanita bisnis, pakaiannya sangat rapi terlebih lagi dihiasi dengan parasnya yang manis. Di sampingnya berdiri seorang anak kecil mirip dengannya, berseragam sekolah lucu sekali mungkin umurnya masih sekitar 5 atau 6 tahun.
"Saya pesan dua potong roti manis dan dua gelas teh hangat, tolong dibungkus dan cepat ya mbak saya sedang terburu buru anak saya rewel ingin cepat-cepat sekolah" Ujarnya tergesa gesa, dugaanku benar, dia sedang terburu buru.
"Oh baik ibu, sebentar saya proses pesananya" Tugasku memang hanya menerima pesanan dan menyerahkannya kepada petugas didapur. Tak begitu susah.
"Sebentar bu pesananya sedang diproses, ibu boleh menunggu di tempat duduk jika berkenan" Tawarku, restauran memang masih sepi. Belum terlihat pelanggan lain selain wanita ini.
"Oh tidak apa mbak, disini saja, mbak nya orang baru ya ?"
"Kebetulan iya bu," jawabku sambil tersenyum. Perhatianku tak luput dari si kecil yang sedari tadi manyun "Anaknya lucu sekali bu, pasti pintar seperti papa dan mamanya"
"Papanya? Mirisnya dia bahkan tidak mengenal papanya. Sudahlah mbak, kamu sebagai gadis, jangan pernah harapkan lelaki. Lelaki itu buaya darat pengisap darah" Katanya sambil cekikikan. Agak bingung dengan perkataannya, dan kenapa dia berani mengatakan hal pribadi ke orang lain seperti aku. Tapi watak orang berbeda beda lagian anggap saja dia memberiku nasihat.
"Begitukah bu? Tapi saya yakin ibu wanita yang tegar, oh! pesananya sudah datang, silahkan bu, total semuanya Rp. 20.000" Ujarku sambil tersenyum.
Wanita itu kemudian bergegas mengambil uang didompetnya. "Ini mbak, terimakasih"
"Terimakasih kembali ibu, hati hati dijalan" Kataku.
Wanita itu kemudian menggandeng si kecil yang terlihat gembira mengetahui dia akan segera diantar kesekolah nya. Ah aku ingin kembali ke masa kecil dimana aku belum mengenal rasa sakit dan benci.

Oh pelanggan lain datang, seorang pria seumuranku, sepertinya
"Selamat pagi, ada yang bisa saya bantu?"
"Coklat panas satu, dibungkus."
"Baik, ada lagi yang bisa saya bantu?"
"Enggak" Jawabnya singkat.
"Baik, segera saya proses" Ujarku sambil memberi kode kepada petugas didapur.
"Mbaknya gak kuliah? keliatannya seumuran dengan saya" Tanyanya dengan tiba-tiba.
"Saya kerja part time mas, masnya sendiri?"
"Gue di DO, males kuliah, buat apa juga kuliah"
"Loh kuliah itu kan perlu mas, lagian sekarang apa-apa butuh 

Princess Ameera: Breaking The Inherent Habits in Saudi Arabia

A Saudi Arabian sweetheart, Princess Ameera Al-Taweel of Saudi Arabia was born in 1983 (qtd. online). She is the kind of woman that every girl wishes to be. She doesn’t only have the looks but also a good heart and briliant brain. Unlike any other princess in Saudi Arabia, Princess Amira is the only princess who goes on public and also she dares to build constructive critics about women’s roles in Saudi Arabia through the global media. As the wife of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, Princess Ameerah travels on behalf of the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundations in an aim to promote Saudi Arabian’s potency and to criticize what needs to be changed in Saudi Arabia. As the representative of developed Saudi Arabian women, she has plans for the future of Saudi Arabia particularly on women’s roles in such restricted society and culture. She believes that it is something that is made by the close minded members of society that interpret religion values in a wrong way. This paper aims to explore more of her experiences in encouraging Saudi Arabian women to stand up for themselves.

Princess Ameerah has made her way in supporting equal rights for women in global media. Supported by a lot of people in her life, including her husband as one of the most supportive person in her struggle, Princess Ameerah believes that there is a huge chance for the close minded habits to blow over. By close minded, she means that the habits that restrict Saudi Arabian Women from doing even as simple as driving a car outside. Unlike any other women and princesses of Saudi Arabia, Princess Ameerah drives her car wherever she goes even sometimes she drives for her husband. She supposses that if she can do so, then other women can do as well. She and her husband travel around the world on behalf of the foundation to promote Saudi Arabian in a lot of ways. One of them is making a group of successful Saudia Arabian women go on public and make them known as role models for other women in Saudi Arabia. She meets many important people including President Barack Obama and his wife to discuss about major issues of women in Saudi Arabia. She also happened to meet a lot of women from different country and shared the same issue of being a woman. She thinks that in order to break the habits she needs a lot more supports not only from women themselves but also media because she realizes media has a huge power in society.

In addition, it’s not only her husband who supports her yet also her family. She is a very well educated woman and she even speaks english very fluently. Without any support from the people she loves, she would not even make the way she is now. She is also supported by a lot of women in Saudi Arabia. Hearing that there is now a progress of emantipation and empowerment done by women, Princess Ameerah is very glad that she is now waiting for more women to do so. Both of the royal couple, Princess Ameerah and Prince Alwaleed bin Tawal believe that women need to have the same exact rights likewise men.

In order to drive change and break the boundaries in her country, Princess Ameera has done several projects on promoting the potency of Saudi Arabian women. Their job as NGO is to help facilitate those changes and build civil society. 70% of bank account now owned by women, a lot of women are succesful in education, bussiness, and the health care sectors and the foundation would like to see more of women to achieve these in other sectors for instance the legal sector. One of the things that they do is  supporting a program to basically help employee 600 women who are graduated from law faculty to become lawyers. The foundation also makes this workshop whereby these 600 women gather together with another organization and learn about to channel their voices. They also have a program of women leaders whereby all the succesful women are portrayed in media so society will be aware of them and women are encouraged to look up to them.

Saudi Arabia is very conservative when it comes to religion values. Women are required to wear veils. Yet, critics sent by Princess Ameera who does not wear veil in public herself, is very logical whereby she states that wearing veil is a matter of choice and there is no way for people to judge women just because she doesn’t choose to wear veil. The only one who is capable of judging an individual is God and He will judge you based on your choices. She doesn’t really have problem in wearing veil. She is raised with it but to her it is a matter of making your own decision. To Princess Ameera, she doesn’t live to please anyone else. She is who she is and people cannot judge her for being herself.

Her supportive husband, Al-Waleed bin Tawal, is one of the richest man in Saudi Arabia. He is the Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, and also the Chairman of the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundations (qtd. online). As one of the richest man, and also a prince, Prince Al-Waleed bin Tawal becomes very influential in his country whereby  higher member of social status is highly appreciated. He is one of the best support for Princess Ameera. Unlike any other husbands or princes, Prince Al-waleed allows her wife to drive car, doesn’t restrict his wife from doing what she wants and in fact it gives a huge amount of impacts to Princess Ameera, she is one of the most educational woman, and also considered as hero of a lot of women who are frustrated to make a change in Saudi Arabia.

In journey travelling all over the world, she has met a lot of women who shared the same issues of being a woman and yet they all want to drive a change. She has met the wives of Saudi Arabia ambassadors and also wives from ambasasdors from all countries and they sat together and gathered to share the same challanges. She personally thinks that this journey will always run and there is no end point and yet again it needs big support from women. On behalf of the foundation, she shares the global cultural views.

This strong dream of Princess Ameera seems to be very unbreakable that no one will ever stop her from struggling for women in Saudi Arabia. Her dreams are not without reasons. She is raised in a strict culture whereby religion and culture comes together as one or even religion is considered at the only culture that should be followed. Her findings of false right given by women made her ask and criticize the right that is given for women. Her background of education enlight her critics leads her to the point where she believes there are a lot of things which need to be changed in Saudi Arabia. The aims brought by Princess Ameera is very bright that it should be followed by almost every woman in the world not only Saudi Arabia. A lot of women in the world are suffering because their rights are declined. Princess Ameera, has opened the way for every women to open their eyes and see that there are a lot of chances to show their true selfs and be on their own

Ditya Eka Jeulita’s Opinion on the struggle brought by Princess Ameera:

            To me, Princess Ameera is one of the biggest stepping stone for a lot of women in Saudi Arabia to see the light that has been shutted down for a long time in their culture. I personally think there is no right and wrong in culture yet when it comes to declining the right of one individual, the matter of culture can be very offensive furthermore if it happens to be related to religion. By looking at the struggle contributed by Princess Ameera, society should be alaramed of how bad the position of women are right now. Eventhough Saudi Arabian women seem to be the only ones who experience this challenge but as a matter of fact almost every women still experience the same issues of women’s roles. Women’s roles in society and public sector has become a long debate since the very first wave of feminism in 80’s. Women were restricted in public sectors and required to merely fit in the private sectors such as households, and child bearing. Now that a lot of women are employed in public sectors, inequality still remains. There are still women who are abused to death, women are allowed to have a job in public sectors yet still required to fill in private sectors at the same time, women are being sexualized in media and rather viewed as objects of sexuality. All of these issues are challanges for women not only Saudi Arabian Women.

To me Princess Ameera is a hero for all women in the world. It is not about how she is a princess and how she has links and channels but it is about how she can make advantages of the links and channels and contribute it for the sake of women in Saudi Arabia. Many conservative and close minded people might think she is the generation of rebellion but that is just for the conservative. They might as well have to take a look at the fact that human right has been declined and it is such a shame because even religion teaches us to treat others as equal and in His eyes we are never different. As stated by Princess Ameera, the struggle has no end point and the goal is to achieve equality. The progress of the struggle shows a good chance that in the future the civil society will develop and hopefully women will be able to have their rights evenly.

The Angel of My Life

Wanita itu, wanita yang penuh senyuman. Wanita yang selalu tegar menghadapi segala hal. Wanita yang tangguh dalam mengerjakan pekerjaannya.Wanita yang penuh harapan. Harapan yang semua diberikan untuk buah hatinya. Harapan agar kelak buah jantungnya sukses, agar kelak ia dapat melihatnya punya kehidupan yang lebih baik lagi. Seluruh hidupnya ia berikan untuk kita. Untuk kebahagiaan kita...

Momma.

Mom, thanks for feeding me when I was a child
Mom, thanks for teaching me how to walk
Mom, thanks for teaching me how to talk
Mom, thanks for buying sweet things for me
Mom, thanks for cooking my favorite foods.
Mom, thanks for singing me a lullaby everynight before I went to sleep.
Mom, thanks for holding my hand when I was scared
Mom, thanks for hugging me and telling me everything is gonna be okay when you know it's not
Mom, thanks for kissing me and telling me how much you love me when I cried
Mom, thanks for everything mom. I can't even mention all the things because it's too much to say.

Mom, I love you so much. Despite all bad things I have ever done, bad words that have ever come out of my mouth.

Mom, you are the best thing I have ever had.

& if you grow older

and you need me to feed you, to listen to your stories, to cook your favorite foods, to hold your hand, to kiss you when you're afraid, to hug and sing you a lullaby everynight, to be there when you need me, I will always do although all those things are never worth the things you have done to me.

 Mom, Thanks for giving me a birth. Thanks for giving me your life & Thanks GOD for sending me the angel of my life. 

Hey!

So yea hey it's been forever since the last time I wrote shit on here but yea my life has been gooiiing crazy I mean like REAL crazy. I've got more stuffs to do. Things like I had NEVER done before and it is sure amazing. I got to learn new things which is interesting. I had this stage show drama which was FANTASTIC. Well, I heard how fantastic it was from the audiences though. They didn't expect I would pull it off! Well neither did I? I just know that I did my best and about I had to put my anxiety under control! Oh, haven't even told ya that it was a SINderella story that was shown. It wasn't like the same exact disney Cinderella you usually hear and see. It's SINderella! Notice the difference? I suppose you are getting the point now :P Well yea, the Sinderella is definietley not a Damsel in disteress anymore! This Sinderella is the moderen one instead and she hates her stepsisters. Unlike Cinderella who most likely hides her hatred feeling for her stepsisters, Sinderella tends to be more cocky! Likewise, her stepsisters (as always) :P but then, her stepsiters are even better than Sinderella. Now you are getting the main point! YUP! Sinderella is the bad guy :P Wellllllll then, she killed me :O (Yes, anyways I'm Ruth, her elder step sister) Suprising? Ain't it? :)) It's not without the hard work of the scriptwriters, director, and also all of the crews :)! It was a SUPERB stage show I'm honored!

It is just one amazing stuff I have done this year. Frankly, this is the best year, ever. Memories were made. I know it obviously definietly not ONLY about those sweet, loveydovey memories but tough memories thou! I mean, I'm happy that I've passed tough times so I now have something to learn from. That's what life means!

OOOOOOOOOOH, another great thing, my family is coming over this December which is AMAZIIIIING. I had not seen my brother and cousins for like FOREVER but ugh they're going back on the fifth - January :[ Which is mhmmmm one week ahead! Sad sad sad. I'm looking forward for the next meeting :)! I've spent most of my days with them. Fortunately, I'm having my days off within two weeks ahead so yea!

Merry Xmas to everyone who celebrates tho :P And happy new year in advance!! Welllllll, SAM IS A BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL THIS MONTH =)) HAPPY BDAY MY BABYGIRL <3333

Ugh anyways, I'm sad to face the truth that I will have to let go of 2011 SOON! I mean like WOW this year has been the best year for the past 18 years of my life! I mean, wow, bunch of memories I sure as hell will miss 2011 A LOT!!
I'd love to write all memories in 2011 but it will take like FOREVER haha plus you'd be bored reading this :P! But I can say those memories are AWESOME! LIKE LEGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!
New bestfriends, BEST BOYFRIEND (BABY IF YOU'RE READING THIS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'VE MADE THE BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE! I LOVE YOU ALEX BABY!) Best family.
COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE :')

I hope 2012 will be even better than 2011! We do hope so. I hope that I WILL FINISH MY STUDIES WITHIN 2 YEARS MAXIMUM? NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!!!!!! :d Focus Tya Hocus-Pocus! :))
 and I hope to meet my baby too :')! Well I HOOPE! and get new friends? getting closer to my bestfriends?! YUUUP :) Well in a nutshell, I WISH A BETTER LIFE FOR EVERYONE WHO'S NOW READING THIS~!

Well I guess that was it :)) I'll try to keep writing! Hope to keep in touch!
BYEEE

MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!! WOOOHOOO!

Arus Globalisasi Dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Budaya Lokal

           Seiring dengan berkembangnya zaman, arus globalisasi semakin deras melewati batas-batas budaya yang dahulunya bahkan mungkin tak dapat dilewati. Namun, kini dengan kecanggihan teknologi, segala hal sangat mudah untuk dilakukan. Beberapa puluh tahun yang lalu, orang-orang jaman dahulu mungkin harus berjalan kaki menuju kantor pos untuk mengirim sepucuk surat dan kemudian harus menunggu surat balasan dalam jangka waktu yang cukup lama. Beberapa tahun belakangan ini, Anda sudah tidak perlu repot mengeluarkan tenaga untuk mengirimkan surat. Teknologi telah menyedikan layanan SMS atau E-mail bagi anda yang ingin mengirimkan surat untuk kolega yang berada jauh dari anda. Masalah waktu, anda hanya perlu kurang dari satu menit agar pesan atau surat anda disampaikan. Teknologi hanya merupakan salah satu produk buatan globalisasi. Globalisasi adalah suatu proses dimana antar individu, kelompok maupun negara saling berinteraksi satu sama lain melintasi batas-batas negara. Teknologi hanya merupakan satu dari sekian banyak ciri era globalisasi. Berkat teknologi, dinding-dinding pemisah antar budaya kini bisa dibilang sudah tidak setebal dahulu. Saat ini, kita bisa dapat dengan mudah mengkonsumsi dan mendapatkan gagasan-gagasan baru melalui pengembangan media massa yang melintasi berbagai ragam budaya. Namun dibalik kemegahan dan kemewahan globalisasi, ada beberapa hal yang akhir-akhir ini menjadi topik perdebatan. Arus globalisasi yang begitu deras kemudian telah menyeret budaya-budaya lokal yang mempunyai nilai-nilai yang berbanding terbalik dengan budaya global saat ini. Maka dari itu, tulisan ini khusus menyorot relevansi budaya lokal dan dampak yang diakibatkan satu sama lain.

Perubahan budaya yang terjadi di masyarakat tradisional yang dahulunya merupakan masyarakat tertutup dan kini menjadi lebih terbuka adalah salah satu dampak dari globalisasi. Interaksi budaya yang terus menerus terjadi setiap hari beperangaruh terhadap sistem sosial masyarakat adat. Media massa saat ini sangat banyak menampilkan tayangan-tayangan yang menjunjung tinggi budaya global. Kemudian, mudahnya akses internet yang mendatangkan berbagai informasi dari berbagai belahan dunia mempunyai peran besar terhadap maraknya interaksi antar budaya. Berbicara tentang mudahnya akses internet, internet telah memberikan banyak manfaat di masyarakat luas. Banyaknya beasiswa yang bertebaran di situs-situs resmi universitas internasional memudahkan generasi muda untuk mendapatkan informasi mengenai beasiswa yang memang disediakan oleh universitas asing. Terbukti, hal ini telah membantu banyak generasi muda untuk meningkatkan kompetensi diri demi menjadi bibit-bibit kompeten dengan standar internasional. Namun Indonesia kini tengah mengalami dilema akan maraknya interaksi antar budaya. Komunikasi dan sarana global telah menghilangkan batas-batas budaya. Tayangan yang di tampilkan media seperti televisi, majalah remaja dan sebagian dari situs-situs di internet merupakan tampilan budaya  kental dan gaya hidup negara-negara adidaya seperti Amerika Serikat. Film-film hollywood yang kerap di tayangkan seakan mengglamorisasi budaya liberal pada remaja-remaja Indonesia. Sedangkan tatanan-tatanan moral yang merupakan filosifi budaya Indonesia asli mengalami kemunduran drastis.  Remaja masa kini merasa bahwa eksistensi dirinya hanya akan terbentuk jika ia telah mengikuti gaya hidup budaya liberal yang merupakan ciri khas negara adidaya. Ini adalah ironi globalisasi bagi negara ini.  

Media seperti televisi yang seharusnya menjadi penyokong ilmu bagi masyarakat kini hanya penuh dengan sinetron-sinetron dengan tema yang tidak jauh dari roman picisan belaka dengan sorotan kehidupan liberal. Artis-artis yang ditampilkan kerap berbau seks dan merupakan penganut hedonisme. Tak tampak lagi tayangan edukatif yang mendorong masyrakat untuk menjadi produktif. Sebaliknya, yang dapat disaksikan hanyalah tanyangan yang merupakan adopsi dari budaya liberal yang berbanding terbalik dengan filosofi budaya lokal. Dampaknya sangat signifikan dan ironis. Survey yang dilakukan Kesehatan Reproduksi Remaja Indonesia (SKRRI) menemukan fakta bahwa ternyata remaja putri berusia 14 sampai 19 tahun, persentasenya lebih tinggi dari pada remaja putra soal pernah berhubungan seksual yakni 34,7% untuk permpuan dan 30,9% untuk pria. Demikian juga untuk remaja berusia 20 sampai 24 tahun, remaja perempuan 48,6% dan pria 46,5%. Bahkan berdasarkan penelitian Lembaga Studi Cinta dan Kemanusiaan serta Pusat Pelatihan Bisnis dan Humaniora selama 3 tahun (1999 – 2002) pada tempat kos mahasiswa di Yogyakarta menunjukkan 97,05 persen dari 1660 mahasiswa yang diteliti sudah hilang keperawanannya. Ironis bukan? Melihat semua problematika ini, sifat konservatif memang sangat dibutuhkan terumata dalam menjaga nilai-nilai luhur budaya Indonesia karena kalau sampai hal ini berkelanjutan, tentu saja akan sangat merugikan bagi bangsa ini.

Bangsa ini perlu pembangunan karakter nasional yang kuat. Tak ada salahnya mengadopsi hal baik dari budaya lain, namun sangat baik jika kita dapat terhindar dari hal-hal buruk yang bertentangan dengan nilai luhur budaya bangsa. Bangsa ini butuh generasi muda yang kuat, produktif, cerdas dalam memilih mana yang baik dan mana yang benar bagi diri sendiri maupun bagi bangsa ini. Bangsa ini tidak butuh generasi yang hedonis dan konsumtif. Filterisasi budaya merupakan hal yang tepat untuk dilakukan anak-anak bangsa dewasa ini. Sudah sepatutnya generasi muda sadar akan tugasnya sebagai penyelamat bangsa bukan penghancur dan pengkhianat bangsa ini. Generasi muda yang baik tidak akan membiarkan nilai-nilai luhur budaya bangsa ini pudar dan hilang.

Source :

Redaksi. Separuh Dari 63 Juta Jiwa Remaja Di Indonesia Rentan Berprilaku Tidak Sehat. 5 Juli, 2010  <http://beritasore.com/2010/07/05/separuh-dari-63-juta-jiwa-remaja-di-indonesia-rentan berprilaku-tidak-sehat/>

       

Adopting Foreign Culture to Strengthen The National Character Building

        In this global era where we are linked to so many cultures all over the world, to adjust or to adapt cultures, somehow, is needed. People have acknowledge that these days, it is easier for them to get to know people with cultural differences. Thanks to technology. Culture in some ways are infuentual to one and another. By taking an example of Indonesia which is one of the most visited tourist attraction, this essay attemps to analyze what kind of culture that should be adopted in terms of constructing the national character. The culture that should be adopted by the western culture are the work ethic attitude , and the the self-confidence. Yet, there are several western culture that should not be adopted as well, just because they don’t fit in eastern culture particularly Indonesian culture. Those are the libelarism and also the individualism in society.

            When talking about work ethic, every culture, somehow has its own fundamental values of what will be influential for the culture to affect the work ethic. The majority of people in Indonesia chose the proffesion as an employee rather than entrepeneur. However, if it is examined further, data shows Indonesia is one of the hottest markets for businesses looking at rapid growth of population and also its starategic location. How does this happen? To analyze this further, we need to take a look at the historical aspects. Back to decades ago, Indonesia was under the authority of Dutch for hundred of years. The repression might had affected and shaped the slave mentality of Indonesians. In concequence, these days people see so many chineese people take over the bussiness of Indonesia. Unlike the culture of Indonesia, the majority of foreign culture have a very different viewpoint of work ethic. Western culture for instance, considering the historical aspect, they are accustomed to be the leader of managing the colonialization. Indonesia needs to throw away the slave mentality and encourage themselves. The attitude toward managing work ethic should be adopted. In order to streghten the national character, this nation needs to thicken the leader mentality of the people particularly the youth generations.

            The culture of Indonesia also has the lack of indivual self-confidence. Thus the youth generations of nowadays have the tendecy to have a low self-esteem. Analyzing by its historical aspects, Indonesia, under the repression of Dutch, were shaped to have a victim mentality.  In a concequence, Indonesian people particularly youth generations are usually not well-prepared and vulnerable to compete in this global era. Unlike the culture of Indonesia, western culture for instance, are used to have a high self-confidence that helps them competating in the new  era of globalization. In order to have a better comptence, Indonesians should leave the mentality of victims left by Dutch colonization decades ago and on the contrary, should adapt the mentality of western culture.

            However, culture provides differences that are not fit into each other. Indonesia with its highly collectivist culture somehow, does not always fit into another culture. Liberalism  is the culture that should not be adopted. Indonesian are known as a collectivist culture and according to all points of Pancasila all that matters is to unify all of the civilians. Fact shows that libelarism has taken over our society especially the youth generations.  The amount of teenagers who completely adopted the lifestyle of western lifestyle has increased. Survey shows that 32 percent of average teenagers have had sex and that is heartbreaking fact considering how high the context of culture of Indonesia. This kind of culture should not be adopted. Parents should keep an eye on their children because teenagers are so unstable about what they should be doing and what they should not.

            In conclusion, to define culture, there will never be the “right” one and the “wrong” one. In the end everyone should filter everything and adopt it if it fits into. In order to strengthen the national character in the new era of globalization, Indonesia, as one of the most visited country should be aware of differences of cultures in all over the world.