Are People Still Fans of Peace?

I write this article a week after the blast by terrorists in JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 17, 2009, that caused dozens of victims killed and injured. Because of that tragedy, Manchester United cancelled their visit to Indonesia. That was not the first time for my country facing the terror. Series of brutal terrorism action, including in Bali, tried to create horror in my country.

The blast not only victimizes human life but it also creates fear, horror, and misunderstanding among people. The terrorists are trying to create horror scene, hate, and misunderstanding so seeds of peace within us are difficult to grow.

Ironically, sons and daughters of my motherland have been recruited to do the merciless action. The head of terrorist uses the concept of truth and justice to blind my brothers and sisters to create the terror. It is not about truth and justice. The purpose of mastermind is about something else. He wants create fear and misunderstanding. He wants us kick each others. Perhaps, the doers have not been aware about it. I don’t know who is the head of them but he does not only bring suffer to the victim but to his followers.

Almost all people, whoever they are, believers or non-believers love peace. All religions teach us about peace. Every day, men and women of faith greet each others with the word “peace be with you.’ I believe that deep down inside the terrorist there is still peace. Perhaps, they are skeptic about peace to solve the problems and they are not aware of the power of peace and love. Peace is not the best way to solve the conflict but it is the only one.

According to traditional view in Indonesia, human being has “akal budi.’ Akal means intelligence and smartness. Budi means awareness. Like animal, human being also has instinct for self-defense mechanism but human being has awareness to manage it. Terrorists are smart but they have no awareness. They are just killing-machines. So, awareness development is the key to prevent terrorism and we must start with ourselves. Self-awareness is the starter-key to overcome this horror, and then we can bring peace, hope, and happiness. Be aware that we are the channel of God’s peace, love, hope, and happiness.

Thank God because Thou hast knocked some of my brothers and sisters hearts. Thou hast radiated Thy Love in their mind to do something for peace. Spontaneously, in my country, even if they are from different religions, tribes, and ethnic groups, they unite to overcome the bad situation.

Indonesia Unite

“Indonesia Unite” is spontaneous movement and statement that Indonesians are ready to unite against the terror. “Indonesia Unite” is activated by thousands of Twitter users and other online users. On Friday, July 17, 2009, as the response the bomb explosion, thousands people in Twitter, Facebook, and other online media shout “We are not afraid,” inspired by the rap song “Kami Tidak Takut” (We Are Not Afraid) by Pandji Pragiwaksono. You can see them in www.indonesiaunite.com

National Integration Movement

NIM (National Integration Movement) has been established to respond the threat toward peace in Indonesia. NIM is media for Indonesians, from various ethnics, gender, religions, and education background, who care about the peace in Indonesia. You can see them in www.nationalintegrationmovement.org

Peace Generation

Peace Generation is actively promoting peace in Indonesia. Peace Generation also gives education about peace to the young people. You can see it in peace-generation.com.

Perhaps, there are still many movements to promote the peace, which I have not mentioned in this article but the movement to promote peace proves that people still love peace. Build your inner-peace, be the channel of peace, and spread the peace!