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Several points I’d like to make:

1. How I write: Glass-half empty, yup, that’s whenever I write “activism” pieces, like this one. I’m half-full in person, which you can read from my personal journals.

2. Why I wrote this piece: A country consists of multiple elements and we can’t discount the fact that culture and the mentality of the majority directly influence how a regime or a government acts/reacts. It is imperative for the majority who are likely to be silent in most circumstances (no matter how bad) to realize that they have the power to make changes, no matter how subtle.

You said, “I’m afraid almost all countries have to deal with this kind of cultural traits that can cause discrimination against minorities. Neither Europe nor America are exemptions to the rule. In the US you better not belong to the poor black minoritie, living in Europe you have a tough time if you are of North African descent.”

Apparently both of us use different frameworks. It seems from your writing that you didn’t distinguish between discrimination and persecution. Discriminatory actions may become the basis of persecutions but persecutions are far more severe than discriminations.

Persecution consists of the so-called “well-founded fear” for the well-being of one’s life. Not in discrminations. Perhaps our egos will be badly burned by being discrminated, but most likely we can still do our normal activities afterwards.

A minority is being persecuted whenever the regime or the so-called “representative of the majority” may act violently or even kill under an ideological reason whenever they feel “offended.” A good example is the current Ahmadis. While the government doesn’t disband Ahmadiyah, the so-called “representative of the majority” who are likely to be minority extremists themselves, might take matters to their own hands for things they don’t “approve.” We have heard chants of homicidal urges from them, haven’t we?

And in my activist’s mind, it is imperative for the majority, who are tolerant-peaceful-yet-silent, to act before it is too late.

The day when compassion dies will be the saddest day of eternity.

Thanks Colson for your visit and comments, as always.

Now to topic.

The distinction you make between loving your country because it’s yours and because it’s lovely, is interesting. This again is a critical yet subtle article. And - that’s where I get the courage to comment on it - it transcends the occasion: the 17the of august. Your article applies to manifestations of nationalism or patriotism in general. Especially the “lovely part” and in that category this line “The greatest country, after all, is one that respects and protects minorities”, caught my eye.

I agree of course. But I wonder whether it is correct to let state, the regime on one side and country on the other, converge. Yes, the state, the authorities, the state of law- all that is meant to protect it’s citizens. That includes minorities - ethnic, religious, cultural. socio-economic. But, if a country lacks a satisfactory government, should that harm one’s, nationalism, one’s patriotism, one’s love for the country?

I doubt that. At least in a democracy there is the possibility to try and vote the government out of office. It’s worse of course if it isn’t the state, but the predominant culture in the country that is hostile to minorities. One can try to change that also, but to bring that about it will not take an election, but several generations.

Yet, in as far as the government and the institutions do their job properly, one can live with the shortcomings of the culture. I’m afraid almost all countries have to deal with this kind of cultural traits that can cause discrimination against minorities. Neither Europe nor America are exemptions to the rule. In the US you better not belong to the poor black minoritie, living in Europe you have a tough time if you are of North African descent.

As for Indonesia, there has been horrible outbursts against minorities in recent history - against ( presumed) communists and Chinese-Indonesians for instance. Triggered, at least not prevented, by the authorities but driven by cultural characteristics.

Nevertheless, I guess some substantial progress have been made since. There is - be it still unfinished - some institutional framework now which can help to establish a state that can effectively protect it’s citizens - against the state itself, against dangerous cultural traits. And, sometimes hesitantly I admit, is prepared to do so.

So, one may say the glass is half empty, but one may as well say the glass is half full.

Alex, bekerja sama dengan satu organisasi di Indonesia, kami sedang mempersiapkan edisi Indonesia. Ada beberapa bagian yang perlu disesuaikan untuk kondisi di Indonesia. Di AS dan Kanada, buku ini akan di-relaunching pada bulan September 2008.

Saya akan infomasikan jika buku ini sudah bisa didapatkan di Indonesia.

Terima kasih untuk Alex yang selalu mendukung kegiatan OTTI.

Ben, thanks for sharing and publish it (You know we need that bukan sekedar cuma mau tahu aja) as we congratulate you for your best effort wrote this precious book.