Blogger Indonesia of the Week (82): Sherwin Tobing
I was surprised and happy to know that Fatih Syuhud, one of the most well-known Indonesian bloggers, made me Blogger Indonesia of the Week. I just checked list of previous Blogger Indonesia of the Week and feel humble to see some great bloggers’ names there. I am not trying to keep myself sweet here, when I said something I always meant it.
He read my opinion on Fitna the Movie and here I quoted his comment on it:
But Muslim should also understand the context mentioned in the first para of this piece: the more you’re furious and uncontrollable, the more Geert Wilders (and anyone like him in the past and future) got and will get what they want. Which means you are in a “losing side” of the game. It’s in this context that we need to hear another advice which represents a good spirit and maturity of attitude. And I believe Sherwin Tobing’s take on this issue represents that grown-up spirit.
Sherwin Tobing seems to understand well the thumb rule on how to live together peacefully.
Social relationship between religious followers, particularly between Muslims and Christians is one of my favorite topics to discuss. I have personally seen sooo many Indonesians out there who appeared unsurprisingly pessimistic about Indonesia as a place where there exist friendship and tolerance between Muslims and Christians. I took different stance. You can read my opinion on this issue here. Basically, that article suggested one important starting point for this peaceful coexistence, that is to turn your suspicion and hatred of other followers into positive curiosity.Just like Martin Luther King, Jr who believed that, one day, whites and blacks would be able to join their hands, I believe the same is viable for Muslims and Christians in Indonesia, isn’t it? My optimism grew particularly after I made some non-Indonesian Muslims friends and was able to create close relationship with them regardless of our religions. After all, Muslims are my brothers too.
Lastly, I would thank Mas Fatih for this. He was the one who encouraged me to start writing some articles in English without being afraid of not being read by Indonesian readers. I started to think about improving my English while making my voices also heard by non-Indonesians. I certainly hope I will be able to write better articles from now on.
