The Choir Conductor Unwilling To Step Down

The Choir Conductor Unwilling To Step Down

 I love my choir. I have cared, “watered” them till they grow beautifully today after some 12 years by now. I would never willingly leave my choir to the care of another conductor, even though he might be better than I am. The choir would languish and die. Except if he/she could love this choir of uneducated, untalented old agers of over 70, nearing 80 years, more than I do. Yet, I don’t believe there is any one who ever would.

Is it wrong if I am so unwilling to step down? Could a loving mother ever leave the care of her children to another woman, even were she poor? 

September 2011

Dogs Only, Love, Respect The Old Man

Dogs Only, Love, Respect The Old Man

 I remember him, the old man. When he was a little child, he was so small, weak and behind the others.  But today, am I surprised. He still is healthy in old age. How he managed to do so I don’t know. He is so happy, cheerfully talking to some dogs on the road-side. People regard him less than human, an inferieur being. No one respects, loves him, - I don’t think he has a wife - but these dogs do. They are his friends, his neighbors.

 On Sunday’s, he is waiting to get a tip, an extra earning for looking after the cars - not many cars – that were parked during church service. There are not many people who have a car in the congregation.

 September 2011

A Flower

A Flower

There were beautiful yellow flowers on a vegetable field. But a more beautiful flower was on the bank of a lake, washing,  with her little child.

1970

August 2011

 

What Were It Your President?

What, Were It Your President?

“Have you heard it?” said opa Johan to his wife. “It is said that our president Yudhoyono is forced to step down according to the will of the people, perhaps the people who hate, do not like him. But he wouldn’t. The NATO forces aided the opposing rioters, forces, by invading Indonesia and bomb the president’s residence in Cikeas. The United Nations and many countries urged him to leave Indonesia. Except China, Venezuela don’t consent to foreign intervention. It is reported that foreign forces secretly join them to fight our ABRI  to force our president to surrender as Sadam Husein.”

Wow! Angered, indignent, our people who love and are loyal to our president consider this as a tremendous outrage, humiliation and are courageously fighting back though in an unequal battle.”

“So now that’s what I imagined of Khadafy and Lybia, were he President Yudhoyono of Indonesia or president of India or the Philippines, or ... What, if we would be forced to accept a puppet president. That’s more than a free, sane man could stand, bear. What do you think, say?”

What were it your president?

August 2011

A Victim Of His Own Creation

A Victim Of His Own Creation

                           

We certainly would rejoice having created new, better varieties of grain, coconut, chicken, cow, fish, … if indeed of better quality. Scientist are experimenting with genes and what not. But without wise, prudent consideration, they might become a nightmare instead of a blessing.

       

Have you ever heard about the hybrid “man-animal”? That is a descendant of crossing man and animal. What if one day man would really succeed to create this, as is a Spinks that has the body of an animal and a head of a man or vice versa. Or succeeded to create a deadly virus as AIDS and the virus escaped of an accident in the laboratory, or create nuclear, chemical, bacterial weapons?

I remember an old charming story, I don’t know who the wise author was.

There were three sons who intend to dedicate their knowledge for their country. The first was Iptek, the second Biotek and the third was Moyung. He was a nonentity, he can’t pride himself on scientific merits, as his other brothers,  except his common sense.

          

The oldest proved his ability by constructing the scattered bones of a lion. The second added meat, skin, claws, teeth to the carcass.

“Now, watch” he said, “I’ll bring him to life”.

But Moyung was terrified. “ Don’t” he cried. “He would prey on us”.

“Well, Moyung really is a fool, ha, ha. There never was a scientific proof that lions are endangering man.”  said their brothers.       

         

“Wait” Moyung quickly climbed a tree.

The two brothers were proud of their lion. But as soon as the animal came to life, it pounced upon them.

Yet the modern version said: “The author erred, or fooled. Don’t worry, Iptek, Mr. Technology and Biotek, Mr. Biotechnology were save and praised, honored as the Saviors, Messiah of mankind and the world. It was Moyung who always used his common sense, climbed the tree became a prey of the lion. If you don’t believe, just reread the chapter on lion’s behavior for the secondary  school.” And many people trust, believe this.

 The Jakarta Post November 10, 1992, Media Indonesia, December 6, 1992

 August 2011  

The Courage To Be Yourself

The Courage To Be Yourself

If in a society all are smoking, drinking beer and there’s one man that doesn’t smoke, drink beer, that man is brave. If all are not smoking, not drinking beer and there’s one man who does, he also is brave. To have the courage to be yourself, to be different. That’s what Pak Arif told me.

August 2011

I Need You

I Need You

“I don’t need ice cream. I need you.” So said an old, near dying man to a young woman with ice cream who had taken care of him.

Living in a rented apartment before, he offered her to stay with him. “Welcome home.” He wrote on the table with a flower in a vase when she came in. “This is your home,” the very old man said. His friends who visited him in the hospital, asked him who she was. He said “she is my wife” though they were never married.

That must be the highest honor, the greatest reward for a woman when a man could speak something like that. I imagine him, needing her love as the sun, even more than heaven.

August 2011