Indonesia Proves Islamophobia is a Lie

Many
people find the West
in moral and intellectual decline. Issues such
as gay ‘marriage,’ transgender toilets, spiritual pogroms against
white males, nuclear families and Christians in general, Common Core,
and a laundry list of related items are almost literally chasing the
middle class out of the country. 

Indonesia
offers a strong traditional alternative. The traditional family,
sanctity of one’s home, and a strong heterosexual, male-dominated
culture present a radical departure from the satanically possessed West.

Religion figures
prominently in society, and despite a large Muslim majority, is
quite tolerant and for the most part peaceful. There is occasional
violence, usually against property, but those responsible are
normally dealt with quickly and decisively.

Roughly 80% to 85% of
the population is Muslim but the Constitution guarantees protections
for Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, and Protestantism, as well. The
laws go so far as to forbid mixed-religion marriages. One of the
partners will have to convert, at least on paper, or marry outside
the country (not easy anywhere in Asia.)


marriage3.jpeg

In Indonesia, marriage is
considered a sacred union between a man and a woman. When getting
married in Indonesia, one must first receive a blessing from a
mosque, church or temple before applying to register the marriage
with the government. There are no civil unions here. The concept of
‘gay ‘marriage’ is all but unthinkable here, and the US is
derided for recent changes there.

Though not strictly legal,
Muslim men may have up to four wives, though only one can be
registered with the government. A man must have the permission of
his current wives in order to take on another. The families are
generally kept separate and usually in different cities or towns.

Though Indonesia is very
egalitarian in many respects, the man is still very much in charge of
his hearth and home. It is still traditional for a young woman to
audition her housekeeping skills for prospective in-laws. Fathers
are automatically considered to have the final word in their house,
and no Communist social services will appear at the door for sensitivity
training because of it. There are, however, wildly differing
cultures in Indonesia, and they have their own internal rules. A
foreigner looking for a spouse will want to study family background
and traditions before diving in. This will save a lot of headache
and surprises later.

When it comes to manners
and social graces, Indonesian society is very traditional and polite.
People are almost always referred to with an honorific, such as the
local equivalent of Sir or Ma’am, or in more familiar circumstances
Uncle and Aunt, or Grandfather and Grandmother, even when there is no
blood relationship.

EDUCATION

Education in Indonesia is
somewhat of a grab bag. If a local can afford it, children are sent
to international schools, tutoring centers, or even out of country
for education. The international schools generally conduct classes
in English and Mandarin, and have a heavy emphasis on Math, Science
and Business skills.

The primary focus of an
Indonesian education is to produce managers and operators for local
companies. This leads to a strong and growing middle class, but the
people are not well-rounded or multi-disciplinary. In other words,
schooling is very functional and utilitarian.

school.jpg

The public schools are
very low-tech and have a heavy Islamic content. Very low emphasis is
placed on History, Art and Literature in favor of additional time
spent on religious studies. When second languages are offered, it is
generally English or Mandarin. The Sciences are most certainly
presented within a religious context, as well. However, there is a
wealth of tutoring services that offer specialized education in
various subjects. There is a strong class system here that is based
primarily on the educational opportunities that one receives. The
lower class will rarely go past high school if they attend school at
all, while the upper class invests much time and resources in
advanced education.

Literacy rates are very
high in Indonesia because the language is designed to be learned very
quickly. Despite that fact, very few Indonesians read for pleasure
and bookstores can be rather spartan. Television and movies are the
primary forms of entertainment, with little opportunity for things
like theatre, symphony and ballet, unless one travels to major cities
in other countries. This is slowly changing, but it will require
some time for democratization.

CONCLUSION

Choosing to ex-patriate to
any country will require sacrifices. Relocating to nearly any
country in Asia will force a major change in culture and lifestyle. One must be fully aware of what
is being gained and lost in any move. However you feel about
foreigners in your native country is liable to be how others will
feel about you. It is very important to assimilate as much and as
quickly as possible in a new country. Most people will be deeply
insulted and resentful I one does not make a sincere attempt to learn
the local language and customs.

One final note. As you
ponder ex-patriating, do not focus on escaping something, but rather
on moving toward something else. This may seem like a subtle
difference, but it will make a major difference in the quality of
your decision. For instance, some folks might be escaping ‘gay
marriage’ by moving to a country that allows bigamy, which they may
find equally offensive. If you have decided to leave home, then you
already know what you are leaving. Keep your sights on what you want
to find in your new home.

—-

Bernard Grover is an award-winning arts and entertainment professional living in Indonesia for the past eight years. Grover recently completed the country’s first commercial arts center and brought the first-ever Broadway musical to Jakarta. His blog can be found at augenguy.com, and he produces the interview program Radio Far Side on YouTube.

Source Article from http://henrymakow.com/2016/05/indonesia-proves-Islamophobia.html

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