Tolerance is Obligation for You

Indonesia is known with its motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”, that means even we’re different but we are one. Different in this context means different tribe, different religion, different race, and different custom. Indonesia has a lot of islands which have many diversities on culture and custom in its islands and areas. Every area in Indonesia has their tribe too, from the most west part from Indonesia which called Sabang, Sabang is located in Aceh province and Sabang embrace Aceh tribe, until the most east part called Merauke, it’s located in Papua province and embrace Marind Anim tribe.

Unfortunately, even in the most beautiful and artsy-full country that should be proud of, but the truth can’t be denied, friction and provocation are still on our side. No matter how small it is, it might be impact our psychic life, fear and anxiety are on our mind. Intolerance isn’t gone, it still exists on several people, and it threaten our entity.

As we can see, there are a lot of people don’t realize that we live in a country which acknowledge 5 religions to be believed. Some people still consider that Indonesia belongs only to a religion, and it makes them lose their respect to someone which is different from them. Lose their respect also means they have no tolerance, because the truth is everything seems wrong to do if you aren’t same like me. For example, Basuki Tjhaja Purna or also known as Ahok, he has become a governor of Jakarta since 19^thof November 2014. We know as well that he is a great governor which eradicate the corruption on Jakarta that era. But however how good is he, if he doesn’t believe the majority’s belief, he is none for them. People will rise and act to drop him in many ways. Other example is when one of the biggest religion organization in Indonesia was controlling mini restaurant that still open during fasting in Makassar. Even if it was fasting season, but there are other people need to eat because they don’t do fasting. Furthermore, selling food is traders’ right, it is their livelihoods, so if they don’t sell food, where do they get money for live?

To be a tolerate person isn’t hard, you just have to do what you expect people to do to you. Of course you don’t want when you in worship then there’s a bomb reminder, or because of your religion, you get hard to build a place to worship. Nobody wants it. Every single religion hates to feel insecure, feel insecure make us just on anxiety and worry. We just need to respect each other and live on tolerance, it isn’t a hard thing to do. Unity is our motto, unity already there on our blood, we could live today because of the sacrifice our grandpa, grandma and ancestors. Do we want to make them disappoint with us because of the split? So now we better open up our mind and relax, realize that tolerance is an obligation, so peace is in you.