Apa isi GTC monitor?

Katakan "Indonesian"

Entah sejak kapan bahasa Indonesia diterjemahkan ke bahasa inggris jadi bahasa. Pertama saya dengar dari teman yang wawancara di perusahaan minyak "what language do you prefer?" "Bahasa", jawab teman saya. Alamak..

Udah tradisi dicolong malaysia, masih pula nyontek ke malaysia. Biarlah malaysia saja yang menerjemahkan bahasa malaysia sebagai "bahasa". Kenapa kita musti ikut-ikutan.

Indonesia punya sejarah kesusastraan yang awesome, sejak dahulu sastrawan Indonesia sudah menulis dengan bahasa Indonesia, beda ama sastrawan malaysia yang nulis pake inggris. Eh lah, orang indonesia sekarang malah gak pede, ngikut malaysia pulak, menerjemahkan bahasa Indonesia jadi "bahasa".

Mari teman/bapak/ibu/saudara/i, terjemahkan bahasa Indonesia sebagai "Indonesian".

Sekali lagi Indonesian.

Seems a convincing article, but...

Merry Christmas to All, including Muslims, The Jakarta Post article written by Mohammad Nafik, seems a convincing article. It is questioning MUI at Buya Hamka's era decree. Considering Buya Hamka's knowledge I think it would be better to agree to Hamka, than to agree to Nafik's opinion, yes opinion. Even because of this decree Hamka had to resign from MUI, it was a great pressure from Soeharto's Government to lift up the decree, but he insist not to do it.


Here are my opinion why I do not agree to this article:
A. Commenting "If we are consistent in our faith, recognizing Jesus as a prophet in Islam, we should not hesitate to join his birthday celebrations. Whether our own celebrations are held in a different manner to Christians' is not an issue"

1. Christmas, which is celebrated on Jesus' birthday is not a celebration in Islam. There's no single evidence that this matter is taugh in Islam, even Prophet Muhammad's S.A.W birthday celebration (Mauludan) is still questionable.
2. There is some evidence that 25th December is not Jesus' Birthday. Perhaps it is a glimpse from The Da Vinci Code, but it is not, there is a Christian sect that celebrate Jesus' birthday on a day in January.
3. Further more Christmas was banned during puritan clerics ruled England, even it was also prohibited in particular England colony in America.
   

B. Commenting on "While Jews accused Jesus' mother Maria (Maryam, Mary) of adultery and rejected his presence on earth, Islam considered him one of the Ulul Azmi (five supreme prophets) comprising Muhammad, Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa), Noah (Nuh) and Isa (Jesus)."
I'm sure this journalist has a vast knowledge in Islam. But according to A., there's nothing related to christmas

C. Commenting "For example, when Indonesian Moslems observed Idul Fitri on Oct. 13-14, many Christians sincerely greeted them. These wishes were conveyed by leaders on television, through newspaper advertisements and other media facilities."
So, logically in respect we are muslim must greet other religion related to their religious rites? No. There is nothing can be logically inferred from this.


So, I think I must convince myself that this article is not convincing, and agree to 1981 MUI decree that banning Muslim to greet Christian on Christmas. It just Christmas why bother, there are many more things to be done together education, poverty, equality before the law, corruption, and many more. Want to flame? Want to make something hot, cabeeeee deh....

May God bless you, buya Hamka.

On pursue of good Mushaf

This Ramadhan somehow I want to have a good mushaf, the paper and the content. So far I rarely see a good one. The paper usually made of white HVS paper that made your eyes tired. About the content I must strict, it should big enough, official translation of Religious Affairs Minister, and have an arabic written style which I've been accustomed(I don't know which one, but I couldn't read a particular arabic style well).
The hunting begun!
First, Eramedia which is on the site of Soekarno Hatta Bridge, I couldn't find a suitable choice, I think it is awfull to know an Islamic bookshop that have not enough supplies of Al-Quran.
Second, Bondowoso book market, I found a very interesting one, made of thin yellow high quality paper, Religious affairs translation, but there's one problem it is too small.
Third, GIP on graha gip, near unisma. Finally I found what I want. Huge letters, good paper but there is one big mistake, typography! How could main text of translation printed with sans serif font? It is truly typhographic failure. Sans serif fonts only suitable for titles, not the main text, because it is clear but made the eyes tired. A conspiracy thought hit my mind, is it zionis role to made moslem lazy to read Al-Quran? Please GIP, you should hire better typographer!
Fourth, El tara, moslem shop in the downtown. A friend told me that shop is owned by National Heroe family, Haji Agoes Salim. Yeah, actually it is a cloth/dress shop, so it was ok if couldn't find what I want.
Fifth, I surrendered. At last I went to togamas, pick one that most likely fit my criterias, huge letter, non bluish white, Religious Affair official translation, etc. At home a examine it again, oh I was pick a wrong one! But I have no better choice.

Further more in recent month I bought another mushaf, it has a nice paper (non-bluish white) and serif font(times news roman, maybe). But the serif font is only on the few first pages! ¡another mistake!

Lion Air ...

Reading TJP article make me realized that Lion Air is a really dangerous national airline ..

A piece of its airplane's wings was found on the runway . . . Whuaaaaa...