Ramadan has begun. Ramadan is the Islamic month of fasting. During Ramadan, from dawn to dusk, Muslims “refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured. Fasting is meant to teach the Muslim patience, modesty and spirituality. During Ramadan, Muslims ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds” (Wikipedia).

Ramadan is the 9^th month of the Islamic calendar. The time of Ramadan is set by moons rather than a fixed date so it moves about 10 days forward each year. Because Jakarta is so close to the equator, the length between dawn and dusk does not vary much; dawn to dusk is always about 12 hours. In other parts of the world, however, the variance in the length of days varies greatly—from a few hours when Ramadan falls in winter up to 20 in summer. It is one thing to not eat or drink for 12 hours—many of us have done that—But 15? 18? 20? While working? And in the middle of summer????

“Refrain… from indulging in anything” includes thoughts, and here in predominately Muslim Jakarta, everyone is encouraged to do everything they can to help keep everyone else’s mind pure. This means do not speak, wear, or behave in anyway that might induce inappropriate thoughts in another; don’t let anyone see you eating or drinking because they might be tempted, or think about being tempted; don’t play music or programs that might stimulate inappropriate thoughts. This is a difficult task to charge anyone with—let alone an entire population.

The Indonesian Government takes charge of making sure everyone is “thinking right”. Restaurants and night clubs—any place serving alcohol or encouraging “non-modest” activities such as drinking, dancing and karaoke are shut down for the first few days when “slips” might happen because people aren’t used to being good, yet; hours of operation are restricted, too. Restaurants are not supposed to serve alcohol at all during Ramadan. Others, following the adage what you don’t see can’t hurt you, “sneak it” by serving wine and spirits in coffee cups. (As a concession to visitors/tourists after the first couple of days, hotels are excluded from this “no alcohol” policy.)

I can’t say how Ramadan is observed in other places; I can only speak for Jakarta. Each day, around 2 am, woman all over Jakarta wake up to prepare a meal. When it is ready, they rouse their families so they can eat before dawn prayers. Those with time before work and school, return to bed for a little extra shut eye. Everyone from the age of around 7 and up (excepting the ill and very old) try to fast. Exceptions are made for those who are traveling, fall ill, and women who are in their moon or pregnant.

Each evening at dusk, is buka puasa “break fast.” The day-long fast is usually broken by drinking fruit-flavored syrup mixed with water, or for some, real fruit juice, coconut juice, sweet tea, etc. Carts filled with bags of blue, red, pink, and orange sweet drinks and fruit line the busy streets ready to serve those who find themselves stuck in traffic at buka puasa. After dark, everyone celebrates. Families and friends hold buka puasa parties; they shoot off fireworks, dance, sing, make merry. As you might imagine, these festivities coupled with dehydration, fasting followed by bingeing, little and at best interrupted sleep, takes a toll. Everything: work, activities, production, expectations slow…gradually…comes…to…a…halt by Idul Fitri, when everyone who can returns to their villages for the end of Ramadan celebration.

What I admire about Ramadan is that at its heart, its core, Ramadan is about seeking forgiveness. It is a time of reflection, reconnection, recommitment to living mindfully. Prior to Ramadan, families gather at cemeteries to honor their ancestors, clean the graves and ask forgiveness. Co-workers seek out one another. “Mahon dan Maaf” they say, “forgive me and I’m sorry”— For anything I may have done or said to you, both know and unknown, “forgive me and I’m sorry.”

Whether we fast or not, whether we are Muslim or not, taking time to consider our actions, what effect they may have had and how they may have affected others seems like a worthwhile endeavor.

Mahon dan Maaf.

“Some one gave me a wonderful present… ” I felt like singing when I opened my e-mail Saturday morning. The Galley’s for Dance Y’all Dance, my soon to be released picture book from Bright Sky Press had arrived. It is a lively, two-steppin’, swingin’ and twirlin’ dance hall romp. Illustrator Terri Murphy created lively art with fun characters, every page dances. She did a wonderful job of bring the story to life. Dance Y’all, Dance will be released this fall. Here is a peek at the cover.

The Jakarta Globe published correspondence exchanged between Bombing victim Max Boon and Indonesian President Dr. Susilo Bambang Yodhoyono on the occasion of Indonesia’s 64 year of Independence. Max Boon is a Dutch national and resident of Jakarta who was seriously wounded in the July 17^th, Black Friday bombings. I have posted a PDF of the letters here: Boon and SBY Independence Day Letters

This weekend a new Indonesian movie, Merah Putih, from the father and son team of Rob and Connor Allyn was released. Merah Putih, which means “Red-White”, the colors of the Indonesian flag, was directed by Sugandi Yandi and is subtitled in English. The movie, set in 1947, is about “young Indonesian cadets who bond together despite their differences in religion, ethnicity, class and culture, to become guerrilla fighters for Indonesia’s independence (Jakarta Post, Aug. 9, 2009).” It has the feel of those American black-and-white WWII movies we used to watch on weekend afternoons and late nights.

The film was inspired by “the real life experiences of the brave cadets massacred in Lengkong, and all the men and women who fought for a free and united Indonesia between 1945 and 1948.” If the scenes depicted in the movie are true, and the violent, wonton massacres and deliberate destruction of property perpetrated by the Dutch soldiers really happened, then the relationship which exists today between the Dutch and Indonesians is truly a testament to the Indonesian’s people’s warm hearts and forgiving spirits.

These letters between Boon and SBY, reaching me so soon after watching Merah Putih, made me hopeful. More hopeful that I have been since Black Friday. If after all the fighting, the killing, the destruction and oppression, Indonesians and Dutch Nationals have managed to reach the place Boon and SBY have—one of mutual respect and common humane goals (just as many other opponents from other wars have)— then one day, if we can manage to lift these children from poverty, if we can alleviate some of the suffering and hopelessness of poor families, if we can provide them a more hopeful future than that which comes from martyrdom, we have a chance.

As an aside, what is truly amazing and deserves to be emphasized with regards to Indonesia’s fight for freedom is that the young people who came together from all over Indonesia did not share a common language. Yes, in 1945, along with Indonesian’s declaration of Independence from the Netherlands, the constitution stated that Bahasa Indonesia (bahasa means language) would be the official language. However, at that time, there was no clearly defined Bahasa Indonesia. People of each different region spoke different dialects and often completely different languages. If there was any common language it was Dutch, which was spoken by those who were either educated by or worked for the Dutch.

According to the Jakarta Post article, the idea for the film came after Rob Allyn (Don’t know if that’s the father or son) asked his friend, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the owner of PT Media Desa Indonesia, about “two old portraits of Indonesian youths in uniform on his wall. Hashim told Allyn they were pictures of his two uncles, First Lt. R.M. Subianto Djojohadikusumo and Cadet R.M. Sujono Djojohadikusumo, who had died in the battle of Lengkong in 1946. Hashim’s uncles were the brothers of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, one of the founding fathers of Indonesia and the economic guru who helped win recognition of Indonesia’s independence by the United Nations.”

In 1945, after the Japanese surrender, the Dutch, recently liberated from the Nazi’s, set about retaking control of Indonesia. After all, for around 300 years, Indonesia had belonged to them and they wanted it back. Many Indonesians wanted Independence strongly enough to fight for it. Intent on sharing the story of “brave young Indonesians willing to sacrifice their lives for the independence of Indonesia” with this younger generation of Indonesia – and to the world outside” the Allyns and Hashim set to researching and writing.

To know more about the movie: http://www.watchmoviesonlines.us/watch-merah-putih-2009-movie-online/

Boon and SBY Independence Day Letters