Stop psychologically
colonized attitudes
How miserable, knowing this uncouth deed could happen in a school, even an international-level school, which is renowned for its tight security protocol.
And how could an international-level school be run without a legal license, without fear of punishment? Can someone explain why an industry watchdog or appropriate agency had not investigated the issue earlier?
It is important to point out that the higher-level schools of JIS (primary, middle and high school) do not have the four mandatory subjects that are required in Indonesian schools. Those four “missing” subjects are Indonesian language, religion, history and civics. It almost defies logic that this school can be allowed to operate in Indonesia.
Back to the first case, a simple conclusion that can be made is most people in this beloved nation take it for granted that a prestigious school, such as JIS kindergarten has a legal license. We were never suspicious of the management or the curriculum. Most of us think that anything that is managed by foreigners, even an international-level institution, is a guarantee of quality. That everything is done professionally and everyone has the right qualifications.
This is a colonized mind-set: A feeling that foreigners are better than the pribumi (natives). It may well be an attitude that we inherited from the colonial era.
Simple examples of this mind-set that we can see firsthand are the multiple foreigners who are asked to pose for photographs alongside the pribumi. However, the backdrop to these photographs are usually distinctly Indonesian, whether historical or not.
We need to exude a sense of dignity. Let them request a photo with us. Because the spot they stand in is our land, our own bumi pertiwi. If they don’t ask to take a snap with us, then forget them!
We should not be too proud of the fact that we can converse with them, since it also their responsibility to adapt to the local culture if they work here.
Just be proud that our country has its own language, not a country that caters its language to foreigners. Be proud of the linguistic and cultural diversity that this country has.
Feel free to study foreign languages, become multilingual, but never forget your roots.
Rahma Nugrahaini
Kudus, Central Java
can be checked at (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/02/your-letters-stop-psychologically-colonized-attitudes.html)
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