Hesitation has always dominated my lexicon which in turn clouded my judgment over what's actually true as it is and what's just what my imagination or prejudice thought it is. This is exactly the case with To Kill A Mockingbird. I thought To Kill A Mockingbird would be Agatha-Christie-ish in term of genre; but as soon as I opened the first page, I knew I wrong all the way through. Moral of the story, just because it has "kill" in the title doesn't entail any significant clue in regards to its genre or even plot. Well, yes there was a murder case per se (or was it a "mockingbird killing case" as Scout eloquently put it?) but it was not the center of the book at all.

Where have I been?

You might ponder where I have been, If I have been around I must have known the book with its extraordinarily powerful story and message, therefore I must have been under a rock? Perhaps you are right, I have been living under a rock! And I deserve to be scolded for this ignorance.

To be fair, I knew quite well how significant Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird in America is. I knew that it is a mandatory reading in US junior or senior high schools. But, again, I was not aware of its story. Hence, I did not how powerful the story was.

Thanks God, a coincidence, if there is something as coincidence, saved my soul. Thanks to Marlyn, a former colleague of mine - one of the only few who is still in touch amid resignation - who had been given used books by her school and told me that I could take some if I was interested. She gave me list of the book and I instantly laid my eyes on 2 books: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Metamorphoses by Kafka. Too bad, there was only one copy of Metamorphoses, though Marlyn said I could have it, but I refrained because I was not sure I could finish it in a short period of time.

I was reading Michelle Obama's Becoming when I got the book. So I had to finish it before I jumped to this book. But once I started diving, it took me only 3 days which I am still very proud of to finish the book. Who can't resist Scout's unique narration, right?

What did I find out?

1. To Kill A Mockingbird is Not A Hardcore Thriller Novel

I personally has issue with books, films or anything that contain violence. Imagine my relieve to know that this book though it has a few dead body but it was not graphically described and I would say that I still tolerate its level of violence. And yes, you were to bring this up, I am fully aware of the "catharsis" argument. Though it may be true to some people, I just, as said, personally dislike violence in general.

So what is To Kill A Mockingbird, really? I came to learn that it is such an extremely beautiful story which showcases the complexity of a child's process coming to an age and the kind of mindset they are building as they grow older. Sets in Maycomb, Alabama, To Kill A Mockingbird, also displays the complexity of life people of color have to face and the dynamic it creates for the White vs. Black in many aspects of life such as social life, justice, access to education and many more.

The story is told through the young version of Scout who was then between 6 to 9 as the book progresses. Scout's real name was actually Mary Louise Finch but somehow she was called Scout throughout the book. She is the youngest child of Mr. Atticus Finch who was also called Atticus by his children throughout the book. His a single parent and a working lawyer. Characteristically Atticus is a very responsible father whose parenting style, many might say, unorthodox. Although people many not know why he does what he does, he is very confident is his parenting. And there is Jem (Jeremy Finch) who is the oldest child. Scout and Jem have a very natural sibling relationship with Jem sometimes could be very pushy making Scout to do certain thing that Scout has moral contradiction on. For example when Jem and Dill wanted to get Boo Radley out of his house, Scout found this to be wrong and yet she tagged along.

2. Single Parenthood

To Kill A Mockingbird is specially interesting to me as it attempts at exploring the dynamic between two children, who have lost their mother, and a single working father. While domestically Atticus might not be involved much as they have a help named Calpurnia who had done an amazing job to keep the children well fed and taken care of; Atticus arguably still did a good job in instilling values into the kids.

Most parents, even today, very rare lending their trust that their children can learn life in their own terms. What most parents do is to instruct as oppose to guide. It's different with Atticus. He looked after Jem and Scout with trust. He avoided overbearing. He let them learn that making mistake is allowed and that said every action has its consequences. Atticus shows this very well when Jem killed Mrs. Dabose's plants as a vengeance for the things Mrs. Dabose said about Atticus. Consequently, Jem had to read for Ms. Dabose once a week for a month. And, what I admire the most from Atticus is that as father and also as a lawyer he never looses his temper. He never used physical punishment to the children either. I think that's the most difficult part of being a parent. Children can be very difficult to handle. Next thing we know we can't control our rage and that often leads to physical punishment. Bravo Atticus you can reserve yourself and for knowing what's best.

Generally Atticus is very progressive in so many aspects. Parenting, is definitely one of them. More than that, Atticus is also very progressive in regards to race, gender and social norm.

The lesson to learn here is that parents play a big role in children's upbringing which makes it very pivotal for parents to have certain quality. Atticus is teaching doing. Or as Ms. Maudie put it

Atticus Finch is the same in his house as he is on the public streets (Chapter 5, p. 52) 

It also affects every move Atticus made in his personal and professional life. He was aware that his children looked up to him and therefore he made sure that what they saw were the good ones (good according to his moral belief).

3. Racism

Racism obviously is the center of the story which summed up by Tom Robinson's case. Through this case we can learn how massively institutionalized racism was in To Kill A Mockingbird's Alabama. Though some people like Ms. Maudie and others who were more forward thinking in regard to race, they could not help it as it had been already internalized in them through their upbringing.

Scout, thanks to his father, went through a tough period rationalizing the contradiction between the values that she had been taught in school and in church about how people have to be equal and that we should be kind to everybody and the reality that was happening around her.

One of the most striking part for me was during the class project when Cecil presented a story about the Nazis. The teacher was very critical of the Nazis and as far as Scout knew we were not not supposed to hate people but Ms Gates made it clear that Nazis were bad and somehow it's okay to hate them.

What Scout had trouble comprehending was that how come we raged about morality in the far end country when we at home did the same thing? Was that because Jews are white therefore we had to sympathize with them while it's okay for Black people to be discriminated for their skin color? This signifies the contradictory nature of moral compass in Scott's hometown of Alabama.

4. Caste System

Though America has been known for its nickname as a free world which reflects its supposedly permanent detachment from the old world (Europe) and its rigid class conscious system; however, in this book we can clearly see that America has formed its own class system. It's perfectly summed up by Jem.

"You know something, Scout? I have got it all figured out,now. I have thought about it a lot lately and I have got it figured out. There's four kind of folks in the world. There is the ordinary kind like us and the neighbors, there is the kind like Cunninghams out in the woods, the kind like Ewells down the dump, and the Negroes."

So, the privileged whites do not like other non privilege whites. And all Whites hate the Blacks.

5. Sexism and Female Role in Society

Scout, who is a girl, had been harassed many times in the book for her untraditional way of growing. Since she always hanged around Jem, she more or less, followed what Jem did. Thus unlike other girls how would dress up and play dolls, Scout enjoyed watching trial in the court and having a little adventure with the boys. 

At one point in the book, Scout joined Aunt Alexandra' Christian group meeting and she was very unimpressed by the things that women do with their time. She even hated the conversation that was building. It was not overtly said but readers can see that Scout found the whole thing to be dull. 

6. Unfair Legal Treatment 

Racism and class system lead to an unfair treatment of the inferior groups. The Blacks were inferior in the book and they suffer from the injustice the most. This is a contradiction to their social and religious values but somehow it bothers them less. 


All in all, Harper Lee had done such an amazing work with this book. I really admire her vision. This book showcases the problem in our society without having to do it in a preachy style. She wanted us to see the real condition in our society by ourselves and let us independently judge whether it is good or bad. 

Finally, I can clearly see now why it is a classic and it's classy too I dare say. I am glad to have read the book. Everyone, do read the book with or without your teacher assigns it!

courtesy of https://www.caba.org.uk

In American culture, or Western culture in general, it’s very generic for children to leave home completely

after high school, which is also the time when they leave for college. Leaving for college signifies the
beginning of their independent lives. That may be the same for other cultures, but unlike the American
one, children in other cultures such as Indonesia are expected to return home after graduation and
resumes life as it was. In America, in contrast, it’s considered odd to live with your parents as an adult.

Similarly, when it comes to the parents, in America it seems very normal to not take parents in to live
with you even though they are old and perhaps sick. Alternatively, parents will stay in the retirement
home, where they will be cared for by the home staff. In other cultures - say, Indonesia, this is be
considered cruel or even ungrateful (for everything that parents have sacrificed for the children.) 

In the context I have just described I, therefore, am considered less of an Indonesian. I am in my mid 20s
and ever since I was 13, I have never lived with my parents for more than 2 months. 

However, reality faces me last time I visited home for Eid. We are a family of four. 3 of my brothers have
got married and live in their own houses. This leaves my parents completely alone. There are only the
two of them left in the house. Yes, from time to time my brothers will visit but that’s about it. 

When I was home my mother happened to be sick and apparently that has been going on for quite
sometimes. My mother has an allergy that affects her breathing system. Whenever she gets in contact
with dust or strong spicy smell, her body will react and she will have difficulty to breath. As a child I am
very worried for her condition and in that very moment the thought about “who will care for my parents
when their health declines?” dominates me.  

I am not home most of the time. Currently I live in Jakarta in a kost-kostan (a dorm type of housing
where you get to rent one of the rooms) which makes it very impossible to take my parents in with me.
And I don’t think they will want that either. They have their own house where they have lived their
entire life. They have known the community which can be difficult to find in a place like Jakarta where
community life is very much a non-existence. But that is just my assumption. Perhaps they long for
an adventure? Perhaps they are tired with the same place and the same people all the time? 

As a child I do think about my parents and their happiness is one of my priorities, especially my mom.
She has lived the same life for her entire life. She has been a good wife and a good daughter in law.
She has never left the house because she had to care for my grandmother who was old and sick.
And now in her old days, I think she deserves to enjoy life. 

My plan for my parents will be to let them enjoy life. Visit places that they have never visited before.
My mom has never been to Jakarta, so I want to take her to see Jakarta. And one day when I own
a house I want to take them in to live with me as long as they want it. I may not be able to go back
home to care for them, but I hope they will be willing to come and live with me.

As of today, we haven’t discussed who will care for father and mother. Would it be my oldest brother,
my second brother, my third brother, or even me? I will be very happy to take the responsibility to
care for them. We will see! 

What about your culture? Are children expected to take parents in and care for them once they grow old?   

Photo from tukesomalism.com

I have always considered myself to be someone who prioritizes reason over emotion. Little that I know that event in life may
challenge our pre-existing notion of ourselves. And that’s why I have come to accept the reality that as human beings we will
not cease to evolve. If you say that you are a shy or introverted person, an extroverted person, or whatever believe me, you
may be whatever you claim yourself to be right now but it can change if you want it too or if life forces you to do so. What do
I mean by that? Did I just suggest that we should surrender our identity at the expense of life event? No, that was not what I
meant. Our upbringing has made us believe that we are either this. This is the root of the problem. We have been trained to
always put ourselves in a box and hoping that only that box where we belong. The truth of the matter is, we evolve. Either we
initiate the evolution or life event forces us to do so. The choices are either we want to keep up with the demand or we are
left behind. Those who have difficulty to keep up are the ones living behind. 

I was a very active person as a kid. I never had difficulty socializing or being around a large group of people. But today, I
really really value my space. I won’t be comfortable sharing what I would call my cave with other people for a long time. 

I cannot really rationalize this. Even though some of friends really see this coming, I did not notice it before. But as my friend
pointed out that even back when I was in high school I was not really the type of person who would refrain from doing certain
activity just because no one accompanies me. Having lunch, for example, I did not, and still do not, see why I have to be
accompanied. If someone wants to come along, great. If not, It won’t be an issue for me. I guess the term for this is being
comfortable alone. 

Now that I am in my mid 20s, as I am so used to being independent, I seem to be establishing a pattern where I am having
difficulty to share my space with other people. It doesn’t only apply to strangers but also my close friends and family. I am
more than happy to share some time and moment with them, but I don’t think I will be okay if I have to be around them 24/7.
This statement does not apply to my parents, of course. I love them and I am very happy around them. But another problem
occurs, I can’t seem to enjoy being at my hometown for too long. Well I can analyse this situation: a, because there’s too
little thing to do; b, my body seems to react in a bad way to the weather; and c, I am fine with the lack of entertainment
but a good quality of internet service will be great. 

Will I stay in my current state? I doubt. Even this view is bound to changes.

We human beings are so malleable. We are changed by our surroundings, events and as we learn better about life.
And that’s natural. Some changes may cause resistance not only from ourselves but also from people around us. That’s life.
We cannot avoid conflict. What we can do is to handle conflict with grace. It’s easy for me to say that when my only reaction
to conflict has been a silent and an escape. It’s okay, I won’t judge myself. I value process and let that be my process. 

So, should keep saying that we are A or B or C? Or let time, event and life define us?

Courtesy of UN Environment 

Climate change has been the talk of the town in recent years. Although there are some big names who think it’s a hoax, the fact shows otherwise. An unprecedented number of nature related disasters consistently occurred in recent years: tsunami, an unbearable heatwave in the summer and an unbearable cold in the winter, draught, ocean full of plastics, poor air quality and many more. 

If we go back and see what really takes us here and the explanation has to be the process of production and consumption. 

Ever since the industrial revolution, life has been considered to be easier and easier as we no longer had to endure the workloads of people who had lived before us. The invention of machines make the process of production even better. The repetitive jobs that used to be done by humans now replaced by machines which sound very good indeed. However, as anything in life that has to be a trade-off. But what do we have to trade for a more humane job?  

The machine can’t function without a support from electricity power. And what do use to generate electricity power? Majority of countries still use coal and oil to do so. Therefore trade-off for using coal and oil is an environment which gets worse and worse everyday. As human beings are very much dependent on nature, once nature is affected human’s life is also affected. The use of coal and oil cause air pollution. Sooner or later the poor air quality will become a problem for human beings. Unless we change our production method, air quality will get worse and eventually human beings will be fighting over oxygen. In jakarta the campaign to use a mask when you are outdoor has been started. What would be a worst nightmare than having to cover your nose every time you are in the outdoors. 

That’s just the power. We haven’t talked about how we produce our food. We have come along the way with food. Unlike the old days where we have to make food from scratch, now we have processed foods which are packed with single-used plastics. By the way, before we talk about how bad single use-plastics are, can we all agree that processed food also contributes to the environmental degradation? O.K., great! Now, poor waste management in most countries make the idea of using of plastic which were once a fantastic ideas turn to be a major catastrophe. Now when we turn our TV or read news, we are always exposed to how bad our ocean have become and many whales are dead packed with kilos upon kilos of plastics inside of its body. 

Those are just two examples of our bad production practices. Of course there are endless examples out there. 

What about our consumption? Similar to our production practices, we also do the same with our consumption. The planet earth is densely overpopulated and to meet the consumption needs of this overpopulation we use more natural resources than it can afford. According to “An EEA analysis of nine EU Member States (representing 268 million of the EU's total 501 million people) has found that the majority of key environmental pressures caused by total national consumption can be allocated to eating and drinking, housing and infrastructure, and mobility.”

Now knowing that the future of our environment is very dependent on us, what do we do to pay off what has already happened? And yes, we need to change our production and consumption practices. Government should use the alternative for the power supply as not to use the ones which obviously damage the environment. It is not an easy process; thus the small effort always count. At the individual level, we have to also be mindful of how we live our life. Make sure that we do not overuse foods with single-used plastics. Make sure that we use public transport as opposed to using personal car. Eventually, we have to watch our carbon footprint making sure that it is at the lowest possible. 

courtesy of higienis.com

Few days ago Jakartanese has been alerted by the shocking news that Jakarta has the
world’s poorest air quality. Well, does it really shock you? Do not pretend that we are in
shock. A, when could we see Jakarta with a clear sky without those grey pollution
hanging all over it? B, have we done anything to mitigate it? C, though we have been
seeing trees planted along with those new pedestrians, somehow Jakarta is still at its
worse it terms of air quality.

Why so? Jakarta as the center of everything for Indonesia : it’s where business
happens, it’s where many industrial factories are located, it’s where entertainment
industries are, and whatnot. The city is exhausted with a never ending energy
consumption and in return awarded with an endless carbon prints.

Who’s to blame? All of us. We take taxi over public transport. We order gofood as
opposed to walking out of our comfortable kost-kostan (which is an exaggeration as it
alone deserves its own critique), we are 24 hours in an AC room, our electricity is
coal-based, what else? There are just too many of them.

If we think about it, “business as usual” is the core topic of this conversation. We both
blame and are aware of its irreplaceable value.

Business should not suffer just because we want a better air quality and environment as
a whole. What we should do is to change our business model. All this time business has
always been known as an activity that hopes to use capital at its bare minimum and
gain as much profit. It never cares about the damage it causes to the environment and
the people around it.

Now if we really want the human race to survive, which we do, we need to start
changing our business model. Gaining profit should not be the only priority. More
important than that, businesses need to put environmental and humanitarian cause in
their business goal. And of course government who is mandated by the people with
authority needs to ensure that there is a law that protects the environment, as it is
closely related with human’s well-being.

Let’s see it this way! Air quality is poor (an understatement) and people start to have
trouble with their breathing system and what it leads to is all sickness imaginable.
Marginal society will be the first to face the consequences: no access to health or if they

do they will be treated in such poor service or poor health facility. Eventually, all of us
will face the side effects of this environmental disaster.

What should we do?

1. Advocate (raise awareness on the issue),

2. Pressure government to make and regulate an environmentally-friendly law along
with providing integrated public transportation which uses
environmentally-friendly energy i.e., solar based., and regulate a premium
quality of waste management that ensures wastes are recycled and upcycled,

3. And start moving towards an environmentally-friendly lifestyle (use public
transport, minimize consumption and be more mindful in the production process
if you are a business person, and since our waste is still very very poorly
managed, we need to minimize the use of single use plastic.

As long as Jakarta still holds its status as the business capital of Indonesia, it will not
lose its charm. People will always come and try to make a living in it. Our job is to make
this home (temporary or permanent) less hostile and ensure than we stay alive amidst
its hostile environment.

Courtesy of www.stradavinonobile.it

22 June 2019

Back in the craziest city in the world, Jakarta after the whole drama surrounding Eid, one of the most intense times in Indonesia or in any Muslim country in the world for that matter.  

Spending 18 days home with mom and dad for the Eid has presented a lot of food thoughts for me to chew.

Mom fell sick on the 2nd day of Eid. Though, days before she actually fell very sick I could already see it coming. Her facial expression before the sickness can't really hide it. She was pale. It was written all over her face.

When I say very sick, it's when she could not get out of bed and just stay there quiet. This gives me a lot discomfort. My mom is a Trojan mom. She would not let you unoccupied. She would ask to do this and that, fix this and that. Sometimes I resent it, but that's how a kid is, right? It's in no way that I hate my mother just because she orders me around. It's the opposite. When she stops ordering me around when I am home, that's when I am worried.

And my mom is very active, too. If she is not that sick she would do anything around the house. Only when she is very sick that she would just lay on bed.

As someone who pays a lot of attention to health, I do not want my mom to just let this happen. She went to several doctors before when this kind of thing happened but that's about it. All the doctors said that she has GERD that is, I quote, "gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a long-term condition where acid from the stomach comes up into the esophagus." Since the gas is all over the stomach it hits to the point where gas also rises up to the breathing system and causes a difficulty in breathing. This happens a lot to my mom far even before I go to Middle School.

Not willing this to repeat itself I took my mom to the hospital and had her lung and stomach checked. Normally this would be a put-off  to my mom but since I insisted she just followed a long. And the check-up showed that's really the problem.

Anyway, I wasn't gonna talk about the illnesses because I don't really know them much. I only know what I read and heard. So now, what I really want to raise a conversation about is on family values and how it shifts overtime.

In Gayonese culture, parents are meant to be taken care of by their kids when they get older. But it seems to have been different in parents case. We are a family of four. Three of my brothers got married, that makes me the only person who is not. And the three of them live in their own separate houses.

The question I have in the back of my head is who will care for them. Maybe now they still manage to care for themselves but when age takes away their ability to do so, who will? I would love to be the one who cares for them. But I don't see myself moving back home. I am worried that both of them will not be okay with the idea of moving city and live with me either.

It's a dilemma and the fact that we don't have the culture of taking this kind of thing to the table and talk it through makes it even more difficult.

I love both of my parents and I want them to be well cared in their old days. That's why I will keep this question in my head and see what kind of solution possible to mitigate this.

courtesy of www.lifecoachcode.com

self:

(dramatically)

Forgive me (s)elf for abandoning the one activity, which I know for sure, gives you the sense of fulfilment. Forgive me (s)elf for the times I have been taking to better know myself, of which I am still trying. Forgive me (s)elf for taking a decision that turns out becoming a regret later on. Forgive me (s)elf for the trial and error that keep on happening in your life.

self:

(fed up with all the drama)

Enough with the apology! It was a good speech but what do you plan to do to make it up?

self:

(explaining exasperatedly)

Life in the past 8 months have been a roller coaster. After taking that heavy decision I went through a tough phase in life where I spend days blaming my own stupidity. What I forgot to do was to seize the day. The Bali thing was not petty at all and I didn’t blame you for the time you had taken to make peace with yourself. 8 months have passed and in 4 months time you will be back on track and do what you are supposed to do. So enjoy the remaining time while preparing yourself for the big ride that life will take you on.

self:

(trying to be nicer as “I” gets better)

That’s me! So 8 months huh? It’s a long time. What have you learned so far?

self:

I got acquainted with things that I think draw me closer to the career life I aspire myself doing in the near future. I got to learn about sustainable development goals and also took part in advocating them. Though I also learned that not all those who talk about them really believe in them by heart. Some just talk for the sake of talking.

self:

What about college? Have you made up you mind as what college you finally end up choosing for your study?

self:

I think I have decided that my initial choice was the one for me.

self:

(with a naughty facial expression as though he was teasing him about the girl he has chosen to spend the rest of his life with)

So, it’s final now?

self:

(with a big smile, the smile of the love birds)

I think, yes!

Hak cipta foto : http://novelentrok.blogspot.com/

Marni, seorang gadis yang terlahir di keluarga miskin, seiring dengan tumbuh kembangnya sebagai 
seorang wanita, ia merasakan ada perbedaan biologis yang semakin hari semakin terasa. Di dalam 
proses menjadi seorang wanita, ia baru menyadari bahwa ada sebuah teknologi secanggih pakain 
dalam wanita atau BH (dalam bahasa jawa: entrok) yang mampu menopang dada wanita dan 
menolong mereka dari ketidaknyamanan. 

Beralasan ini, Marni semakin hari semakin tidak bisa menahan keinginannya untuk memiliki benda 
ajaib ini. Ibunya tentu tidak mampu membelikan. Bekerja sebagai buruh pengupas kulit singkong di 
pasar hanya mendapatkan singkong sebuah upah. Ketika memohon kepada juragan singkong agar 
dibayar uang saja , dia menolak karena hal tersebut tidak lumrah. Hanya tenaga laki-laki yang dihargai 
uang. Tenaga perempuan dibayar bahan dapur saja. 

Saat memohon ke pamannya, beliau juga tidak mengindahkan. Sejak saat itu, Marni sadar bahwa tidak
 ada yang bisa mengabulkan permintaannya selain dirinya sendiri. 

“Kalau mau punya, ya minta sama sama bapakmu sana,” lanjut istrinya.

“Aku tidak punya Bapak, Bulik. Aku tidak tahu dimana dia,” jawabku bergetar. Mataku mulai
berkaca-kaca.

“Ya, makanya itu. Kalau sudah tahu bapak saja nggak punya, ya sudah. Nggak usah neko-neko.
Bisa makan setiap hari saja sudah syukur.”

Awalnya Marni ikut ke pasar untuk membantu ibunya mengupas singkong. Bergaul dengan pedagang
di pasar Marni dengan kemampuan observasinya yang baik mempelajari satu dua hal. Salah satu yang
ia pelajari adalah pekerja wanita tidak pernah mendapatkan upah uang dan ada perbedaan pekerjaan
antara laki-laki dan perempuan. Wanita bekerja mengupas singkong hanya dibayar singkong pula.
Laki-laki bekerja sebagai kuli angkat dibayar upah berupa uang. Akhirnya, Marni dengan kegigihannya
berani untuk merubah norma dengan melakukan pekerjaan laki-laki yaitu jadi kuli angkat untuk
orang-orang yang belanja di pasar. Ibunya sempat melarang tapi Marni tidak mengindahkan. Tapi
ketika Marni nekat ibunya juga tidak bereaksi dengan melarang secara total. 

Setelah menjadi kuli beberapa waktu, Marni berhasil mengumpulkan uang yang dibutuhkan untuk
membeli entrok. Dan Marni pun membelikannya. Awalnya Marni mengira dia akan senang. Tapi
ternyata kesenangan itu tidak kekal. Kini dia menginginkan hal lainnya. 

Marni tidak pernah sekolah. Dia buta huruf. Walaupun begitu dia tidaklah bodoh. Ada satu kekuatan
yang dimilikinya yaitu kemampuan untuk mengobservasi sekitar dan belajar dari apa yang dia lihat.
Marni melihat bahwa berdagang adalah profesi yang menguntungkan dan Marni pun berdagang
dengan memodifikasi sistem berdagangnya. Menyadari bahwa dia tidak punya tempat di pasar, ia
memutuskan untuk berdagang keliling dari rumah ke rumah. Saat itu belum ada yang melakukan
hal serupa. Dagangan Marni laris manis dan dia pun mendapatkan untung. Begitupun seterusnya. Marni akan terus belajar dari apa yang dia lihat dan mengaplikasikanya untuk
mendapatkan apa yang dia idamkan. 

Ketika akhirnya Marni dilamar oleh Teja, seorang kuli angkut di pasar; Marni tidak menerima. Dia
memikirkan masa depan anak-anaknya yang hanya akan mengulang masa kecilnya. Tidak ada
prospek dan tidak ada masa depan. Namun ibu Marni mengingatkan Marni bahwa menolak lamaran
itu tidak baik dan akan mengundang karma. Akhirnya Marni menikah dengan Teja walaupun dengan
perasaan terpaksa. 

Dari pernikahan ini lahirlah Rahayu. Kini keadaan perekonomian keluarga sudah membaik dan kini
mereka berada di masa Orde Baru. Terimakasih kepada kerja keras Mirna, Rahayu bisa bersekolah.
Namun ada sebuah kontradiksi. Mirna melihat sekolah sebagai jalan keluar agar Rahayu memiliki
kehidupan yang lebih baik dan menjadi pegawai negara. Namun, sedikit Mirna tahu bahwa hal yang
dianggap baik malah menusuknya dari belakang. Rahayu membenci ibunya  karena ibunya masih
memiliki kepercayaan lama memohon kepada roh leluhur. Di sekolah Rahayu diajarkan guru agama
bahwa hal itu dosa dan dibenci tuhan. Terlebih kini usaha Marni merambah ke bidang peminjaman
uang dengan bunga 10%. Marni dianggap riba dan lintah darat. Sudah menyembah leluhur, makan
uang riba, dianggap memelihara tuyul pula. Rahayu semakin memiliki alasan untuk membenci ibunya. 

Di masa-masa yang sama tentara juga semakin memanfaatkan kekuatannya untuk pribadi.
Orang-orang yang kelihatan memiliki perekonomian yang baik di porot habis-habisan untuk alasan
uang keamanan sehari-hari. Ketika pemilu datang, mereka diperas lagi dipaksa menyumbang untuk
biaya pemilu. Marni dengan kondisi perekonomian yang membaik berkat kerja kerasnya, kini harus
memberikan hasil keringatnya kepada tentara dan aparatur negara yang biadab itu. 

Rahayu sudah selesai SMA. Kini ia kuliah disalah satu perguruan tinggi negeri di Jogja. Hubungannya
dengan ibunya semakin jarak. Apalagi ia sangat aktif di organisasi keagamaan. Organisasi tersebut
melihat rezim Orde Baru sebagai hal yang buruk dan ingin berontak tapi setiap usaha yang mereka
lakukan nihil. Ada banyak kejadian yang menggambarkan hitamnya masa itu seperti tentara yang
semena-mena terhadap rakyat kecil, pembunuhan terjadi dimana-mana dengan mayat yang
ditemukan di tempat-tempat umum dan lain sebagainya. 

Di organisasi keagamaan tersebut Rahayu jatuh cinta kepada seorang dosen hukum, Amri, yang juga
kebetulan pimpinan organisasi itu. Tetapi Amri sudah memiliki istri. Setelah kejadian di dekat
Borobudur akhirnya mereka memutuskan untuk menikah. Tapi sebelumnya mereka mengunjungi
ayah dan Ibu Rahayu di Sengget. Mengetahui bahwa Amri sudah menikah, Marni tidak setuju dan
menyebut Rahayu sundal. Tetapi Rahayu menyangkal mengatakan bahwa dalam islam menikah
lebih dari sekali itu dibolehkan. Akhirnya pernikahan hanya berlangsung sederhana hanya dihadiri
penghulu dan beberapa saksi saja. Dua hari setelah pernikahan keduanya langsung meninggalkan
Singget dan tidak kembali lagi untuk waktu yang lama. 

Rahayu dan Amri semakin aktif di organisasi yang punya haluan politik sosial. Setelah dipecat dan di
DO keduanya memutuskan untuk bekerja di sebuah pesantren. Suatu hari ada hal mereka lihat
sebagai sebuah penzoliman dari pihak pemerintah dan mereka pun ikut campur. Pemerintah akan
membangun waduk dan memaksa warga untuk meninggalkan pemukiman mereka diganti dengan
pemukiman baru. Tetapi Rahayu, Amri dan seorang ustad lainnya menganggap itu sebagai sebuah
kezoliman. Mereka ikut campur dan berakhir dengan terbunuhnya Amri dan Rahayu dipenjara. 

Marni sudah lama tidak berhubungan dengan Rahayu. Kini kehidupannya juga semakin buruk dengan
harta yang dihasilkan dengan keringatnya sendiri hilang sedikit demi sedikit diperas oleh aparat
pemerintahan. Teja meninggal karena kecelakaan meninggalkan banyak masalah. Ternyata selama
ini Teja memiliki madu dan anak. Madunya menuntut pembagian harta. Marni yang bekerja seorang
diri, Teja hanya mengantar Marni saja kemanapun ia pergi, tidak rela hartanya diambil orang asing.
Demi tidak diambil, Marni menyogok seorang petinggi tentara dengan 1 hektar tanah. Dan masalah
pun selesai. 

Beberapa waktu berikutnya, Marni mendapatkan kabar tentang kondisi Rahayu. Sejak saat itu ia pun
menjenguk rahayu rutin ke penjara di Semarang. Semua sisa uangnya setelah diperas aparat negara
semakin hari semakin berkurang. Namun ia tidak peduli karena dia lebih memilih anaknya yang
walaupun sempat membencinya baginya itu sudah berlalu. 

Beberapa tahun berikutnya Rahayu keluar dari penjara dengan syarat membayar denda 10 juta dan
melakukan laporan setiap hari senin. Dia juga memiliki KTP khusus yang berlabel. Label itu sebagai
penanda untuk orang-orang yang pernah terikat organisasi makar seperti PKI. Ini membuat hidup
Rahayu seperti mati berjalan. 

Rahayu kembali ke Sengget dengan karakter yang lebih tenang. Dia tidak lagi menghujat ibunya
penyembah leluhur. Namun dia tidak memiliki semangat hidup dan keriangan. Pekerjaannya hanya
dirumah sepanjang hari dan keluar hanya pada hari Senin untuk laporan. Ini membuat Marni kesal.
Marni yang sudah tua masih gigih bekerja dan anaknya yang muda malah tidak punya semangat
hidup. Di kemudian hari Marni baru tahu tentang status anaknya di KTP. Marni tentu tidak bisa baca.
Dia mengetahuinya dari Rahayu sendiri saat dikonfrontasi tentang tidak adanya semangat hidup yang
dia miliki. Ada percobaan untuk menikahkan Rahayu dengan seorang kuli angkut di pasar. Namun
gagal setelah si lelaki tahu label di KTP Rahayu. 

Akhirnya mereka hanya hidup berdua. Dengan akhir (walaupun akhir cerita berada diawal cerita) di
tahun 1999 dimana status KTP Rahayu sudah berubah. Mungkin mengindikasikan bahwa Orde Baru
telah usai. Namun di waktu itu, kondisi kesehatan Marni sudah memburuk walaupun tidak diceritakan
dengan jelas. 

Usai!     

Berita gembira untuk kabupaten Bener Meriah dan Aceh Tengah, karena di awal bulan Februari tahun 2019 yang lalu telah diadakan seminar beasiswa kuliah ke luar negeri yang pertama kalinya. Acara seminar beasiswa ini adalah sebuah inisiatif yang datang langsung dari putra dan putri daerah yang sudah terlebih dahulu memiliki kesempatan untuk mendapatkan beasiswa dan mengenyam pendidikan di luar negeri.

Ide untuk menyelenggarakan seminar beasiswa ini hadir dari keprihatinan terhadap kecilnya jumlah penerima beasiswa yang berasal dari kabupaten Bener Meriah dan Aceh Tengah. Ketika diperhatikan ulang, hal ini terjadi bukan karena putra-putri Bener Meriah tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk berkompetisi dengan putra-putri yang berasal dari daerah lain. Melainkan karena minimnya akses terhadap informasi tentang beasiswa-beasiswa tersebut.

Oleh karena itu, Ikatan Generasi Mandiri (IGM) beserta para pembicara yaitu Jarwati, Sahri Ardalina, Muriya Ningrum dan Adhari Koara bertekad untuk mengadakan acara seminar ini agar putra-putri Bener Meriah memiliki akses yang sama terhadap informasi dengan putra-putri yang berasal dari daerah lainnya.

Dalam acara Seminar Beasiswa Internasional ini, para peserta berkesempatan untuk mendengarkan pengalaman dari masing-masing pembicara mengenai proses-proses yang harus dilewati untuk mendapatkan beasiswa, tips dan trik ketika menyiapkan dokumen beasiswa serta pengalaman para pembicara saat berkuliah di luar negeri.

Tentu saja di abad digital ini, informasi dapat diakses dengan mudah. Namun karena minimnya edukasi terhadap literasi digital akhirnya anak-anak muda lebih aktif menggunakan teknologi untuk kepentingan hiburan. Karenanya, dalam ajang ini para pembicara juga akan menekankan isu-isu mengenai literasi digital sehingga kemajuan teknologi dapat digunakan putra-putri Dataran Tinggi Gayo untuk hal yang bermanfaat seperti pengembangan diri. Banyak sekali cara untuk mengembangkan diri di internet, misalnya memperlancar bahasa inggris, mengikuti kursus berbagai bidang ilmu gratis online di FutureLearn dan Coursera serta mendirikan usaha online. Selain itu, manfaat kemajuan teknologi juga dapat digunakan untuk mendapatkan informasi mengenai beasiswa pendidikan, konferensi dan short course di dalam maupun di luar negeri.

Mengapa putra-putri daerah penting mempertimbangkan untuk mengenyam pendidikan di luar negeri? Selain untuk menunjukkan kompetensi yang dimiliki oleh putra-putri daerah Bener Bener Meriah dan Aceh Tengah melalui proses seleksi beasiswa, kesempatan untuk mengenyam pendidikan di luar negeri juga akan membuka perspektif yang berbeda ketika melihat sistem pendidikan yang ada disana dibandingkan dengan sistem pendidikan yang kita miliki di dalam negeri. Selain itu mengenyam pendidikan di luar negeri membuka akses yang luas terhadap jaringan karena umumnya universitas-universitas tersebut memiliki mahasiswa yang berasal dari berbagai penjuru dunia. Terakhir, banyak sekali budaya-budaya yang ada di negara tersebut yang bisa diadopsi di negara kita seperti budaya tepat waktu, budaya bersih dan budaya menjaga lingkungan.

Acara yang berlangsung pada tanggal 03 Februari 2019 ini dihadir oleh 460 peserta dengan presentase 90% pelajar SMA, 7% pelajar SMP, 2% mahasiswa dan 1% umum. Angka ini terbilang sangat tinggi untuk sekala kabupaten Bener Meriah. Bagi kami panitia dan pembicara kegiatan Seminar Beasiswa ini adalah satu bukti bahwa anak-anak di pedalaman Indonesia juga peduli terhadap pendidikan dan kesempatan-kesempatan seperti inilah yang sangat mereka butuhkan untuk bisa bersaing.

Dengan acara ini diharapkan agar putra-putri Bener Meriah dan Aceh Tengah lebih terpacu dan bersemangat untuk berkompetisi mendapatkan beasiswa. Sehingga akhirnya mendapatkan kesempatan untuk mengenyam pendidikan di Luar Negeri. Juga, agar putra-putri daerah memiliki literasi digital yang baik sehingga mampu menggunakan kemajuan teknologi untuk hal yang positif.