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Issues: `Population control a weapon of the West'
Speakers at a conference for young Indonesian Muslims on Friday urged the audience to denounce birth control methods such as condoms and the government's family planning program, claiming such measures were part of a conspiracy to weaken the country
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em>Speakers at a conference for young Indonesian Muslims on Friday urged the audience to denounce birth control methods such as condoms and the government's family planning program, claiming such measures were part of a conspiracy to weaken the country. At Ragunan Sports Center in South Jakarta, speakers at the conference titled, Young Muslims, save Indonesia with Sharia and the Caliphate asked the young attendants to reject contraception based on the rationale that reducing the population would weaken the country and draw it further into the conspiracy plans of the West.
Your comments:
As a mualaf (recent convert to Islam), I can sympathize with the feelings of suspicion toward Western countries, especially those wielding significant influence in the world today. However, the idea that using contraception as a method to plan a family could be related to conspiracy theory and genocide is too extreme.
Indeed, education about reproductive health shouldn't encourage irresponsible behavior that leads to unwanted pregnancies. But, I encourage young people (regardless of religion) to look at both sides of the coin - there are many positive opportunities that result from understanding about reproductive health and being able to plan a family. For example, children have more opportunities for education, individual attention from parents, and more resources available to them.
Lastly, women must be able allowed to exercise their right to comprehensive reproductive health, including the right to decide how many children they would like.
Muhammad Chris Laugen
Bandung
The strong growth in population in many developing countries must to a large degree be attributed to permanent advances in medicine. Medicine mainly developed in the West and made available to people in developing countries. The result: fewer infants die, and people live to a much older age.
If people refuse birth control as a "weapon of the West" they should be honest and refuse all the positive developments that western medical medicine bring them. The population of Indonesia was 179 million in 1990 and was 238 million in 2008. That is an increase of 59 million (33 percent) in just 18 years.
If Indonesia's population continues to grow at this rate, the population will be 316 million in 2026 and 421 million in 2044. Would the speakers at the conference for young Indonesian Muslims please explain how they want to ensure the creation of about 180 million new jobs in just 36 years?
Bernard
Bonn
This is simply disturbing. Is everything now a "western conspiracy"? The use of condoms is to protect people from the dangers of disease and unwanted pregnancy.
Western countries also encourage their own citizens to practice safe sex - are they committing "genocide" against their own people too?? This is a ludicrous suggestion.
Frankly it is worrying that people with such damaging ideas are allowed to voice their views to a young audience.
Mark E.
Bangkok
Another depressing development out of Indonesia which makes me weep furthermore for Indonesia. It is useless to add anything else other than that the country is pretending to view Islam and Democracy can co-exist peacefully with a common goal in a civilized world.
If Wahabism ideology and Islamic fundamentalist influences are abandoned, then Indonesia can articulate openly with moderate and intelligent non-discriminatory views while maintaining a rich culture, self esteem and a way of life.
Edward K.
Los Angeles
These people believe that by making lots of children that one day Islam will take over the world, which is basically what they want.
I mean, one Muslim man can have as many wives as he pleases and if they don't use birth control each woman could have at least 9 or 10 children each.
In the end, it doesn't matter anymore. Something big is getting ready because we haven't learned anything and are living like there is no tomorrow - same pollution, same rituals, girl, car, house, food, money, power.
We haven't understood anything, some are going into space, some believe and die to live back in the stone ages.
We are going close to seven billion people and China just passed a law whereby Chinese can have two children.
Overpopulation, water shortages, climate change, no birth control? Don't worry, nature will give us some major birth control very soon with a major cleanup of all the earth's skin parasites (humans).
Herly
Denpasar
"Clearly an attempt at genocide that has been planned carefully by the west". It's an interesting theory but I cannot agree. The "west" (however you define it ... anywhere west of Turkey? Anywhere where people have white faces?) is not out to get you.
I believe the answer and the power to control your life is within you.
Join in. Be strong. Be self confident. Become global citizens.
Think "us" instead of "us and them". Just ask yourself what exactly are you anti? Anti immorality? Anti alcohol consumption? Anti corruption? Anti terrorism? Anti dancing? Anti smoking? Anti contraception? The list could go on. These are not things that are forced on us.
They are all ultimately lifestyle choices that we make for ourselves, guided by our personal moral codes and our religious faith. We have to be strong. The temptation is always there. Blaming all of this on someone else and getting angrier and angrier is avoiding the issue and will not help. You and I and everyone else still have to make the decisions about how to live our lives, all by ourselves.
Andrew
Tangerang, Banten
