Jan. 1, p. 6
The “voice” is gone. And we are left with wilderness. Gus Dur, the voice that made the wilderness less terrifying, shall no longer be heard. His was the voice of hope, the voice that kept the flame of hope burning in many hearts. Alas, that voice is gone. And yet, on second thought, where can it go? The echo of each and every word he ever uttered shall remain here. Right here, with you and with me — with all of us. Back in 1998, when I first met him, it was Christmas morning right in the holy month of Ramadan. Sitting beside him, talking to him and exchanging notes.
I realized the man, said to be blind, was actually the only one in the entire country who could see things as they were. He was the only man with sight living among us, the blind. (By Anand Krishna, Jakarta)
Your comments:
A blind man with real sight who was too big for the seat of the president!
Today the world needs people like him, people with conscience and honesty that can lead the
world toward peace and sustainable progress.
The loss of Abdurrahman Wahid is not merely a loss to Indonesia, but to the whole world.
Mir Atta Muhammad Talpur
Malacca, Malaysia
A lot of people talk about Gus Dur and his controversy. But Pak Anand Krishna, I can feel the truth and the very human side of Gus Dur through your writings.
I recall the memories when almost all of the people condemned Gus Dur because he would like to greet us “Selamat Pagi!” (Good Morning) rather than “Assalamualaikum” because he realized that Indonesia was not an Islamic country.
I recall the moment when he admitted Chinese descendants were a part of our beloved Indonesia, while other officials only gave “lip service”. Thank you Gus!
Haryadi
Bandung
He was the one who could see better than us. And, his departure has reminded the whole nation
of how true his vision was, is, and will be!
We could not see the truth of his vision while he was still with us.
Despite his departure, we now feel more of his presence. Because, yes, Gus Dur remains!
Joko Riyanto
Bandung
When I heard the news about Gus Dur’s passing, I couldn’t help but worry about this nation, especially about Muslim society.
His voice was always “fresh” and mostly shocking. But yet, mostly it’s true, although some of his decisions were less appropriate.
His perspectives helped balance the Islam radicalism wave.
Aisanya
Jakarta
Indeed, Gus Dur’s voice helped us on our journey in the wilderness. Walking in the wilderness, we have to be very careful, so that our garments and/or our skin do not get entangled in bushes and thorns.
That’s the meaning of “takwa”, a special word in the Koran, as the Book declares that it is guidance for those who are “takwa”.
Usually translated as “being righteous”, or sometimes “being fearful of Allah”, actually the word “takwa” originated from the ancient dialect of Quraisy Arabic at the time when the holy book was revealed.
And, according to that ancient dialect, “takwa” means just that: to walk cautiously in the wilderness
of life!
Joko Riyanto
Bandung
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