Who’s Who

I like the headline “Who do you think you are?” on Sara Veal’s reflections piece in this issue, which focuses on identity. For most of us, it’s how we choose to pick our personal allegiances in identifying ourselves, by citizenship, class, faith, ethnicity, sexual preference, TV sitcoms, cartoon characters, whatever takes our fancy.  I am big-time confused on many if not all of the above.

It’s an exciting and challenging time for Indonesians today, especially the young generation. They are finding their feet amid globalization, becoming citizens of this shrinking world armed with their cyber skills and English language proficiency. So does it detract from their “Indonesian-ness”, and their sense of national identity, as some fear? I agree with one of the sources in Maggie Tiojakin’s centerpiece article, who argues that national identity still exists among the young generation even if it is very different from their forefathers.

Our cover is an unusually serious looking Aming, the actor who is guaranteed to get giggles from viewers. Although his new movie seems to be another clever farce – a transsexual superhero fights injustice – it has a serious intent in examining discrimination and prejudice in society today.

Perhaps the other message contained within it is to simply live and let live, and respect differences, which seem to be the core values Indonesia was founded upon. For, to borrow a phrase, who do we think we are in judging others?

Bruce Emond
Editor
bruce@thejakartapost.com

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