TheJakartaPost
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Can we overcome the tyranny of the majority?
So why the sudden reversal to cruelty? Why have racial hatred and religious intolerance resurfaced worldwide, including in Indonesia?
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Thousands of people demand the dismissal of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama over alleged blasphemy in a mass rally on March 31. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
D
uring the conversation surrounding Indonesian comic book artist Ardian Syaf’s references to the 212 march and the Al-Maidah controversy in a Marvel publication, the comic community here pondered the different situations in Indonesia and the United States.
Muslims in the United States are being discriminated against and stereotyped as terrorists, but American comics have stood up for them, from the aftermath of 9/11 to the current administration of President Donald Trump.
On the other hand, Ardian expressed his support for the controversial march in a comic dealing with alienation and minorities. Worse, he was accused of supporting anti-Semitism after drawing Kitty Pryde, a Jewish-American character, standing with a “Jewelry” sign next to her in perspective.
In the US Ardian is a minority, but here he is a member of the majority — a Javanese Muslim man.
There has been talk about how the majority always oppresses minorities, in any country. Muslims might oppress minorities in Indonesia, just like white Christians might oppress minorities in the West.
My mind was also on the hatred against Muslims in India and Myanmar and on the everyday racism and prejudices against dark-skinned people in Singapore (as told by Tamil and Malay Singaporeans in social media) and Japan.
It is easy to dismiss our humanity by saying that humans, by nature, are evil. Perhaps we are violent by nature, but our “better angels” have prevailed over the last few decades and most of us abhor ideas such as slavery, child labor and war.
