Lontar Modern Indonesian Fiction Series
Gadis Ariva
Translations by Gadis Ariva
Three Government Ministers and One Joint Ministerial Decree
Three ministers scratch their heads
looking through a holy book not the constitution
thinking hard about what Indonesia is
Aha! says the minister of justice
Indonesian law fell from the sky
and being not man-made, cannot be opposed
just the same as syariah law
now that is Indonesia!
Three ministers scratch their heads
looking through a holy book not the constitution
thinking hard about what Indonesia is
Aha! says the minister for internal affairs
This country is not like foreign nations
the people here are moral, those outside are not
let's salute the Islamic Defenders Front
now that is Indonesia!
Three ministers scratch their heads
looking through a holy book not the constitution
thinking hard about what Indonesia is
Aha! says the minister for religious affairs
religion has only one interpretation, which is my own!
backwards forwards, no difference
imprison those who do not comply
now that is Indonesia!
Three ministers scratch their heads
looking through a holy book not the constitution
thinking hard about what Indonesia is
Aha! the three ministers announce in unison:
A Joint Ministerial Decree
together we will put a stop to tolerance
together we will undermine this nation’s principles together we will encourage violence
yes, together, we can!
They Say I’m Not Muslim
for not memorizing scripture
but speaking from my soul
for not repeating words from the Quran
but singing the words of my heart
for not praying in Arabic
but praying in my native tongue
for not saying peace be with you
but saying good morning to all
for not rejecting a different interpretation of the Book
but embracing the love of tolerance
for not adhering to fatwa about what is good or bad
but accepting difference of opinion
for not forcing my child to follow my religion
but letting her choose her own
for not wearing a jilbab
but wearing a bikini instead
for not believing in polygamy
but arguing with religious men
for not making the trip to Mecca
but vacationing on a Balinese beach
for not condemning gays and lesbians
but calling them my friends
for not agreeing with the Pornography Law
but accepting diversity of expression
for not defending syariah law in the regions
but defending a democratic state
for not being adept at Quranic verses
but being more given to constitutional verses
they say I’m not Muslim!
they say I should be silenced!
they say I should be stoned!
they say I should be bombed!
but let them say whatever they want
my free spirit will forever live
This extract was originally published in Menagerie 7: People Like Us, John H. McGlynn, Series Editor; Erza Setyadharma, Guest Editor, Lontar Foundation, Jakarta, 2009. It has been re-published here with their permission.
