Friday 9 December 2011

LETUPAN BARA API


LETUPAN BARA API
Pernahkah terpikirkan olehmu baginda yang mulia, betapa seorang rakyat harus meregang nyawa membakar diri didepan singgasanamu yang perkasa hanya beberapa hari saja setelah engkau mengadakan perhelatan luar biasa di Cipanas sana...didepan jutaan rakyatmu yang menggeletak meregang nyawa kelaparan....kesakitan....kepedihan .... tanpa protes melihat semua kepongahanmu tanpa bicara......
Matamu terbuka tetapi buta  melihat fakta! Benakmu hanya terisi bagaimana berkuasa dan mempertahankannya, tanpa merasa berdosa terhadap kesengsaraan yang terjadi dimana-mana dari Aceh sampai Papua!
Jika hari ini anak itu menunjukkan kemarahan yang terpendam, menyulutkan bara api dan rela mati, maka bara api itu akan tumbuh meletupkan bara yang maha besar yang akan menelan baginda...hanya tinggal menunggu waktu saja!
Bangunlah dari singgasanamu sang baginda, lihatlah rakyat jelata... Padamkan bara sebelum menjadi neraka!

BSD, 9 Nopember, 2011.

Saturday 22 October 2011

A TRIBUTE TO MY BLOGGER FRIENDS

A TRIBUTE TO MY BLOGGER FRIENDS.
by: Neneng R. Tarigan

Friendship is a unique relationship that knows no difference, cultural or otherwise.~

As bloggers, I think it is part of our obligation to promote our friends' blogs or their web sites in any possible way we can.
Yes, I must admit, sometimes we feel reluctant because some of them are so unmindful even to leave a little comment on our posts; we feel bad about that. However, let us forget about their negative sides for a while and think what we can value and learn from our blogger friends who really have brilliant ideas to put in their blogs, sorts of stories and info that would make our lives as the readers much happier, knowledgeable and colorful.
Let us just remember, how they have made our day full with laughter and curiosity with their intriguing writings, how they can turn our egoism down with their preaches and the wise words as well as poems that they have created or some had been quoted from famous people around the world, or the pictures and traveling experiences they shared with us in their blogs, their cooking recipes, their fashion ideas, their health tips, their amazing pictures, their gigs, their craziness, their cartoons, their love stories, their films, their talent as fortune tellers, their free money making machines, their skill as an IT experts, their gardening, their small agriculture expertise, their arts, their architecture, their free games and thousand others that could color our lives.
This post is a tribute to that kind of friends I have. There are thousands of them, but let us check some of their links and find out why these people deserve a special tribute as friends, though most of them are non professional writers, photographers, film makers, but what they had produced would make us whispers: " Yes indeed, they are really good!"
Here are some recommended links that I am sure you might share my view of their quality. Please take note that the row where I put the names of the bloggers does not represent the rank at all. You may also recommend me more links and categories to be add in this list, but that should not be the links belong to companies or organizations except your own company or organization; I am sure that will be interesting and fun as we could assume it as a little appreciation among us as real bloggers.
I highly value your concern for spending your precious time to check for the links in this list. I wish our works as bloggers would contribute to a greater advantageous to many people around the globe; and most importantly, to create a better connection and to enable us as human beings to live in peace and harmony together.
May God bless our works.
Forever your friend, Neneng Tarigan - Indonesia.

Preaches
Dr. Russ Murray (Canada)
http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/
http://satireandtheology.blogspot.com/ 
Desiray Lewis , Food 4 Thought Ministries.
http://woman4virtue.blogspot.com/
Judas Maccabaeus(Israel)

Novel
Sir Johnny Ray (USA), the American No 1 Winning Novelist and an award winning writer of international romantic novels.
http://www.sirjohn.us
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Novelist-J...
Pandora Poikilos (UK), a novelist. Peace from Pieces
Manoj Kumar (India), The Dot
http://www.justanotherdot.blogspot.com/
http://www.justanotherdot.wordpress.com/
Aisha (Pakistan), 3yeSH's Illusion, She and The City
http://www.3yesha.com
Daniel Fung (Malaysia)
http://cha2ming.blogspot.com/









Poems:
Jim McIntosh (New Zealand), Holes in My Soles
http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com
Simon M Hunter (UK), Simon Hunter Poetry
Rigzin Namgyal (India), Love, Poems, Thought
http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/rigzzz
Vishwas Anand (India), Provoking Hearts and Minds
http://vishwasanand28.wordpress.com/
Kymberly Berson, Words of Expression
http://kkswordsofexpression.synthasite.com/

Thriller and Horror:
Julian Ravage (USA), Writing, Arts, Dreams.
http://www.julianravage.com/
John Mountain (USA), Written in Blood, Writing and Promoting thriller and horror books, films and video
Scott Riddick (USA), Tales From A Motel
http://www.talesfromamotel.blogspot.com

Life:
Scott Riddick  (USA), a Typical Read
http://atypicalread.blogspot.com
Debra El Ramey (USA), Pure and Simple
http://debrasblogpureandsimple.blogspot.com
Alpana Jaiswal (India), Motifs on the Wall.
http://motifsonthewall.blogspot.com/
Ricky Allen, Panthers Bad Boy
Bonnie Panter Gayadeen (USA), Bongo is me at
http://bongoisme.blogspot.com
Therra Favor Weinberg (USA), Oh Lead Me
http://www.ohleadme.com/
Amit Purswani (India), Krane Metal
http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/krane_metal
Umamaheswari Andane (India), Perpetual Mind.
http://perpetualthinkings.blogspot.com/
Savira Yogasavi (India), A Purple Journey
http://yogasavy.blogspot.com
Lisa Brandel (USA), The Widow Lady.
http://widowlady302.blogspot.com/
Deborah/Debbie (USA), Scattered Musing of A Creative Mind.
http://scatteredmusings.net/

Traveling Experience:
Dave Briggs (UK), "Daves Travel Page". Around The World Cyclist.
http://www.davestravelpages.com/
Jim McIntosh (New Zealand). Holes in My Soles.
http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com
Sigit Hermawan (Indonesia), Rest Area
http://restarea28.blogspot.com/
Heinz Rainer (Austria), Project Life Art Travel: Life on Three Continents.
http://africasiaeuro.blogspot.com/
Michal Rupinski (Poland), Unlimited Dreamers
http://www.UnlimitedDreamers.com/blog
AJ Poliquit (Philippines), The Transcendental Tourist,
http://ajpoliquit.wordpress.com
Jorie Pacli (Philippines), The Long and Winding Road.
http://jorietravel.blogspot.com/
Norazam Che Amat, (Malaysia)
www.kenalinegaraku4u2c.blogspot.com
www.malaysiaopenhouse2u.blogspot.com
Baracea Cosmin (Romania), Most Beautiful Islands
http://mostbeautifullisland.blogspot.com/
Aznzar (Morocco), Subme, Morocco Deserts.
http://www.morocco-deserts.blogspot.com/

Photography:
Jim Brandono (USA), JP Brandono Photography
http://jpbrandano.imagekind.com/
Mike Neal (USA), Neal Studios
http://nealstudios.net/
Endy Daniel (Indonesia), Endy Photography
Hind Toufga (Morocco), Fashion Photography
http://hind-toufga.blogspot.com

Recipes:
Laura Spear (USA), Culinary Adventures.

Agriculture
Robert Puckett (USA), Missouri Permaculture.
http://www.missouripermaculture.com/

Architecture:
Cafelab Architettura (Italy)
Chrystal Baker Russel (Canada), Adorn on a Shoestring, Interior Decoration
http://www.adornonashoestring.com/

IT
Prabha Karan (India), Peppyday: News, Softwares, Blogging
Joe Morrow (USA) at
http://www.thebloggerpageshowto.blogspot.com/
Subrato Paul (India), Golden Twine,
http://www.goldenTwine.com/
Abhinav Singh (India), Hacking, Security, Computer.
http://hackingalert.blogspot.com/

Social Media:
Weddy Rhamdeny Karnalies (Indonesia/Australia), Social Outbreak/Indofast International


Human Right:
Geoge Sera (Kenya), Alliance Vision Educational Centre, A community project that supports orphans, widows and all vulnerable people in slum areas.
http://www.avec.webs.com/ http://www.alliancevision.blogspot.com/ http://www.avec.wetpaint.com/ http://www.avec.cealon.com/
Jessica Brant (USA),  Finding One's Way, Women, Domestic Abuse, Survivor Stories
http://findingonesway.com/

Education:
Damaio Carlos (Brazil), English Tips and Tour Guide.
http://www.englishtips-self-taught.blogspot.com/
Barry Smith (Australia), Keeping Kids Out of Trouble
http://www.keepkidsoutoftrouble.com/
Cristina Dubei (Romania), Human Resources and Marketing Projects.
http://krisztad.blogspot.com/

Health:
Al Sears, MD (USA), Power for Healthy Living
http://www.alsearsmd.com/contact-us/
Dr. Khan Sherief (Oman), All Internal Medicine
http://anaesthesiatoday.blogspot.com
Jeff Simms (USA), Overcoming Diabetes
http://overcomingdiabetes.blogspot.com/
Mary Hudak Collins (USA), Living with Celiac & Food Allergies
Green Yatra (India),
http://zaroorat-a-need.blogspot.com/
Egidius Heerkens (Netherlands), A Self Sufficient Journey,
Nature, Cooking, Bush-crafts.
http://www.eheerkens.com/

Journal:
Scott Ledbetter (USA), Ye Olde Journalist

Spiritual:
MaryelllenGrady (USA)
http://msrefusenik-msrefuseniktellsitall.blogspot.com/
Dawn Sievers (USA), Healing Morning
Jessica Mokrzycki (USA), Ascending The Hills
http://www.ascendingthehills.blogspot.com

Fortune Teller:
Indranil Ray (India), Astrology Useful Information
http://indranilray.blogspot.com/

Gigs:
Patricia Morrison (Canada), The Writing Womb
http://www.thewritingwomb.com/
Scott Riddick (USA), A Typical Read
http://atypicalread.blogspot.com
Pramod Lohia (Thailand), My Musing.
http://likemymusings.blogspot.com/

Cartoon:
Johnny Ancich (Canada)

Fashion:
Thuy Kathrin Otto and friends (Germany), Two For Fashion
http://www.twoforfashion.de/
Nava Krishnan (Malaysia), Life Style on Nava K.
http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/lifestyle_on_nava_k
Hannah Santhanam (UK), Carina Bridesmaid Dresses
http://bridesmaiddresses.name/
AngHoo (Singapore), Korean Fashion Indulgence,
http://koreanfashionindulgence.weebly.com/2/post/2011/05/define-your-own-style-be-a-fashion-trendsetter.html
Mdvanii (Finland)
Soncere Nada (Italy), Milana Fashion Galery
http://milanafashiongallery.blogspot.com/
Zeeshan Rhana (Pakistan), Pakistan, India Beauty and Style

Jewelleries:
Gilliauna (Italy), Bits and Beads, Handcrafted jewelry.
http://www.bitsnbeads.com/
Sarah Jones, USA, Cute Jewelery
http://jewellery-style.blogspot.com/



Traditional Music:
Vedang Dharashive (India)
http://vedangdharashivemusic.blogspot.com/

Glass art:
Sadia Kayani (Pakistan)
http://living4artncraft.blogspot.com/

Bibi Bowman (USA)
http://visualartexchange.ning.com/profile/bibibowmanrodrigue
Ashley Brake (USA)
http://theartistinyou.typepad.com/taiy/ashley-brake.html
Allison Reece (USA), Allison Reece Arts.

Wood crafts:
Sarah Wood (USA), Wood Arts Universe.
http://www.woodartsuniverse.com/

Films:
Aabhisek Phanda (India), Film Maker.
Entertainment:
Chad Elliot, Days in the Park
http://www.daysinthepark.com/

Stars and Films Comments:
Colleen Sullivan (USA), Star Smoothy
http://www.starsmoothy.com/

Forex:
Ikon Group (USA), 
http://www.ikonfx.com/

Making Money on Line:
Derek Jones (UK), Derek's Home and Business Blog
http://www.facebook.com/DereksHomeandBusinessBlog 
http://www.derekjones.co 
Francisco Linares (UK), How to Make Money On Line With Francisco Linares.
http://www.whatnetworkonline.com/
Delois Mc Kay (USA), Click Bank Success Blog.
Bronzilla Sheppard (USA), Gift Ideas, Make Money and Advice 
http://bronzilla-sheppard.blogspot.com/
Adam Jones (Australia), Video Marketing
http://www.youtubehigh.com/ 
Kevin Elliott (USA), The Best Way to Promote Business Through Video.
https://www.videocontrolpanel.net/
Akinori Shiratori (Japan), Javita Independent
http://www.myjavita.com/noritou

Thursday 19 May 2011

MY FIRST U TUBE VIDEO: Revive The Batak Culture



This video was made on 25 June 2010, during a fund raising program entitled "Revive The Batak Culture", to support the Maranatha Choir mission to Austria to compete in the World Choir competition that annually participated by various group of churches choirs from all over the world.

Members of the Maranatha Choir Indonesia, represented various ethnic groups in the country; however since the majority of Christian community in Indonesia is from Batak origin, therefore, some action had been taken to enable the Choir to go to the World Choir Competition by conducting a musical and fashion show entitled "Revive the Batak culture" for the fund raising.

Batak, which is consisted of 5 major ethnic groups: Tapanuli, Karo, Simalungun, Mandailing and Dairi are largely very devoted Christians, except Mandailing, where most people in this ethnic group is Islam.

This video shows a dance from Karo ethnic group, where I belong. I hope you enjoy the video. (Neneng Tarigan) http://neneng-tarigan.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 1 March 2011

RETIREMENT: A Nightmare?

RETIREMENT: A Night Mare?

PART I: My Childhood As Daughter Of A Soldier.


When I retired, I realized that time flies very fast. I still remember vividly how I scream loudly looking for my mommy who left me alone among strangers at my first debut at the age of three entering my kindergarten school in Kutaraja (Banda Aceh) the Northern Part of Sumatra.

At that time, I might have thought, that mommy didn't have any pity on her own daughter by leaving me alone like an orphan at the kindergarten school. I remember they called me as a tearful kid for I was non stop crying waiting for my mom's hands although Kak Ida (Sister Ida) and Tante Lus (Aunt Lus) my teachers played a beautiful children song Potong Bebek Angsa or Slaught the Duck Swan in the piano and bribed me with a sack of candies that children normally loved.

My first debut at the kindergarten school in Kutaraja, Aceh.

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We lived in Kutaraja until my age was 4; then we forced to move for a refuge to Medan, because there was a big chaos in Aceh. Daud Bereuh the Governor of Aceh rebelled in order to enact a Muslim Republic in Aceh, separated from The Republic of Indonesia. Daddy had to stay in Aceh with the Indonesian loyalist troops in which quite a number of them were also an Aceh origin.


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I hardly recall, how long had we been staying in a hotel in Medan or back and forth to Berastagi to stay in my dad's home town. What I remember is, we then moved to Tanjung Selamat to a military compound about 12 kilometers from Medan. Daddy joined us about a year after the situation in Aceh subsided under the control of the Republic. In Tanjung Selamat, I began my first elementary school until the second grade and there my mommy gave birth to my two lovely sisters; so we were five, two boys and three girls.

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In my childhood, I was known as a tearful yet quarrelsome kid. So quiet, so shy, yet a spoiled brat little kid and a rebellious one, that was who I notoriously known, besides as my daddy most beloved child. Among the seven kids they have, I knew well, that my parents treated their second child or me more special and distinctive than others, not because I was the good one, no, only because, I can be so threatening and harmful to the other kids, if they messed up with me. That was possibly why, my parents had to make a persuasive approach so that I would not kill my siblings one by one with a dagger or stones as I always threatening them if my parents were not home! (Hmmmm,...that what I called a self defense. Actually I had never done that, because personally, I was the weakest in the family!)

People who didn't know our family might have thought that I was the only kid of my parents, or the youngest or the only daughter, because they always brought me wherever they go except to a funeral, a wedding or a hospital. I was reluctant to go to those three particular places, because I dislike and scared to see someone dead or ill, and so shy to go to a wedding because of inferiority complex of feeling so ugly. Yes, I felt, I looked like an alien, sometimes so fat and most of the time so skinny with protruded teeth. Because of that feeling and the teases I got from my siblings and parents, I became harmful, rebellious, arrogant and isolated at home. However, to my two little sisters I can be warmth and protective, it was just automatic, I didn't know why, even up to now, might be because they are both much nicer than my brothers. I also would always be nice to friends (boys and girls), easy going and friendly, they always took care of me and attentive. Of course there were some unfriendly friends, but in my childhood, I didn't recall of having any enemy, they were all too good to me.

Growing up, I knew that, mommy changed a bit, she seemed in favor to my two sisters rather than to me, however, I had never lost the love of my daddy. I was still, obviously his favorite.

I still remember, he would fulfilled whatever I asked, as long as he had money, I can always got what I want. Nonetheless, as a military man daddy always went to a battle ground. At that time, between 1950 till end of 1960s, there were lot of separative movements or rebellions in my country, so I hardly met my daddy at home, sometimes till a year or two.

To meet my daddy, I recalled, my mom in the early of 1960 had to arrange a cultural performance to enable us and all of the family of the soldiers to go to the military front line to entertain my dad's battalion. She asked the permission from the commander of the Sumatra Army an approval to visit the battalion, because dad as the commandant of the Tiger Battalion (Battalion Macan Kumbang) and his troops, had long gone from home for a battle, although the distance between Medan and Rantau Perapat is only 300 kilometers.

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Mommy was a very smart, strong and brave woman; she was really well organize in almost everything especially in dealing with her 7 brat little kids. I wonder how she manage my dad's meager salary and educated us so well by spending so little for what her personally needs for the shake of her kids.

Mommy was the best woman I have ever had in life. She was so funny, lovable and always put her children and may dad interests in the first place. I remember when we were small (maybe around 1957) in Tanjung Selamat, some strangers came to our house and looked for my daddy. Actually, I was the first they met, but I honestly said to the strangers that daddy was not home, then mommy came out and convinced them to look for my daddy in the office not far from home, because our house was in the military compound. Mommy was so calm and full in control, she didn't show her fear though our house that time was the furthest from the office. She even offered them to drink and to allow her to call my dad. They refused the offer and left. I didn't know why the strangers then left us alone. After they gone, mommy hurriedly locked the door, gathered all of us (her five children at that time) inside of her bed room and told us to lie down on the floor and waited for her for a while. It was already late in the afternoon, we didn't know where mommy was, until she told us that she went out to report about the strangers to some soldiers who lived at the back of our house.

Not long after, our house was bombarded with machine guns, I scared to death and so did my siblings seemed scared and shocked not knowing what was going on. We heard the machine guns swinging like in the battle ground. We knew the story about the revolution from our parents because mom was a nurse and dad was a soldier when they met during the revolution against Dutch colonial and the Japanese in 1940s. However, we didn't know that the Battle ground against domestic rebellion would be so horrifying and threatening. Mommy tried to keep us as quiet as possible and encouraged us to be brave because our soldiers were out there fighting against the rebellion.

About half an hour, the gun shots stop and later some soldiers came and told us to stay put, because we were all well protected. They said daddy was in hide, there were big rebellions against the Republic, we had to refuge the next day. Mommy was not in good health that time. She was very ill but she had to take care of her five little children alone. We run for a refuge from Tanjung Selamat to Pulau Berayan nearby Medan in the middle of the night and lived there in a very small military house. As far as I remember, we never stay in a small house like that, a wood house with 3 small bed rooms, a very modest kitchen and a toilet; but we had to, because our state was in emergency.

My mom illness became more serious, she lied on bed helplessly. I was about 8 years old and with my mom sister who sometime came, I had to take care of my mommy and my siblings. In her lame less mommy told me to take care of my siblings and abide by the step mother if one day daddy had to marry again when she is gone. I cried a lot alone and felt so very sad and lonely, I met dad only once or twice in a month, the political situation and the condition was so unstable. Later, he brought mommy to the hospital and she stayed there for months. One night, we were all brought by bus to run for a refuge to Berastagi North Sumatra (my dad's home town) 60 kilometers from Medan. Mommy was still in the hospital in Medan. We had to run away and hide ourselves in Berastagi. We didn't know the daddy's whereabouts. Later we knew that his commandant Colonel Simbolon and Lieutenant Colonel Boyke Nainggolan were in battled against the Republic. My dad under Colonel Djamin Gintings and the loyalist troops had to wait for additional helps from the Capital (Jakarta) while they re-arranged the strategy to fight against the separatist troops led by Colonel Simbolon.

Indonesia was really in chaos in 1950s. So many separatists groups scattered between Aceh up to Sulawesi. They wanted to separate from the Republic of Indonesia either for reasons of religion, regional independence, cultural, or economic imbalances or whatsoever. Regardless the reasons, however, they were all failed, because until now the majority of Indonesians are united and all loyal to the Republic. For us, government could change many times, but the Republic would stand forever!

We lived in Berastagi in my grandpa's house for months and all of us refrained from school. One night, some troops (in late of 1958) came and brought us to our new big house at Jalan Padang Bulan, Medan, where dad and his platoon was actually based while fighting back the rebellion. The situation was still unstable, some separatists were successfully entering our house yard where the platoon was temporarily stayed in tents. Again, gun fired swings around us but only for few minutes and the platoon had successfully pushed them away and caught them.

From 1959, the Republic troops were fully in control in Medan and that time mommy gave birth to my two little brothers the number sixth and seventh. There was not much room to manoeuvre for the remaining separatist group. Not only their space to move in the mountains became much smaller, but most of them was caught by the military and some who were still hiding had to surrender either voluntarily or by force. With no support from the people of course no rebellion can survived. From 1962 everything was settled. The whole Sumatra except some part in Aceh were totally under the control of the Republic. From there on, we lived peacefully in our big house at jalan Padang Bulan Medan until we moved to our own house at jalan Hayam Wuruk, in the same city, the house that my dad bought partly from the money that he inherited from his late father who died in the revolution in late 1940s.

I finished my junior high school at the age of thirteen in Medan, not as the smartest, I was just ordinary student but not dumb at all.

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We lived in Medan until I was about fifteenth, then we had to move to Kotabaru, Pulau Laut (Sea Island) in Kalimantan, to join my daddy who had been assigned as the commandant of a military regiment. He was a lieutenant colonel that time; and only 6 kids joining him, because the eldest (my brother and my cousin) preferred to live in Medan rather than in a small town like Kota Baru.

That time, I was at the second grade of my senior high school; and in the public school where I studied, there were only 3 teachers (one for Indonesian language, one for English and one for history!), whereas my major was math. It was really tough living in an island with such poor condition and with population might be only around 10.000 people. No facilities than 20 land rovers and trucks in the island. The island only had one medical doctor (dr. Ari Dodo) and a clinic. There were only two high school there, one was the public school where I was the student and the other was a Chinese school.

However, the view of the island was extremely fantastic and we always have fresh fruits, fishes and meats on the table. Sometimes we can eat bunch of cheese and various imported fruits like apples and grapes from the foreign ships that were always stop and anchored in the small pier of the island. (Usually American, Dutch and British ships that passed by the island before heading to Balik Papan, where their oil companies invested.)

We always give the ship captain and some crew a small party in our house whenever they stop by the island, we try to make them feel at home and welcome. For us and the people in the island it was nice to see big ships and visitors around. Slowly, I understand that by giving them a small party my parents were also try to introduce and educate their kids in how to live in international circle.

People in Kotabaru were all very friendly and respected us, we were living on the hill in a military big house and well guarded by some soldiers. But I hated being guarded, because at any time if my friends come and visit me, they had to report to the guards first although our house had no fences and everyone actually could get in from every part of the house yard. In Indonesia, especially in the regions, they look up high to military commandants, to the mayors or the heads of the districts! Thanks God that our parents disciplined us to always live modestly and humble, they taught us to mingling with everyone and to love people, and to understand that daddy was only an ordinary soldier. He never boosted himself as the youngest son of a rich man from highland Karo, instead he told us how difficult it was living under the step mothers. He said, he only had two clothes in his childhood, although his daddy was one of the rich there in Karo and only have two sons.

We lived in Kota Baru for about a year and a half. It was the most peaceful and friendly place I had ever enjoyed in life. My friends were all very nice, especially Ratna who lived next door, she was my neighbor and classmate. (I wonder where she is now). Regretfully however, our peaceful life was under threat again. At that time in 1965, there were big disturbances in our country. Members of the Communists Party (PKI/Partai Komunis Indonesia) had brutally killed 6 of our military generals with an accused that they would organize a coup de tat against President Soekarno and that they were members of the “ Council Generals” (Dewan Jenderal) who planned to take over the presidency.

The situation was really unstable. The Air Force and Cakra Birawa (the president's special guards) took side with the communists party. Many military men and dignitaries in major parts of Indonesia were killed. Once again, bloodshed dripping wet our beloved land. The state was in emergency, because of the civil war created by the communist party. The occurrence known as “G 30 PKI” (Gerakan 30 September Partai Komunis Indonesia or the 30 September Movement of Indonesian Communist Party); which was indicated to had been fully supported by the People of the Republic of China and the Soviet Union. Once again; our country was in great danger, as the consequence of the Cold War!

Soekarno, the first President was reluctantly condemn the communist party for the reasons of national stability and maintaining secularism. He said, he didn't want to see the country in turmoil.

As the results of his stubbornness and by the force of the students demonstrations, the communist party and the Cakra Birawa were desolated, the life long President Soekarno who had governed the country for 20 years had to withdrawn from the presidency and had been in house detained till he died in 21st June 1970, because of high blood pressure and kidney ailment. What a tragic for such a great leader like him.

On 1st October 1965, in mid of the celebration of the anniversary of the People of the Republic of China, held at the Chinese School Kotabaru, my dad rushed home, he immediately held an emergency meeting with his staff. When he arrived home, I inform him what I heard from Radio Australia that there was a big chaos in Jakarta, the radio talked about the General Council and the missing of some of Indonesian generals. I told him that I didn't fully understand what the radio had said. The next day and days after days, daddy seemed so extremely busy. I knew then that many members of the communist party were detained. The Chinese school was closed and desolated.

My daddy taught me the politics and the need to fully understand the history, the back ground of each political party and to put the love on our country above all of our interests. He said, in order to achieve the objective, most of the political party using force and sometimes so cruel and sneaky. He never said to any of his kids not to involve in the politics or the arm forces. However he always said that he would be happy if we could just be a doctor, an engineer, a civil servant or a businessman like his dad.

As a military man, of course he was not a partisan of any political party. Once, I asked him whether he had any fear whenever he was in the battle ground, he said yes, especially after he had 7 of us but had to defense the country in the battle ground. He said he always had to be more cautious and in full coordination with all of his soldier friends in order to be able to arrive home safely.

Daddy was always in the military infantry when he was young, up to the age of late 40. Then when the situation is more stable, from 1970 till his retirement he was in the staff position. He ended up his career as a colonel for 12 years. A very honest man that I always love and respect. I knew how disappointed he was to his military career. But it was always difficult for a Christian and an honest person to have a career in a country with Muslim majority; only one or two could be successfully either because that person is peculiarly smart or “smart” in negatively connotation!

As Indonesians, we would always be loyal to our nation though unfairness remain in tag in this islands country. However, I strongly suggest that the issues of differences have to be cautiously and wisely addressed and revived, to strengthen and empowering Indonesia!

Friday 7 January 2011

IN MEMORIAL: MY MOST BELOVED PARENTS

THE TWO BROTHERS:

 My uncle and my dad.

I wonder where on earth I have ever seen brothers that are so closed to each other like my uncle, the eldest M. Tarigan, a successful businessman and my dad the youngest, S. Tarigan, a colonel of the army. They called themselves as "chicken legs", only two, so when one leg lost, the chicken would be crippled, no more balance, no more health, only sadness left. It proved! When my uncle passed away decades back, I could only see sadness in my daddy's eyes till he also passed away in 1994 when I was still posted as the Commercial Counselor at the Indonesian Embassy in the Netherlands. 

Both died at very young age, my uncle died when he was only 49, my daddy a bit fortunate when he was 64. My grand father died when he was only 44 because of revolution against colonial Dutch, no one found his body until now, what we buried only his picture, his friend who happened to be saved by Indonesian guerrillas at that time told the family that he was seen to had been onslaught to death by other groups that were consisted of robbers and wild rebellion. My Grand father was a very well known rich man from Highland Karo, so presumably he had to be killed to stopped him from supporting the revolution.

What I can recall until now is how my uncle and my dad loved each other so much. They were always like two little kids when they met, they could sit together, talked, laughed, we all can see very clearly how they cared each other so dearly. They both  were our two pillars, very strong, very protected towards their children, very tough and hard working persons, never complain at any circumstances, even at a very low point of their life. 

Our parents taught  us, how to live in simplest way yet valuable to others and to our country. Regretfully however, none of their children could live in simplest way. We were all, included my cousins lived exactly, like excessive spoiled little kids ; and even until now, almost none us could live as fighters as our parents.  We could only sell our heritages one after another, until only very few lefts. None of us seems wanted to keep our parents legacy, to keep what lefts for our future generations. 

In sadness I write this article, with tears in my heart. I wish my siblings and cousins would read this article someday and aware how important love is in life, how important is, caring each other rather than quarreling, how important the togetherness and how important to be grateful to what God gives through our parents. Yes, our bodies is the symbol of love of our parents, the bodies and souls are the most important. As Christian we can rely to our believe that God will not leaves us all starves, yet He wanted us to work hard too, to respect each other and to love each other, so that we can leave peacefully and help the others.
I wish the fighting spirits of our parents would re-born in us and we can wake up as new person s again, full with love and full with the fighting spirit. I amen to that in Christ name.

In memory: My beloved uncle, aunt, mommy and daddy. In front of my uncle's villa in Berastagi, North Sumatra, Indonesia. After New Year, January, 1972 with Mount Sibayak as the background.

Family tomb in Kacaribu, Karo, Sumatra. Left, where my uncle and aunt rest in peace. In the middle we buried the picture of my grand father.

Here rest in peace my dearest mommy

Tuesday 4 January 2011

Entri Google Wikipinggir oleh NENENG

I love Japanese culture, the ambiance, the scenery, the people and their products. I hope u can share more information about Japan from non Japanese fair point of view

perihal:

"Followers"
- The Japanese Umbrella (lihat di Google Wikipinggir)

Monday 3 January 2011

Entri Google Wikipinggir oleh NENENG

Although I know something about windows and all kind of use of computer and internet, still I find this blog is quite informative and useful.

perihal:

"Followers"
- Colin's IT Technology Blog (lihat di Google Wikipinggir)

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