Yanuardi Syukur

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Living in the Age of Digital Exchange

We now live in the digital age. Most of us have mobile phones and can access the internet. This means that we can be economically empowered by using mobile phones or laptops and the internet. If we are not empowered--or cannot make money--it means that there is something lacking in the way we use this technology.

The study of economic anthropology looks at the phenomenon of exchange. Exchange is not just money, but many related things; an economic transaction can be a deal after a simple exchange--namely information. Money and information or communication influence each other so that economic transactions can occur.

The phenomenon of exchange in anthropology is called reciprocity. Both of these things involve many things, such as religion, technology, ecology, politics, and so on. This means that these things can encourage mutual exchange and economic distribution.

The famous ethnographer Bronislaw Malinowski has a masterpiece in anthropology. The title is Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922). There, he discusses the phenomenon of reciprocity in the Trobriand Islands. Malinowski saw that the Trobriand people were willing to risk their lives on a long voyage, in order to give trinkets - bracelets and necklaces - for free.

He then concluded that the exchange was related to politics. Not barter, because barter is the exchange of two goods or services that are the same in quantity or quality and begins with the agreement of both parties. However, this exchange - called kula - is a gift that is expected to occur "in series" between individuals; there is an expectation that a gift will be reciprocated with another gift of the same or greater value.

The gift moves people to reciprocate in the form of another gift. If brought to the current digital context, a person's "gift" of likes, comments, or shares, there is a possibility that it will be reciprocated by the individual, especially if they know each other. Although in the digital world, there are times when the "gift" is not reciprocated by other individuals because they do not expect to receive a "gift" from that person. However, the closeness of giving each other personally has the potential to continue to giving each other in other forms.

Exchange will not be possible if one party is not symmetrical in the sense of not having the capacity. Digitally, if someone wants to be empowered, they must have digital capacity, such as the ability to operate a computer device, know and be skilled in using applications, and act creatively.

If in the past people could get money from office work, now people can get money just from in front of a computer. Someone who practices making pictures/flyers, if developed, can make money. He doesn't have to live in the capital, he just needs to live in a location with good internet and has adequate equipment.

Personal capacity can be increased by learning. Learning begins with curiosity and continues with trial and error. On average, people who can create digital works try, there are definitely mistakes there but from those mistakes they learn.

Wasn't Facebook also the result of trial and error which was then used in a limited community, liked, developed and finally became global and made the founder rich? In exchange, people don't have to be burdened with "waste money get money." It doesn't have to be there. Money is one thing, but money is not the only thing that must be obtained in exchange.

A more powerful exchange can have an impact on trust. If we are trusted, we can get many things, including money, facilities, good name, promotion, and so on. People who only think that the economy is money need to change that mindset. The economy is apparently related to trust, access, and inspiration.

If you meet a rich person, don't think about emptying his wallet. But, get the story, how the story behind his struggle to become rich. The story is certainly not just spoken, and if we get the story at the right moment, it will definitely have a significant impact on our capacity of awareness.

This means that improving the economy using digital does not only require technical skills, but also requires communication, trust, and even sincerity. That sincerity can bring sustenance. There are many people who were initially poor but because they were sincere, they finally got a "windfall" (durian runtuh), became rich or at least became independent and empowered individuals.

YANUARDI SYUKUR is an Indonesian writer who is also a lecturer, editor, researcher and speaker at various conferences and expert resource person on several Indonesian television stations and ministries. He has participated in various international programs in Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, the United States, as well as Ukraine. He is an anthropologist at Khairun University who is interested in various global issues. He is currently also active as Vice Chairman of the Islamic and Middle East Research Center (IMERC) of the University of Indonesia and is active in the Commission on Foreign Relations and International Cooperation of the Indonesian Ulama Council. E-mail: yanuardisyukur@gmail.com.

The Art of Living, Collecting and Giving to the Global Community

Dr. Wayne Dyer once wrote a great sentence, "The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away." The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away, said the author of the book The Power of Intention.

Collecting is an ancient tradition in human life. History books call it: "gathering food". That was for ancient activities during the hunting era. In modern times, the activity of collecting food is still carried out by humans, in the form of power, influence, and in short: resources.

The problem is, sometimes people are too busy collecting but forget to give. In fact, the activity of getting needs to be accompanied by the activity of giving. The more we get, the more we should spend.

Great people in their lives give a lot. They collect resources - wealth, knowledge, experience - which they then share with others. They are not afraid of losing, because being stingy in giving is the real loss.

We all have varying abundances. There are those who are abundant in wealth, position, good name, and even skills. Abundance of skills is also part of the fortune that not everyone gets. When we get all of that, then we immediately take out "other people's rights" from it all.

If we reflect more deeply, what we get is also actually what people give out. We get from what people give out, what people leave behind, and what people ignore or don't get. The so-called opportunities do not come from ourselves but rather the "synergy" of the will or lack of will of others.

So, living life every day by collecting and giving is a wise activity. We collect something and don't forget to give it to others. We breathe oxygen to live. So don't forget to "bring to life" other people, our society and the international community through the resources we have.

The Power of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivered a rich, unscripted, and profound speech at the CTCorp Leadership Forum in Jakarta (9/1/2023). The event was sponsored by his loyal friend Chairul Tanjung by inviting many elite Indonesian figures ranging from ministers, former ministers, intellectuals, businessmen, and so on.

There were many things that Anwar discussed, including his life story of being imprisoned for more than 10 years due to political differences, his ideas regarding the state, democracy, economy, including things that some people consider simple but are actually important, namely morals, knowledge, and the values of a nation.

Anwar Ibrahim's magnetism has at least several things. First, his life story is not easy. He was once a high-ranking official, then went to prison and now rose again to become prime minister. Life stories like this are rare, except for a handful of people on earth. That story is the first and extraordinary attraction of his figure.

Second, Anwar is a persistent "supporter of da'wah". He is known to be close to Islamic activists of the Indonesian-Malaysian kind. Activism and intellectualism in the context of national leadership. So, he is not only an activist, but also an intellectual and leader for his nation. What he thinks about: implementing Islamic values to become ishlah (improvement) for society; lifting up the oppressed.

Third, Anwar is a rich book reader. In prison, as he admitted, he read thousands of books of various types. At the event, Anwar quoted several influential books with relevant contexts. It might be a bit excessive if a netizen commented, "I feel like I'm studying for a PhD at Oxford", but listening to Anwar's presentation is indeed enlightening, eye-opening, and at the same time awakening.

Fourth, Anwar fights for the oppressed. He cares about investors--not anti-investors--but he wants to create justice at the level of the majority of the people. This idea is similar to what Kiai Ma'ruf Amin is fighting for when he said that "big businessmen support small businessmen." This means that all people--whether rich or not--must support each other, especially the rich so that they support the poor so that the poor can 'move up a class.' Listening to Anwar Ibrahim's speech was enlightening in my opinion. We were very enlightened because we listened to an influential figure in Malaysia who had gone through difficult times behind bars. His sincerity in serving the community was very apparent in his speech from beginning to end.

We hope that Anwar Ibrahim's leadership will further strengthen relations between Indonesia and Malaysia, complete various unfinished homework, and support each other in making Indonesia's chairmanship in ASEAN a success in 2023.

Prabowo and Indonesia's Commitment to Palestine

In the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 forum in Singapore, the Minister of Defense and President-elect of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, delivered an important speech regarding Indonesia's commitment to Palestine. The speech not only demonstrated humanitarian concern, but also emphasized Indonesia's position on the international stage as a country that actively creates global peace and justice in accordance with the mandate of the constitution.

Prabowo announced several concrete steps that Indonesia is ready to take to help Palestinians injured by Israeli attacks. One of them is the evacuation of 1,000 Palestinians to be treated in Indonesian hospitals. This shows Indonesia's proactive attitude in providing medical and humanitarian assistance, emphasizing that solidarity is not just words but is manifested in real actions.

Indonesia's assistance has been consistent for Palestine in various sectors; politics, economy, education and health. Specifically for health, Indonesia has built a hospital in Gaza which is very useful for the recovery of Palestinians. Social assistance from the Indonesian people has also continued to flow until now, including prayers that continue to be chanted in religious pulpits.

In addition, Prabowo stated Indonesia's readiness to send medical personnel to operate a field hospital in Gaza, with the consent of all parties concerned. This reflects Indonesia's commitment to be directly involved in life-saving efforts in conflict zones, prioritizing humanity above all else.

Prabowo also revealed that Indonesia is ready to send peacekeeping troops if requested by the United Nations (UN). This is not only about protecting civilians in Gaza, but also shows Indonesia's commitment to global stability and peace. By deploying peacekeeping troops, Indonesia is trying to be part of the solution, not just an observer in this ongoing conflict.

In his speech, Prabowo emphasized that nationalism must be balanced with humanity, and patriotism must be tempered with wisdom and respect for all citizens of the world. This is a very relevant view in an increasingly connected world, where the actions of one country can impact many others. Prabowo called on all parties to work towards the common good, emphasizing that peace, security, stability, and prosperity are the main foundations of Indonesia's international engagement.

Prabowo also called for a thorough investigation into the tragic events in Rafah that have caused many casualties, including children and unarmed civilians. This shows a deep concern for justice and human rights, as well as a desire to ensure that similar tragedies do not happen again in the future.

Prabowo's commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine was also emphasized in his speech. According to him, a two-state solution is the only real way to achieve lasting peace and security for both parties. This reflects Indonesia's belief that dialogue and cooperation are the keys to resolving this long-standing conflict.

Prabowo's speech comes at a very important time, with ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas underway. US President Joe Biden has proposed a three-phase ceasefire as a first step towards permanent peace in Gaza. However, challenges remain, especially with Israel's stubbornness in refusing a permanent ceasefire until Hamas' military and government capabilities are destroyed, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Prabowo's speech shows that Indonesia stands on the side of peace and humanity. The commitment to helping the Palestinian people, both through medical assistance and direct involvement in maintaining peace, shows that Indonesia is ready to play an important role on the international stage. By prioritizing dialogue, cooperation, and respect for international law, Indonesia hopes to be part of the solution to this conflict that has been going on for far too long.

Prabowo’s speech is a call to action, not only for Indonesia but also for the international community. By inviting all parties to work together for the common good, Prabowo reminds us that only through collaboration and dialogue can we achieve true peace and prosperity. This speech is a reflection of deep human values and a commitment to justice, which will hopefully inspire many other countries to join in the effort to create a more peaceful and just world.

Glorification of the Mountains, a Reflection in Bangkok

When the night was getting dark, one time in Bangkok, I was telling a story with a friend. The friend said that humans were as far away as mountains. "From a distance the mountain looks green, but when you get closer it turns out there are brown, black and other colors." What this means, my friend said, is that the image of a human being is not as clear as what is seen from a distance. From a distance we think we are good, but when we get close we might find out that humans are not as good as we think from a distance.

However, I don't want a story about mountains and human characters. I want to tell you something else. In a book by Dr. Amru Khalid, he told me about the prayer beads of the mountains. "Once, when the Prophet David (AS) read the book of Zabur, something amazing happened," he wrote. The mountains then glorified. The people who were in front of Prophet David (as) (who was reading the Zabur book) also felt the power of Allah. They heard the sound of the prayer beads of the mountains. Birds in the sky also gathered around them from various places. There was even a bird that perched on the head of the Prophet David (AS), flapped its wings, and also did something: glorify.

Allah Almighty immortalized the story in the Qur'an. He said, "Indeed, we subdued the mountains to glorify with him (David) in the evening and morning" (Shad: 18). In verse 19, Allah also continues the story in His noble words, "And (We also subdued) the birds in a gathered state, they were very obedient to Allah." Everyone who gathered there, both Prophet David (as) and the mountains, glorified Allah alone. They read the sentence, "La ilaha illallah...La ilaha illallah, which means "There is no god but Allah...There is no god but Allah."

In the surah Al-Isra verse 44, there is a verse that explains that everything that exists glorify Allah. Allah says, "And there is nothing but glorifies Him with His praise." In fact, what is in us, our bodies are also very likely to glorify Him in their own ways. We may not hear it, but as His creatures all of them glorify, praise the truth of their Creator. What we don't see is not necessarily not there, right? Also what we don't hear is not necessarily not there. There are so many things that we don't have time to think, but he is there, his existence is in our midst.

In another story, there is a narration from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah saw took some pebbles. The companions near him heard that the pebbles were glorifying Allah, saying "La ilaha illallah". The Messenger of Allah then gave it to Abu Bakr. After he took it, the pebbles were also glorified. The pebbles were given back to the Messenger of Allah.

Next, the Messenger of Allah gave it to Umar bin Khattab. Umar Al-Faruq put the pebbles in his hand, and the same: they also glorified . Some companions then took the pebbles, but the tasbih of the pebbles was no longer heard. The hadith narrated by Thabrani narrates that "the pebbles only tasbih when they are in the hands of the three people." Namely, the Messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr, and Umar bin Khattab.

Those stories seem unreasonable, but in Islam there are many things that are considered unreasonable by ordinary reason but they exist. Faith directs the soul to believe in things that are sometimes out of the ordinary and out of the human mind is like the prayer beads of the pebbles, and also the prayer beads of the mountains.

It is also very possible that the objects around us are also reciting tasbih when we are reading this writing. They are reciting tasbih in praise of the Creator. The only question is, have those who read this writing recited tasbih a lot on the day when this writing was read?

Prabowo Subianto's Military Leadership Inspiration

While walking around Gramedia, a few days after the vaccine, I saw a good book. Thick, big, and heavy. The size is 21 x 29.7 cm and printed in full color on glossy paper; hardcover, given a jacket weighing 2.9 kg and 574 pages thick.

This book can be called Mr. Prabowo's experience and outlook on life regarding seniors, colleagues, juniors, and national and global figures (past and present) who inspired him to become a soldier who dedicated himself to the revival and glory of Indonesia. There are at least 94 figures consisting of 45 high-ranking TNI officers, 7 non-Pati TNI soldiers, 15 civilian figures and 27 foreign figures.

In this book, Mr. Prabowo writes about his relationship with all of them. There are many figures in it, such as his relationship with Mr. Yusuf Yosfiah, Mr. Agum Gumelar, Mr. Luhut B. Panjaitan, Mr. Hendropriyono, and so on. The relationship is something that goes hand in hand, but not infrequently there are differences, but because the basis remains nationalism for the glory of Indonesia, then certain points of difference meet at points of similarity.

He also wrote about the figures of the nation's fighters in the past. He showed respect for General Sudirman, Daan Mogot, Yos Sudarso, Pattimura, Malahayati, Sultan Agung, to Prince Diponegoro and Gadjah Mada. He chose these names as part of his appreciation for figures who have contributed to the republic, as well as those who have influenced him.

Emulating Prince Singosari, Prabowo views a military leader must be able to gain support from the people by providing continuous goodness. It is not enough to just be good at war. Military leaders must be good at building. Learning from Julius Caesar, he was known as a professional soldier, mastering war tactics and strategies, leading from the front, but paying attention to the welfare of the troops and defending the poor.

Other heroes from abroad were also written. For example, how Sultan Shalahuddin Al-Ayyubi, the liberator of Jerusalem, was struggling, brave, and a wise leader. The story of the great man is also combined with great soldiers from various other continents in the world.

For those of us who are not military, this book teaches us about the character of soldiers that we should learn. General Jusuf, for example, is known as a commander who cares deeply about his men. He is a simple and religious person. When he died, the sky was cloudy, there was little rain, I was present at the Panaikang TPU, Makassar. He left a will that his grave not be in the heroes' cemetery but next to the grave of his only son, Jaury Jusuf (died in the 1960s) which is located next to the TPU.

Great people from Indonesia have fought for this nation. They risked themselves for the nation as well as for their beliefs. Al-Markaz Al-Islami Mosque, a magnificent mosque in the city of Makassar, was initiated by General Jusuf who got the idea while on the hajj in 1989.

Initially, the mosque was named 'Islamic Center', but Jusuf Kalla's story after discussing with Prof. Quraish Shihab and Prof. Nurcholish Madjid, finally the name Al-Markaz Al-Islami General M. Jusuf Mosque was used. General Jusuf himself asked that his name not be attached to the name of the mosque, unless 'the time was right.' After he passed away, his name was attached to the mosque.

Pak Prabowo's book is very interesting, especially for those who like the topic of leadership and character. Whoever wants to have a strong character, he must learn from history, from the people before him--whoever they are. Take the best, absorb it, and bring out the goodness from yourself. This book is important for leaders, especially young people, to learn from the best figures who will later contribute to the glory of our nation.

Indonesia Consistently Supports Palestine

Indonesia's support for Palestine has not changed since the time of Bung Karno to Joko Widodo. In 1962, President Bung Karno expressed his stance in supporting Palestine: "As long as the independence of the Palestinian nation has not been handed over to the Palestinian people, then as long as the Indonesian nation stands to challenge Israeli colonialism."

In 2021, President Joko Widodo criticized and strongly condemned Israel: "The forced eviction of Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem, and the use of violence against Palestinian civilians at the Al-Aqsa Mosque must not be ignored. Indonesia condemns these actions and urges the UN Security Council to take action on repeated violations committed by Israel. Indonesia will continue to side with the Palestinian people."

This pro-Palestinian position is very clear and clear in accordance with paragraph 1 of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution: "That in fact Independence is the right of all nations and therefore, colonialism in the world must be abolished, because it is not in accordance with humanity and justice."

The first paragraph explains Indonesia's position on independence and colonialism: (1) Independence is the right of all nations, (2) Colonization in the world must be abolished and (3) Why must it be abolished? Because: it is not in accordance with two characteristics, namely: humanity and justice.

The sentence "Independence is the right of all nations" contains two important parts: "independence" and "the right of all nations." Independence comes from the word "merdeka", Sanskrit maharddhika, which means "rich, prosperous, and strong" which in Malay and Indonesian is interpreted as "free or independent." The addition of the words "is the right of all nations" strengthens the idea that being a nation that is rich, prosperous, strong, free, independent of other nations, is a right, something that must be obtained by every person who has existed since birth, even before they were born. The nation as a "collection of humans with the same identity" is obliged to obtain its rights as humans and an independent nation.

The Palestinian people have the right to be an independent nation from various forms of colonialism, oppression, and apartheid and persecution by Israel. Indonesia has fully supported Palestinian independence from the past until now, and this position has not changed in accordance with the mandate of the constitution. The Indonesian Constitution is the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the substance of which is contained in the preamble and articles therein.

The next sentence, "and therefore, colonialism in the world must be abolished" contains Indonesia's very clear position that colonialism in any form and anywhere in the world must be abolished. Colonization includes: the process, method, and act of colonizing. Its location is in the world, which is interpreted as "the earth with everything on it", "the planet where we live", or more broadly: "the nature of life." In all nature where humans live, colonialism must be abolished.

That is why until now Indonesia has refused to open diplomatic relations with Israel, since it was proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion on May 14, 1948, because it was considered a colonizer who seized the land of the Palestinian people.

One year after the proclamation, Israel proposed opening a consulate in Indonesia, but was ignored by Indonesia. In January 1950, the Israeli Foreign Minister (1948-1956), Moshe Sharett sent a telegram to Vice President Mohammad Hatta containing Israel's full recognition of Indonesia's sovereignty. Bung Hatta only responded with thanks without offering diplomatic relations.

What is the reason for rejecting colonization? The most fundamental reason for the elimination of colonization in the world is because colonization is "not in accordance with humanity and justice." The word "fairy" means "things, nature, conditions, behavior, which are worthy of humans, traits that are worthy of humans, or civility. Colonization is considered incompatible with human nature and the nature of justice. In this sentence, the idea is seen that the basic nature of humans is civilized with the traits of civilization and justice inherent in them. From that civilized nature, humans then create civilization, science, all of which must be passed down to human welfare.

The nature of justice is an important part of the human world. Justice requires fair actions and treatment for all humans so that everyone has the same rights and opportunities to grow and live in society. In terms of language, the nature of justice means the meaning is: "equal weight", "not biased", or "siding with the right."

Indonesia's support at the multilateral level can be seen from its consistency in always voicing issues surrounding Palestine at the UN Security Council forum. Together with Malaysia, Indonesia asked the UN Security Council to intervene and stop "the despicable act: Israel's attack on Gaza at a time when the conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants is raging.

Responding to Israel's military aggression against Palestine (2021), to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on May 15, 2021, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi proposed that: (1) the OIC ensure unity, among OIC member states and all stakeholders in Palestine, (2) the OIC must seek an immediate ceasefire, and (3) the OIC remain focused on helping the independence of the Palestinian people.

At the bilateral level, Indonesia also provides various technical cooperation support and humanitarian assistance to thousands of Palestinians in various skills such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and so on. In 2019, in the UN Security Council (SC) Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East (28/10/2019) led by South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, Indonesia emphasized its support for Palestinian independence.

Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN emphasized: "Israel must immediately stop illegal construction and provocation by security forces in holy places in the occupied Palestinian territories. These actions have violated international law and UN resolutions, such as resolution 2334 (2016) and hinder efforts to achieve world peace." (Kemlu.go.id, 10/28/2019)

Quoting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Indonesia believes that Palestinian independence is very important to maintain international peace and security. Therefore, the international community must reverse the negative trend that hinders the achievement of the two-state vision which is the best solution to resolve the conflict. "The failure of the international community to resolve this problem will have a major impact, not only in achieving a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine, but also peace and stability throughout the Middle East region." Ambassador Djani emphasized.

Several forms of "hands on" diplomacy are very relevant to Indonesia's position which is anti-colonialism as well as solidarity with weak nations. In health, for example, Indonesia (through the MER-C initiative) also built the Indonesian Hospital in Bayt Lahiya, North Gaza, with donations from the Indonesian people from Sabang to Merauke. Meanwhile, Indonesia (through the MUI) will also build the Indonesian Hospital in "Al-Khalil" Hebron on 4,000 m2 of waqf land. Based on the first paragraph of the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution above, we understand why since Indonesia was founded until now, this nation has continued to support Palestine. Constitutionally, our support for Palestine, or for other colonized nations, is due to the factor of human dignity, that all humans must sit equally low and stand equally high.