How To Stay Highly Motivated

The degrees of success and happiness we achieve in life result overwhelmingly from the actions we take. But the actions which matter most are not those we do every now and then. It is our consistent actions (our habits) which more than anything else determine the direction and success of our lives. Thus, the first key to success is to adopt good habits.
However, the problem with the above bill of advice is that in the vast majority of cases our habits are not the result of conscious thought and logical decision making. Instead, our habits tend to be “reactions” to our experiences. If those experiences are disproportionately negative, they will tend to produce negative reactions and when this happens consistently, the mental foundation for the bad habit would have been laid.Always remember that while all experiences count, the ones which count the most in shaping our habits are those which are most emotional and which occur most frequently, especially when we are young. But despite their obvious power and near control over our lives, we do not have to be slaves to our past experiences. Indeed, if those experiences have produced low self-esteem, self-defeating habits and other negative behaviors, we must not be slaves to them.

The most important tool to employ in order to take control of you habits (and as a result become the master of your destiny) is to be highly motivated. You must be driven. Your desire for success must be greater than your fear of failure. You must step outside your current comfort zone and take a chance. If you are not currently a highly motivated person, here are some steps you can take to become a more focused and motivated individual.

Establish Clear, Specific Goals! You life goals are the things which give purpose to your life. They are the reason you live. Your desire to achieve these goals will be your greatest motivator. Thus, you must organize you life around the achievement of those goals. Write them down and read (internalize) them at least twice a day.

Take An Action A Day! You must establish an action plan which requires that you do at least one thing each day which brings you closer to your goals. Never forget that it is action which turns goals and dreams into realities. Do something each day. Habit is nothing but repeated behavior. Just do it, do it, do it. And one day you will wake up and find yourself taking productive actions without even thinking about it. That is when you would have formed a habit.

Instill Emotion! Rational thought and logic can enable us to figure out what to do and how to do it, but it is only emotion that will make us do it. Human behavior is emotionally driven. The two chief emotions are desire and fear. Strong desire will make you take action. But fear can also prompt action. You act because you are afraid of the consequences if you fail to act. I recommend the use of self-hypnosis to instill strong, positive emotional desire. And self-hypnosis can be as simple as retreating to a quiet place twice a day and emotionally repeating positive affirmations.

Take Charge! Repeat this mantra, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” There may be a host of reasons for current bad habits ranging from having been raised in a dysfunctional home to falling in with the wrong crowd, to just not having correct information. Regardless, if things are going to change for the better, it is up to you. No one else is responsible for bettering your life. If you find someone or group which helps, that’s fine. But the chief responsibility is yours. Stop playing the “blame game” and take charge of your life.

Have a positive day!

Achieved All He Could

They say that once upon a time, there lived a man who wanted to achieve everything he was capable of achieving. He was obsessed with this desire. He ate, slept, and walked with one and only dream: to die, having accomplished every single thing he was able to accomplish.There were so many things he could do. He felt like the whole world could be his, if he only set his mind to it. At times, he was even horrified by the powers hiding in his mind and heart. He was certain-in fact-he knew that his potential had no limits.

He knew that he could accumulate power that would dwarf the power of ancient kings; he knew that he could write books that could shake the minds of generations to come; he knew that he could invent things that would forever change the lives of millions of people. He lived, constantly feeling the power within-and that power knew no bounds.

There was only one obstacle: having such a potential, but only one life, he had to make a choice. He had to decide where to apply all of his enormous abilities. Making that decision was extremely hard, for any choice meant cutting off some future achievements.

And so in the meantime, he went to school, graduated, found a respectable well-paid job, married, and bred children. And he spent every minute of his spare time trying to decide where he should apply all his might. Even though he was not interested in applying it to his work, his power was impossible to hide. He was successful in everything he touched, and he earned great respect of the people who worked with him.

And all the while, he thought to himself: Imagine what I would achieve once I concentrate entirely on the area of my choice.

Time went by, and he grew older. Some roads he used to dream about became closed to him. But there was still so much he could accomplish. And he kept thinking hard while working, raising children, dealing with everyday problems, and knowing that his potential had no limits. And most people who knew him were of the same opinion, for it was impossible not to realize this, being around him for a while.

One day, a sudden chest pain made him come home early. He dragged his feet to the bathroom. There, feeling weak and empty, he looked in the mirror. A worn-out, gray-haired man stared back at him. But his eyes, though red and tired, were still full of unrealized potential. He peered into these eyes and, all of a sudden, realized one simple truth. The next moment, the pain pierced his heart again, and it stopped beating forever.

Everybody cried, even those who knew him only slightly. The pain of this loss was staggering. Not only had he been a good man but they also knew what great potential had died with him.

True, he had spent his life trying to make the choice, but imagine what would’ve happened had he made it. After all, he was so close to making it, and he hadn’t been that old. He could not have had this feeling of unlimited potential for nothing. His potential was truly unlimited.

The choice was about to be made, and very soon he could have achieved anything. His life could have become a shining monument, which would have forever inspired future generations. What a loss! What a tragedy! They cried and cried and cried. And they didn’t know what he had realized the moment before he died.

The truth that came upon him was rather simple. People only flatter themselves by thinking that they could have achieved this or that if not for such-and-such circumstances. Yet this is nothing but delusion.

At any given moment, as long as you’ve been healthy and haven’t been thrown into the midst of war, crime or forces of nature, you always achieve everything you can. You simply lack something that is necessary for achieving that goal you’ve never reached-a talent, a skill, willpower, a set of priorities, or something else.

Like it or not, realize it or not, believe it or not, but you simply lack it. You just think you’ve got what it takes, and only these insurmountable difficulties have prevented you from reaching the ultimate heights. But in reality, what you don’t achieve is something you’re not capable of achieving.

Have a positive day!

attitude

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important
than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, then circumstances, than
failures, than successes, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearance,
giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have
a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot
change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are
in charge of our attitudes.

Have a positive day!

Making Decisions

Jim Rohn Quotes:

“It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off.
You cannot make progress without making decisions.”

“Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention.”

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”

“To solve any problem, here are three questions to ask yourself: First, what could I do? Second,
what could I read? And third, who could I ask?”

“The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always
be the far greater value than what you get.”

“The book you don’t read cant help.”

“Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become.”

Have a positive day!

Hiks: My First Paper is ‘Rejected’

Few months ago my supervisor asked me to produce any paper and submit it to any conference. Just for getting any comments from the others. It is my first experience on writing paper. I dont have any knowledge before How to write a paper well. The structure, the composition, and etc. something like that . That’s why i produce my first paper perfuntoryly. then i submit to ICIAS (International Conference on Intelligent and Advanced System) held by UTP and IEEE.

You know, what is the result? as i predict before, my paper is strongly rejected. Hiks… What ‘s silly of me. it is truely embarrased me. but anyway i got many feedback and comment from the reviewers. these all: i do hope i will can do better… Next.

Dear Mr. Ahmad Mukhlason: We regret to inform you that your paper #1569060237 ('Toward Adaptive and intelligent Moodle E-learning System') cannot be accepted for presentation and publication in the Proceedings of ICIAS2007 . ======= Review 1 ======= > *** Relevance and Timeliness: Please rate the relevance of the paper to the conference, and the importance of the topic addressed in the paper and its timeliness within its area of research. Average (3) > *** Novelty and Originality: Please rate the novelty and originality of the work presented in the paper Average (3) > *** Technical Content and Correctness: Please rate the technical contents of the paper, its soundness and scientific rigour Below Average (2) > *** Quality of Presentation: Please rate the quality of presentation including (i)paper organization, (ii)clearness of text and figures,(iii)completeness and accuracy of references, and (iv)correct usage of english Average (3) > *** Overall Recommendation: Please indicate your overall recommendation Marginal (3) > *** Comments to Authors: Please highlight to the authors the strengths and weaknesses of their paper and justify your assessment. Please indicate any changes that should be made to the paper if it is accepted. This paper is still in proposal stage. Authors have to state the problem statement and identify why moodle is chosen. The methodology and expected finding should be refine. The abstract overall is not clear. ======= Review 2 ======= > *** Relevance and Timeliness: Please rate the relevance of the paper to the conference, and the importance of the topic addressed in the paper and its timeliness within its area of research. Average (3) > *** Novelty and Originality: Please rate the novelty and originality of the work presented in the paper Average (3) > *** Technical Content and Correctness: Please rate the technical contents of the paper, its soundness and scientific rigour Below Average (2) > *** Quality of Presentation: Please rate the quality of presentation including (i)paper organization, (ii)clearness of text and figures,(iii)completeness and accuracy of references, and (iv)correct usage of english Below Average (2) > *** Overall Recommendation: Please indicate your overall recommendation Reject (2) > *** Comments to Authors: Please highlight to the authors the strengths and weaknesses of their paper and justify your assessment. Please indicate any changes that should be made to the paper if it is accepted. no data given. only expected finding Regards, Prof. Ir Dr Ahmad Fadzil Mohd Hani, TPC Chair

62 years Anniversary My Indonesia.

Today is 17 th August 2007.
Historical day caused 62 years ago, in the same day
(on friday) Bung Karno and Muhammad Hatta on behalf
all of indonesian citizens declare Indonesian independence to all around the world.
It is First time, i do not celebrate my independence
day in my own country. but however i can still feel the independence
day euphoria in Malaysia. caused You know the Independence day
of Malaysia is on 31 of August.

what is the meaning of Independence??
just ceremonial only? i think so, just like that.

in UTP, Indonesian student on behalf celebrating
this independence day, held indonesian
traditional competition. It is like ‘Balap karung’,
‘balap kelereng’, etc. then at night will be held
musical concert and seeing Indonesian movie “Nagabonar
Jadi Dua”.

Anyway: “happy Anniversary my lovely country, whatever,
however you are. I am still loving U”.

Right Islam vs. Wrong Islam

By Abdurrahman Wahid*
News organizations report that Osama bin Laden has obtained a religious edict from a misguided Saudi cleric, justifying the use of nuclear weapons against America and the infliction of mass casualties. It requires great emotional strength to confront the potential ramifications of this fact. Yet can anyone doubt that those who joyfully incinerate the occupants of office buildings, commuter trains, hotels and nightclubs would leap at the chance to magnify their damage a thousandfold?

Imagine the impact of a single nuclear bomb detonated in New York, London, Paris, Sydney or L.A.! What about two or three? The entire edifice of modern civilization is built on economic and technological foundations that terrorists hope to collapse with nuclear attacks like so many fishing huts in the wake of a tsunami.

Just two small, well-placed bombs devastated Bali’s tourist economy in 2002 and sent much of its population back to the rice fields and out to sea, to fill their empty bellies. What would be the effect of a global economic crisis in the wake of attacks far more devastating than those of Bali or 9/11?

It is time for people of good will from every faith and nation to recognize that a terrible danger threatens humanity. We cannot afford to continue “business as usual” in the face of this existential threat. Rather, we must set aside our international and partisan bickering, and join to confront the danger that lies before us.

****

An extreme and perverse ideology in the minds of fanatics is what directly threatens us (specifically, Wahhabi/Salafi ideology–a minority fundamentalist religious cult fueled by petrodollars). Yet underlying, enabling and exacerbating this threat of religious extremism is a global crisis of misunderstanding.

All too many Muslims fail to grasp Islam, which teaches one to be lenient towards others and to understand their value systems, knowing that these are tolerated by Islam as a religion. The essence of Islam is encapsulated in the words of the Quran, “For you, your religion; for me, my religion.” That is the essence of tolerance. Religious fanatics–either purposely or out of ignorance–pervert Islam into a dogma of intolerance, hatred and bloodshed. They justify their brutality with slogans such as “Islam is above everything else.” They seek to intimidate and subdue anyone who does not share their extremist views, regardless of nationality or religion. While a few are quick to shed blood themselves, countless millions of others sympathize with their violent actions, or join in the complicity of silence.

This crisis of misunderstanding–of Islam by Muslims themselves–is compounded by the failure of governments, people of other faiths, and the majority of well-intentioned Muslims to resist, isolate and discredit this dangerous ideology. The crisis thus afflicts Muslims and non-Muslims alike, with tragic consequences. Failure to understand the true nature of Islam permits the continued radicalization of Muslims world-wide, while blinding the rest of humanity to a solution which hides in plain sight.

The most effective way to overcome Islamist extremism is to explain what Islam truly is to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Without that explanation, people will tend to accept the unrefuted extremist view–further radicalizing Muslims, and turning the rest of the world against Islam itself.

Accomplishing this task will be neither quick nor easy. In recent decades, Wahhabi/Salafi ideology has made substantial inroads throughout the Muslim world. Islamic fundamentalism has become a well-financed, multifaceted global movement that operates like a juggernaut in much of the developing world, and even among immigrant Muslim communities in the West. To neutralize the virulent ideology that underlies fundamentalist terrorism and threatens the very foundations of modern civilization, we must identify its advocates, understand their goals and strategies, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and effectively counter their every move. What we are talking about is nothing less than a global struggle for the soul of Islam.

****

The Sunni (as opposed to Shiite) fundamentalists’ goals generally include: claiming to restore the perfection of the early Islam practiced by Muhammad and his companions, who are known in Arabic as al-Salaf al-Salih, “the Righteous Ancestors”; establishing a utopian society based on these Salafi principles, by imposing their interpretation of Islamic law on all members of society; annihilating local variants of Islam in the name of authenticity and purity; transforming Islam from a personal faith into an authoritarian political system; establishing a pan-Islamic caliphate governed according to the strict tenets of Salafi Islam, and often conceived as stretching from Morocco to Indonesia and the Philippines; and, ultimately, bringing the entire world under the sway of their extremist ideology.

Fundamentalist strategy is often simple as well as brilliant. Extremists are quick to drape themselves in the mantle of Islam and declare their opponents kafir, or infidels, and thus smooth the way for slaughtering nonfundamentalist Muslims. Their theology rests upon a simplistic, literal and highly selective reading of the Quran and Sunnah (prophetic traditions), through which they seek to entrap the world-wide Muslim community in the confines of their narrow ideological grasp. Expansionist by nature, most fundamentalist groups constantly probe for weakness and an opportunity to strike, at any time or place, to further their authoritarian goals.

The armed ghazis (Islamic warriors) raiding from New York to Jakarta, Istanbul, Baghdad, London and Madrid are only the tip of the iceberg, forerunners of a vast and growing population that shares their radical views and ultimate objectives. The formidable strengths of this worldwide fundamentalist movement include:

1) An aggressive program with clear ideological and political goals; 2) immense funding from oil-rich Wahhabi sponsors; 3) the ability to distribute funds in impoverished areas to buy loyalty and power; 4) a claim to and aura of religious authenticity and Arab prestige; 5) an appeal to Islamic identity, pride and history; 6) an ability to blend into the much larger traditionalist masses and blur the distinction between moderate Islam and their brand of religious extremism; 7) full-time commitment by its agents/leadership; 8) networks of Islamic schools that propagate extremism; 9) the absence of organized opposition in the Islamic world; 10) a global network of fundamentalist imams who guide their flocks to extremism; 11) a well-oiled “machine” established to translate, publish and distribute Wahhabi/Salafi propaganda and disseminate its ideology throughout the world; 12) scholarships for locals to study in Saudi Arabia and return with degrees and indoctrination, to serve as future leaders; 13) the ability to cross national and cultural borders in the name of religion; 14) Internet communication; and 15) the reluctance of many national governments to supervise or control this entire process.

We must employ effective strategies to counter each of these fundamentalist strengths. This can be accomplished only by bringing the combined weight of the vast majority of peace-loving Muslims, and the non-Muslim world, to bear in a coordinated global campaign whose goal is to resolve the crisis of misunderstanding that threatens to engulf our entire world.

****

An effective counterstrategy must be based upon a realistic assessment of our own strengths and weaknesses in the face of religious extremism and terror. Disunity, of course, has proved fatal to countless human societies faced with a similar existential threat. A lack of seriousness in confronting the imminent danger is likewise often fatal. Those who seek to promote a peaceful and tolerant understanding of Islam must overcome the paralyzing effects of inertia, and harness a number of actual or potential strengths, which can play a key role in neutralizing fundamentalist ideology. These strengths not only are assets in the struggle with religious extremism, but in their mirror form they point to the weakness at the heart of fundamentalist ideology. They are:

1) Human dignity, which demands freedom of conscience and rejects the forced imposition of religious views; 2) the ability to mobilize immense resources to bring to bear on this problem, once it is identified and a global commitment is made to solve it; 3) the ability to leverage resources by supporting individuals and organizations that truly embrace a peaceful and tolerant Islam; 4) nearly 1,400 years of Islamic traditions and spirituality, which are inimical to fundamentalist ideology; 5) appeals to local and national–as well as Islamic–culture/traditions/pride; 6) the power of the feminine spirit, and the fact that half of humanity consists of women, who have an inherent stake in the outcome of this struggle; 7) traditional and Sufi leadership and masses, who are not yet radicalized (strong numeric advantage: 85% to 90% of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims); 8) the ability to harness networks of Islamic schools to propagate a peaceful and tolerant Islam; 9) the natural tendency of like-minded people to work together when alerted to a common danger; 10) the ability to form a global network of like-minded individuals, organizations and opinion leaders to promote moderate and progressive ideas throughout the Muslim world; 11) the existence of a counterideology, in the form of traditional, Sufi and modern Islamic teachings, and the ability to translate such works into key languages; 12) the benefits of modernity, for all its flaws, and the widespread appeal of popular culture; 13) the ability to cross national and cultural borders in the name of religion; 14) Internet communications, to disseminate progressive views–linking and inspiring like-minded individuals and organizations throughout the world; 15) the nation-state; and 16) the universal human desire for freedom, justice and a better life for oneself and loved ones.

Though potentially decisive, most of these advantages remain latent or diffuse, and require mobilization to be effective in confronting fundamentalist ideology. In addition, no effort to defeat religious extremism can succeed without ultimately cutting off the flow of petrodollars used to finance that extremism, from Leeds to Jakarta.

****

Only by recognizing the problem, putting an end to the bickering within and between nation-states, and adopting a coherent long-term plan (executed with international leadership and commitment) can we begin to apply the brakes to the rampant spread of extremist ideas and hope to resolve the world’s crisis of misunderstanding before the global economy and modern civilization itself begin to crumble in the face of truly devastating attacks.

Muslims themselves can and must propagate an understanding of the “right” Islam, and thereby discredit extremist ideology. Yet to accomplish this task requires the understanding and support of like-minded individuals, organizations and governments throughout the world. Our goal must be to illuminate the hearts and minds of humanity, and offer a compelling alternate vision of Islam, one that banishes the fanatical ideology of hatred to the darkness from which it emerged.

The writer is former president of Indonesia, founder the Wahid Institute, Jakarta.

(The Wall Street Journal, 30/12/2005)

Daughter of Islam: An eloquent (and elegant) foe of Muslim fundamentalists.

BY NANCY de WOLF SMITH
Saturday, February 25, 2006 12:01 a.m.
WASHINGTON–Yenny Wahid has a smile that could melt a Hershey bar at 100 yards. Her sunny disposition is all the more remarkable because Ms. Wahid is on what may be the world’s most difficult mission right now: She’s a prominent Muslim (and a woman at that) who speaks out against terror and the hijacking of her religion by ideologues who twist it to their own politicalends.
After 9/11, many Americans assume that the radical Islamic agenda is to destroy the U.S. The reality is that attacks on Western targets are designed to function as brutal propaganda coups
that will attract recruits to the cause of violent revolution. The main goal of ideologues like Osama
bin Laden is to topple the governments of Muslim countries, including, most famously, the Wahabi
royal regime of Saudi Arabia. But the real strategic plum, Ms. Wahid says, would be her native
Indonesia and its 220 million citizens–with the largest Muslim population on earth.
“We are the ultimate target,” she told me in Washington during a trip to the U.S. earlier this
month. “The real battle for the hearts and minds of Muslims is happening in Indonesia, not
anywhere else. And that’s why the world should focus on Indonesia and help.”
Think of it as a potential domino whose fall would be felt far beyond Asia. “It’s big enough to
destabilize the region,” Ms. Wahid notes. But “imagine if Indonesia became a hotbed for
terrorism, or a source for people to get martyrs from. We’ve got enough people to provide an
army of terrorists if we’re not careful.”
At present, Ms. Wahid calls that a “worst-case, doomsday scenario,” and she is probably correct,
given Indonesia’s history of moderate, syncretic Islam, with elements from the region’s Hindu and
Buddhist past. While there have been demonstrations there over the Danish cartoons that
lampooned the prophet Muhammad, they have generally involved only few hundred people. By
contrast, Ms. Wahid points out, a December rally she helped organize under the banner of “Islam
for Peace” attracted some 12,000 marchers.
At the head of that crowd, riding in a wheelchair alongside Ms. Wahid, was her father,
Abdurrahman Wahid, the respected and beloved Islamic scholar who headed Indonesia’s largest
Muslim cultural organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), before becoming the first president of newly
democratic Indonesia from 1999 to 2001. In a seminal article for this newspaper–”Right Islam vs.
Wrong Islam”–Mr. Wahid wrote on Dec. 30 that “a terrible danger threatens humanity” in the
form of “an extreme and perverse ideology” that grossly distorts the true meaning of the religion.
He called on fellow Muslims to end the “complicity of silence” about terrorism and other acts of intolerance which characterize the radicals’ behavior.
At 31, Yenny Wahid–her real name is Zannuba–is trying to follow her father’s example and
defend the values their faith teaches. Educated in Indonesia, she got a Master’s degree in public
administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2002. Her ease in Western
surroundings is apparent not merely from the snappy cream-colored pantsuit she was wearing
when we met but also from her elegantly accented English.
She is active in the NU’s political wing, the National Awakening Party, and an adviser to
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The job most dear to her heart, however, is
running the Wahid Foundation–named after her father–which works to promote, in the words of
its Web site, “democratic reform, religious pluralism, multiculturalism and tolerance amongst
Muslims” and reflects “a universal Islam [that] desires justice and prosperity for all.”
The key word may be prosperity. Indonesia, which was on its way to Asian Tigerhood until the
currency crisis of 1997-98, has not recovered from the economic meltdown that coincided with
the fall of the Suharto dictatorship. The country is a democracy now, but a struggling one to
which few investors have returned. It also has a free press, among the friskiest in Asia. Yet the
new openness has also paved the way for vocal opponents of Indonesia’s traditional secular
approach to government–voices previously suppressed–and they are gaining ground.
It is still politically incorrect to call for an Islamic state; and the mainstream press, along with the
vast majority of Indonesians, vigorously supports efforts to fight and arrest terrorists such as the
ones who perpetrated the Bali and Marriott hotel bombings of 2002 and 2003. Even so, Ms. Wahid says, the fear of being labeled un-Islamic has become intimidating to many moderate political
candidates. Radicals who want to install an Islamic regime–those who dream of violence while
many ordinary religious conservatives still do not–also are operating in an economic milieu not
unlike the one communists exploited in poor countries a generation ago.
Poverty and a lack of education make millions of Indonesians desperate,
and easy, targets, Ms. Wahid says. “After the fall of Suharto, people
expected democracy would solve all their problems. But of course it
takes a long time for things to fall into their right places, and people are
not patient. They want a quick answer. So there is this sense of
democracy-fatigue in Indonesia. And my fear is if people are willing to
entertain the idea of Islam, and an Islamic state, as an alternative
solution to governing, because they are so frustrated by the level of
corruption . . . we’d be in big trouble.”
Ms. Wahid is not imagining things. She points to other examples: “This
is exactly the issue that just happened in Palestine. Because Hamas
managed to portray themselves as the clean party. We do have parties like that as well [in
Indonesia], like Hamas.”
Well-financed radicals have already infiltrated at least some of Indonesia’s traditional religious
boarding schools, or pesantren. For poor rural families especially, these schools–called madrassas
in other Muslim countries–are the only way to see that their sons get decent food and clothing.
Yet even the majority of pesantren that teach a moderate form of Islam turn out young clerics
who find it difficult to make a living in the outside world. This is one reason, Ms. Wahid believes,
that Indonesia’s mosques have become a potent trouble zone.
“The market for these preachers is quite limited, and you get to be the top preacher by being the
preacher with a sexy message. A sexy message can be very inflammatory: ‘Christians are the
ones that created all these problems for you guys–kill them!’ Friday prayer is an obligation for
men, so it has become a very effective medium to propagandize with preachings that are just very, very hateful toward non-Muslims.”
Like her famous father and other influential clerics in Indonesia, Ms. Wahid is trying to hold the
line against this trend. Their task, as she sees it, is to remind Indonesians of the true teachings of
Islam and its sacred texts. “One thing for sure is that [radicals] have a very distorted view of
what religion should be,” she says. “Killing people meaning glory? It’s lunacy. We do discuss these
things, we hold conferences, for instance on the word ‘jihad’ and how it’s been used and abused
throughout history. The prophet Muhammad said the greatest jihad is against yourself, how to
make yourself a better person. It’s not . . . running to kill people.”
For a true definition of martyrdom, she points to the sacrifice of Riyanto, a young man dispatched
with other members of the Nahdlatul Ulama youth militia during Christmas several years ago to
guard churches threatened with attacks. When he discovered a bomb outside a church, he tried to
throw it out of the way of the crowds and was killed when it blew up. Ms. Wahid and others mark
the anniversary of his death every year. “We always tell this message: This is the real case of
martyrdom. That’s the way to defend religion, not by killing others but by defending others’ rights
to practice their religion.”
As uplifting as her story is, Ms. Wahid cannot speak to Indonesians with the same authority as her
father, whose power to influence public opinion derives in part from his credentials as an Islamic
scholar. However, Abdurrahman Wahid is 65, blind and frail. The NU organization where he
remains a towering figure may have 40 million members, but there are power struggles under
way inside the group, and no guarantee that its future leaders will be as wise and outspoken as
he has been.
Ms. Wahid is doing what she can to help a new generation follow in her father’s footsteps, through
the Wahid Foundation. It involves “trying to . . . identify these young leaders, young clerics with
same-minded beliefs, and connect them with one another and provide them with something, a
house, so that they can come out and speak. An army of able, dedicated young men who can talk
in a unified message of tolerant and peaceful Islam.”
That’s an ambitious project, and Ms. Wahid says Indonesia cannot prepare for the future without
help. It needs foreign investors “willing to take the risk,” and more contact with the West on every
level–including contact as rudimentary as instruction in English that will enable people to pull
themselves out of poverty. The Wahid Foundation, for instance, has a program that tries to
arrange micro-loans in rural communities.
She’s not surprised when I point out that calling for foreign investment in a country with
Indonesia’s financial reputation is a tall order. “This is a difficult period for us,” she admits, “but
this is a win-win situation for all. We have all these resources, we have a population of 220
million, a big market. As for rule of law . . . we’re trying to simplify the bureaucracy, the red tape
and there have been many corruption cases brought to court. The wheels of justice are starting.”
Given the threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism, ignoring Indonesia could quickly become a
lose-lose situation. If for no other reason, she says, “the world has an interest in making
Indonesia a stable country politically and economically so that people do not entertain this idea
that an Islamic state is a solution to their problems. When people are hungry, when people are
poor, they can do drastic things.”
One could argue that by openly resisting the ideology of Islamic extremists, Ms. Wahid herself is
taking a drastic step, albeit one born of courage, not desperation. When I asked her where she
got the strength to speak the truth at a time when many prefer to remain silent, she beamed and
said: “This is the real thing that defines people of faith. I have faith in God. That’s enough for my
father, and enough for myself.”
Ms. Smith is a member of the Journal’s editorial board.

Unbelievable Love.

Oh ho.. I can not believe to my Self any more. oh my God how come, i easily fall in love again? while i am in relationship. Why love come in and come out easily in my heart. I think some time i am so crazy. but it is all about ‘feeling’.

then every time, every moment i always thinking of you. imagine you are in my side. and u love me too. although i know it is really impossible. you are in relationship with someone else, so am i.

you know it is so hurt and painfully on my heart. wanna to hate you, but really i can not. you are so special in my heart. I am powerless without you. Oh my GOD what is i have to do now? are you testing me ? wheter none i love more but U.

Forgive Me Ya Allah. I will try to love you more than the others.

being Fake Chef

On saturday 11 th August 2007. PPI UTP (Association Of Indonesian Student @ Universiti Teknologi Petronas) held “Islamic Talk” together with Ustd. DR Syamsudin Arif-Researcher at International Islamic University Malaysia- on the Topic: ‘Muslim Intelectual Role In Civilization’. On behalf this program, a night before it is held we prepare snack for the attendee by our selves. I mean cook Indonesian snack by our selves. since feel boring with Malaysian food.. he he.

We prepare 3 kinds of menus. firstly is ‘Bala-Bala’ in Jombang usually it is called ‘ote-ote. secondly is ‘Tahu Isi’ . and the last one ‘popia’. The fascinating moment is how the process to make them. You know we are all man. I accompanied by Dedy, Iwan, Yudho, Dhany, Dhanie, Faisal, Kiki, Chandra, Surya. Ha ha.. Imagine how we are 10 people work together? it is so wonderfull. So Finally on 04 am we finished our Job. Being happy the job finished successfully although never wonder how the taste our snack is. thank you my friend for your good cooperation. i deeply appreciated it.