Penny for Your Thoughts: Ignorance is bliss?

By Little G on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 - 22:52

Ignorance is no excuse
The problem’s solved then what’s the use
I try to tell them everyday
But nobody listens to a word I say
Look out my window, what do you see?
Sometimes it’s worse than that stupid TV
Ignorance is bliss...
Living Colour – ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’

Over the past several years I have talked to a few queer Indonesians. Whether they’re Muslim or Christian (in this Asian country Catholics and Protestants together are called Christians as a group, because they believe in Christ, and has little to do with Christianity as we know it in the West), talking to them always reveals some amount of friction, or struggle, between their queer identity and their religion. Keeping in mind Indonesia is the world’s biggest Muslim country it’s not entirely strange. The thing that does set them apart from peers in the West is the fact they oftentimes don’t have the same education, nor the same means to educate themselves.

There are internet cafes, because having a home connection is a luxury most people simply can’t afford. Depending on where one lives and how long one has to commute, some don’t have the luxury of hopping onto their mopeds and head for the nearest internet cafe after work: don’t be surprised if you find yourself riding half an hour to get to one in the next town or city.

What about newspapers and other kinds of media? Let’s just suffice it to say that there’s little news trickling in from abroad (I guess it’s similar to watching the news in the US), and what little news there is is heavily coloured by the government and religion. Then there’s such a thing as censorship.

If you’ve visited the country, or read my previous articles, you probably know Indonesia certainly isn’t the only (Asian) country that uses censorship on an everyday basis. You’ve probably heard about the fact that recently the Chinese government censored news on Liu Xiaobo was being awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize, and subsequently putting his wife under house arrest after she informed him of his win. And I haven’t even started about the regions currently run by the Taliban. Anyway, I digress.

In the months leading up to the opening of Q! Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, I read articles here and there on how Islamic groups in Indonesia were decrying queer film festivals. Or, in this case: the Q! Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. And I have to admit, it wasn’t until The Advocate ran a short article on it that I decided to write an article about it for eurOut myself, and share my point of view with you.

Indonesia’s motto is 'Bhinneka tunggal ika’ (‘Unity in diversity’) and is a beautiful goal to strive for with so many ethnic groups spread out over so many islands. The last time I visited I still didn’t notice separation of state and religion (US politics, anyone?); the influence of religion on politics is huge.

When I visited relatives back in ‘08 I watched a discussion on porn on national TV (it sounds way more exciting than it was - really). Needless to say that having grown up and lived in the West for pretty much all my life I’m used to seeing some skin, and not think anything sexual. Watching the discussion with my mindset took me back about 40 years in time.

I can understand religion - in general - being important in people’s lives, and I respect that. I do have a problem with religious leaders telling other people how to live their lives. Especially if those religious leaders didn’t have a proper education themselves and are miseducating their congregations. It indeed is easy for me to say: I have easy access to any kind of information I want, and I don’t have to worry about any sites blocked due to the nature of their content.