No sex, please, we're Indonesian
Today's
Jakarta Post offers validity to the claims that this is now a country without a true identity. It's not the wide range of
ethnic and
religious groups that I'm referring to, but rather the divergence from the original underlying state philosophy of
Pancasila which was intended, as outlined by founding father Soekarno, to unite these groups.
Unity in Diversity is an admirable slogan. We're all God's creatures, all one under the sun, etc. etc.
I don't intend to analyse how Pancasila became a tool of sublimation in the hands of Soeharto ~ this last statement could have been a treasonable act in his New Order ~ but I do worry that certain forces seem to be intent on continuing to impose their vision of an ideal world on the rest of us.
With the exception of an actress, Christine Hakim, who has this week been appointed a
UNICEF ambassador, and one or two film directors, such as
Garin Nugroho, the Indonesian film industry is not noted for the quality of its products. Very few are worth showing outside the country due to poor scripts, bad acting and weak story lines.
Buruan Cium Gue (Kiss Me Quick) is reportedly one such film. However, even if you wanted to, you now won't be able to watch it because, according to the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and cleric A'a Gym, this is "
a vehicle to corrupt youth with carnal thoughts". So, put on the spot by the onslaught of criticism, the Film Censorship Board (BSF) withdrew the film from circulation on Friday, giving as the reason "
societal unrest"
I spotted a hoarding yesterday advertising
My Wife's Boyfriend. Now, there's an invitation to carnal thoughts. Should I tell 'er indoors?
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