To See, Not to View

The title, what is the different?

One of my teacher once told me "to see, not to view". It once used by him to tell us the basic things to do in order to learn photography well. To view is to see something in flash, but to see itself is to identify everything you see to every detail.

3 month after he told me that, I realize that that quote has a deeper meaning. It doesn't always deal for photography, cinematography or other visual art form. It also has some meaning for life.

We often judge something only from one situation, sometimes ignoring the fact or even the other information about the same situation, meaning we ignore them. This kind of things is as the same as when we view something. We don't know anything about the detail. If we keep doing this, there are possibilities when we tell others about what we judge, and as a result will create a prejudice which often is a bad one.

For example, we would say a man who lease his apartment units is being dishonest for his price is more expensive than the other unit in the same apartment. People are telling us that he is. For they think way he run the business is tricky, but they don't understand for they are short-minded. Their short mind is the one that gives us a prejudice about that poor man, that actually is not that dishonest.

In the other hand, if we are able "to see", we would think about his business, about it is natural if he seek for profit, how acceptable his price actually is if we're able to understand it (and it is understandable). When we see things that happened, we have to think it deeply, is it what really what happened? Or what is the real background, or the purpose or the reason of a happening.

We always have to see, not to view.

Scary Things That Happened

I know, I haven't post anything since....the time I can't remember. And, to be Frank, this isn't a good time to post for I have an essay to work on, but anyway, I should post it before that thing evaporate.

Some friend of mine came to Pleasant Hill on June 13th. One of them, named Kevin told me some scary shit. Soon after their arrival, our agent brought them to Holiday Inn in Concord. When he arrived there, he saw Edgar, who came with him along with other people, talk to a person. That person is described as wearing a maroon red shirt, wear a black jacket that has orange motive in it, has spiky hair, and the height about the same as I am. His lips is very similar to me, and so does the way he laugh. Practically, he was stating that he saw me talking to Edgar when they were in Holiday Inn. Then he said that that person vanished when our agent gave them their room key and he didn't see him when our agent took them to Denny's later.

He was sure that I was there. It happened on June 14th, around 12 a.m and I was in my apartment along with my other mate. So, basically, it's impossible for me to be in Holiday Inn at that time! Later, Edgar said that he didn't talk to nobody before he received his room key.

So, who is that person who really like me? Was it a ghost who is using my image? Or is it my alter ego? Well.....guess it.

Wajahnya di Malam Hari

Suatu hari, aku melintasi Jakarta, melintasi daerah barat dan pusat seperti jalan K.H.Hasyim Ashari, jalan Kyai Tapa, serta daerah Kebon Kelapa, aku melihat suatu pemandangan yang unik. Ternyata Jakarta telah memperlihatkan kepadaku satu dari sekian wajah yang dimilikinya, ia memperlihatkan wajahnya pada malam hari.

Sepanjang jalan, aku melihat di sepanjang jalan, orang-orang yang melawan waktu, terus membuka tenda makanan, dengan harapan ada orang yang singgah di tengah malam.

Sesekali aku melihat bajaj-bajaj yang diparkir di sisi jalan. Jika kau perhatikan, akan terlihat sang pengemudi tertidur di dalamnya. Bukan karena tidak mau, tapi sering kali mereka tidak mempunyai apa pun selain bajaj mereka.

Kemudian, jikalau engkau melihat di depan teralis gedung-gedung yang saling berhimpit di sana, engkau akan melihat seseorang yang tidur hanya dengan beralaskan kardus.

Lalu, aku melihat sebuah keluarga, mirip dengan kondisi orang tadi, mereka harus tidur di depan sebuah gedung, beralaskan kardus/kertas koran. Yang ada pada mereka hanya satu dengan yang lain, serta satu buah air mineral gelas dan sepotong roti untuk mereka semua.

Miris aku melihatnya. Kalian, yang masih mempunyai tempat tinggal, tercukupi kebutuhannya, serta masih bisa melihat tulisan ini, bersyukurlah!

Ingin rasanya kulakukan sesuatu, tapi apa daya. Aku masih belum mampu. Kuharap di saat aku mampu, aku masih memiliki rasa kasihan dan peduli yang sama dengan kumiliki sekarang. Pada saatnya nanti, maukah kau membantuku menolong mereka?

5/4 Hari Untuk Selamanya

Selama seminggu ini, murid kelas 3 SMA menghadapi UAN (yang tentunya telah mereka selesaikan). Berikutnya, giliran murid kelas 3 SMP yang menghadapinya. Nasib mereka benar-benar ditentukan dalam waktu 5 hari untuk SMA dan 4 hari untuk SMP.

Sungguh berat hal yang harus dilalui murid-murid ini, terutama para murid SMA, hasil kerja keras mereka selama 3 tahun harus ditentukan dalam hitungan hari, tidak bahkan dalam hitungan jam!

Perlu diketahui (dan sudah diserukan banyak pihak) bahwa hal ini amatlah tidak adil! Tapi mau bagaimana lagi.

Sangat disayangkan bahwa kecurangan adalah bagian yang tak terelakkan di UAN. Kecurangan itu biasa berbentuk kebocoran soal atau pun dijualnya kunci jawaban UAN. Yang lebih menyedihkan lagi para murid tidak menolak hal ini, bahkan mereka membeli atau berusaha mendapatkannya.

1 hal lain yang memprihatinkan adalah keberadaan pengawas yang biasanya tidak mengawas dengan baik dan asal-asalan dalam mengawas. Menyedihkan! Inilah potret pendidikan Indonesia. Jika hal ini terus berlanjut, bagaimana dengan masa depan Indonesia? Bagaimana kita mau mengalahkan MALAYSIA yang seringkali kita sebut sebagai saingan kita?

Hitungan hari untuk selamanya. Seharusnya para siswa berusaha untuk mengerjakan semaksimal mungkin, dan pihak lain juga mendukung agar proses regenerasi Indonesia berjalan dan menghasilkan orang-orang dengan mental jujur dan bersaing.

My Strange Indonesia

Indonesia, my country is a really strange country. You'll find lots of oddity.

Indonesia is the only place where you'll find things can be easily being forbid by a side. Yes, here I'm talking about MUI (Indonesian Moslem Council) who forbid lots of things! Lately they forbid hair smoothing, hair extension, and also curling. They said it attract lust, I mean woman's hair. Crazy isn't it? Those who said that women haircut attract lust is the one who attracted!

Indonesia is one of the country who (want to) restrict the freedom of expression in the Internet. As far as i know, it's intended to protect the government from bad impression. Simply remind me of the New Order (Orde Baru). Where in the world is Democracy? Pancasila?

Indonesia is the one of few country where justice isn't gray. You're the justice and the truth when you have money.

Indonesia, oh how I dream you to be a better country. Actually there are things, strange things in Indonesia that would make you exhales but, these are enough. These are as far as I remember when I post.
For those who celebrate The Lunar (Chinese) New Year and Valentine, I said happy new year or happy valentine!

Jocks Vs Nerds/geeks

There are caste in high school, the popular one most of them called jocks are in the higher and highest level while the lower class, mostly nerds or good boy/girls.

Jocks is a classic North American stereotype of a male athlete. Usually they 'rule' the high school along with their popular girl, and not only in US, but also in my country, Indonesia. They usually do whatever they want for example bullying schoolmate they considered as nerds, loser and so on. They usually think they're strong, cool, and popular, plus they don't care about their academic stuff.

Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age-inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. They usually considered as uncool people and usually, the higher class won't even see their existence. Nerds could be those who study all the time, those who didn't join any sport clubs, or those who aren't popular.

There are one unique statement that crossed my mind recently. Jocks are one of those who 'rule' the school, but know what? The world are being ruled by nerds! Can't believe it? Should I say, Bill Gates? Mark Zuckeberg? James Walles (founder of Wikipedia)? And the genius Einstein?

Be ware Jocks! Be ware you popular kids. Your reign won't be long! Enjoy it while it last. You geeks and nerds, stay positive! You could rule the world. And you could rule the jocks too.

Well, I never say jocks can't be as successful as nerds or nerds and geeks will always success. To become someone in the world (meaning: success), you need more than lucks! You need to work hard and have faith to achieve it. Cheers!

Suicide Phenomenon

Ugh, sebenarnya banyak yang melintas di kepala selama seminggu ini, dan akhir-akhir ini, berita di Kompas.com bercerita entah tentang kelanjutan kasus Prita dan "tren" bunuh diri di mall. Setelah dipikir-pikir, bahas tentang "tren bunuh diri" saja deh.

Seperti yang telah diberitakan di koran, inet, dll dsb dst, dan yang jadi pertanyaan, kira-kira, kenapa sih hal demikian bisa terjadi dan dilakukan?

Kalau di pikir-pikir, seberat apa beban yang ditanggung oleh pribadi yang melakukan bunuh diri tersebut? Apakah tiada jalan lain? Ataukah mereka tidak ingin mencoba untuk mencari jalan keluar?

Tanpa niat menyinggung perasaan keluarga yang ditinggalkan, saya katakan dengan keras bahwa perbuatan bunuh diri itu sungguh bodoh! Hanya orang yang tidak dewasa secara mental dan iman yang akan melakukannya. Jikalau mereka dewasa, mereka pasti akan melihat secercah harapan dalam setiap kondisi, meskipun kondisi itu sangat berat.

Untuk media-media yang ada, tidaklah pantas bagi mereka untuk mengekspos kasus bunuh diri tersebut secara berlebihan sampai memasang foto-foto, bahkan metode bunuh diri yang digunakan secara lengkap, karena dikhawatirkan hal ini akan memunculkan preokupasi (pikiran berulang) bunuh diri, dan tidak menutup kemungkinan akan memberi ilham metode pelaksanaan bunuh diri.

So? Haruskah bunuh diri? No way. Di setiap kesulitan, seberat apa pun pasti ada jalan. Tinggal pintar-pintar kita menjaga hati mental dan pikiran.