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255 | Reunion 1
"You still remember our songs, apparently," said Big K.
"Of course I still remember it," I said. "How could I forget after all the years we've been together."
"Shall we continue this meeting with a drink," Cole suggested.
“I agree,” said Big K and Santos.
"How about you Lang?" asked Cole.
Considering I've smoked pot and drank with Donnie before, I think I'd like to quit. But because it was my friends who invited me, I couldn't refuse.
"Okay, I'm coming," I agreed.
Night began to envelop Certajava. After buying some liquor, we gathered at our usual place – a middle eastern restaurant that had closed due to bankruptcy.
Before I put down my ass, I saw the same black Toyota Avanza that I had met in Dharma Hoover Street this noon, parked in front of us across the street. I threw away my negative thoughts and started to enter the arena.
Big K then gave me a shot. Its volume contains mixed liquor—vodka a
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 256 | Reunion 2
Malay songs and dangdut reverberated through the night.Suddenly, Santos started talking again about the nostalgia of being a student. When the left palm is clenched in the air. When a human child is not afraid to die. When the campus really becomes a localization for young intellectuals. But now, said Santos, the campus has been downgraded to a factory that produces capitalist men.I was offended because I was the only one who was still a student among the members of the assembly.“Back in the 70s and 80s,” said Santos, “Shu Benjamin was a student when he was one of the loudest critics of the New Order.”Wait! Shk Benjamin who is Juwingan Chinese? Amelia's father? The quiet one? So a political activist?"Until the end, the New Order government became angry and injected political movements on campus," continued Santos.Big K then cleared his throat. I know that's a sign he's about to come along. Julia's brother said t
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 257 | Rebroadcast
The next day, I woke up in my room. After cleaning up, I met my mother who was watching television as usual. This time, my mother's eyes looked serious, not as empty as before. I was curious, wanting to know what mother was watching.Apparently, there was a rebroadcast of the 'In-Depth with Aaliyah' interview program in the Indonesia News Channel or INC, Indonesia's biggest news media.In-Depth with Aaliyah was the most well-known interview program because it presented intersecting parties in a single case. The program itself was managed by the beautiful and intelligent host Aaliyah Situmorang.Due to the broad reach of the INC, the parties involved were often attended to share their views. In my opinion, they just wanted to be close to Aaliyah.Oh yeah, by the way, Aaliyah was an Arab or Indian or Pakistani. I had no idea. To be sure, Aaliyah's nose was sharp, and she was not wearing a hijab.That live interview program broadcast itself was
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 258 | Visiting Old Friend
"WE only act firmly against immorality," replied Shahryr."The same!" exclaimed My mother."What about the Guysville incident?" asked Aaliyah.Aaliyah said, four years ago, in 2016, there was a raid on the Guysville prostitution complex in Newton Regency. The perpetrators were all wearing thawb and turban attire.The perpetrators claimed that their actions as a jihad against immorality. Three local residents died in that brutal raid. The Guysville incident had attracted national attention."Should that firmness cause casualties?" asked Aaliyah."It's a shame," replied Imam Shahryr."You were there then?" asked Aaliyah sarcastically."No," replied Imam Shahryr.“There is video evidence that clearly shows people wearing turbans and the leader wearing guthrah," Solomon interrupted. "The question is, what group that when destroying other people's property, its members wear turbans and guthrah.""It's not me," sa
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 259 | Visiting Old Friend 2
PAPADOPOULOS continued, since the chaos in Slatyville, the plan to evict Key Phu Thich was never realized. It's just that life was getting more difficult because the status of residents who live on the outskirts of the Golden River was not recognized as residents of Surabaya.To work in offices, they were rejected because they didn't have identity cards. Even being a beggar, they were arrested by City Guard personnel. Even if they intended to do business, they didn't have the capital. Most of the residents worked as scavengers, including Papadopoulos and Aretha."We really felt the discrimination. We only eat one meal a day,” said Papadopoulos."Then there's this little boy," said Papadopoulos. "Periodically, he came to visit this slum area with a basket full of groceries.""The little boy handed out the groceries he brought to the residents here," said Papadopoulos. "It was not enough, but it was helpful for residents.""Residents asked who
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 260 | Campaign
\On the way, I saw a lot of people walking towards a field. When I found out, apparently they were on their way to Vincent Limantoro's campaign as a candidate for mayor of Surabaya.I was also interested in listening to Vincent's speech. Therefore, I parked my vehicle and joined the commoners.Interestingly, most of the people who came were wearing red T-shirts. I think it was natural. Vincent's party, the Indonesian Democratic People's Party (IDPP), was dominated by red. Apart from that, people also held high the pop art photo of Vincent. As if I wanted to feel the atmosphere, I opened the car window."Vincent for Major!" they shouted over and over.Yes, at least today I didn't hear Allahuakbar.Amelia's eldest brother was indeed a critical figure of the Surabaya City Government policy. Because of that, he was popular among the educated townspeople. Unlike the incumbent Mayor of Jamaal, who relies on devout Muslims. But therein lies the po
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 261 | Campaign 2
"Hi, everyone," I said."We Saltyville residents support Vincent as a candidate for mayor of Surabaya," said Malique to Amelia, "isn't that so, Mr. Darmann, Jack?""Yes," said Mr. Darmann, “of course.""Moreover, Vincent supports youth movements," said Jack.Then I realized that most of the people who attended Vincent Limantoro's Mayor of Surabaya declaration came from Saltyville."Oh, yes," said Malique as if he remembered something. “Where are Ryg's other members? Big K, Cole and Santos?""I don't know," I replied, "maybe they're working."Then, we heard Vincent make a speech on the stage, mentioning that the role of young people was often identified with their strong idealism. Even so, these cadets were often seen as inexperienced, cognitively incomplete, and emotionally unsustainable.What was even sadder, said Vincent, is that the older generation seemed to have neglected the role of the youth. The problem was,
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 262 | Stereotype
Not long after, my cell phone rang a dial tone. Apparently from Kacey."Hey where are you, handsome?" Kacey asked."I was around Goobank," I replied."I wanted to meet you," Kacey said."Okay, where are you?" I asked."On campus," Kacey replied."I'm on my way," I said.Here, at the Clofus campus, almost all majors were available, even the rarest in Indonesia, such as Nuclear Engineering and Javanese Literature. A row of notable people listed as Clofus graduates, such as World Bank’s Managing Director Mrs. Shri Lakhsmi. She also ranked as the 38th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes last year. Then, Mr. Ali Purwacaraka was an Indonesian ambassador in the United Nations. And also, Hendryx, The Boumerank rock superstar.I studied at the Department of English Literature, Faculty of Letters, alongside Aisha, Julia, Mr. P, and Matt. The last three names received scholarships for the indigents students around the campus
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 263 | Youth Ideology
"Of course I'd be willing to be your sidekick," Kacey said."I believe so," I said."Tell me something else," Kacey asked."About what?" I asked."Your ideology?" Kacey said.I exhaled and started talking about youngsters.Indeed, young people are often identified with their strong ideals. Even so, these cadets are often seen as lacking in salt, not cognitively complete, and emotionally unstable.What is sadder is that the older generation seems to have put aside the role of the youth. You see, they see this young group as a collection of idealistic people who make unrealistic decisions.However, the seniors' justification is not entirely wrong and not entirely correct. As we all know, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno once revealed a popular quote, "Give me a thousand parents, I will surely uproot (Mount) Semeru from its roots. Give me ten youths, I will surely shake the world."If ten youths cou
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