6th UNAOC 2014- A Heart Breaking Story

It is unusual in a conference which was dedicated to create a unity in diversity, peace and vision of a better civilization we came home with a broken heart. I was broken hearted. This is not a love story of Rusia – Saudi Arabia, not Romania-Morocco, Indonesia- Indonesia nor one of those beautiful love stories happened back there in Bali.

I come home with a pounding head. This is a series of heart breaking events.

I am broken hearted after I listened to a delegate from UNAOC forum, a man who came from Iraq. A country in which is waiting for a new government to be formed.

As an Indonesian citizen, I am pretty much happy with the new elected President, Jokowi. I can not imagine what Indonesia would be in an absent of government. The man from Iraq explained to me how the existence of government is essential. To keep the country secure, to control the country, to direct the country and makes the country grow stronger with a certainty. One of things I never experienced in Indonesia. In my heart, I say grace to God for my country never experienced such event and pray that Iraq will find its way.

The discussion went further. We talked about ISIS. The gentleman told me how it harmed all the efforts we have made to create a better picture of Islam in the eyes of the world. Again, as an individual living in the biggest Moslem country in the world, Indonesia, I know how people stick with their stigma of Islam and terrorism we all try to fix. In my understanding, Islam teaches compassion and NOT all the violent things terrorist has done in the name of Allah.

I told him, I am not a Moslem, but I have great Moslem friends which clearly condemned what ISIS has done. He conveyed his regrets on how some Indonesian took part of ISIS. The look in his eyes tore my heart. That time I really want to hug him and say my apology. I have the same regret. I said to him that is also the reason why I teach young Indonesian students about critical thinking. To fight brain washing, hate speech, and uphold human rights to the utmost.

The bell rang and the tea break is over. I told him I hope the best for his country and I believe they will soon gets better.

Second heart breaks. I met Priest Diego Cucarella from PISAI (Pontifico Instituto di Studi Arabi e d’ Islamistica). He said there is an Islamic study within the heart of Catholic Church, Vatican. First time I heard it in my life. I was a Catholic, I heard it very late in my life time and this news should be told to the world. A chance to recover the relations between religions, that one is willing to learn about another in the essence of respect and appreciation. How many people know about it? That one is put a place in its heart to learn about the other.

My heart breaks does not stop there, when I came home and meet some of families, we discuss about my next plan. I told them that I might want to take Islamic Study as my master degree subject. An old lady responded me: “It is good that you want to learn. But it will be better if you learn something that makes you goes to heaven”.

If heaven consisted of person who hates other religion then I don’t want to go there. Even within my own family, we still struggle this inter-religion stigma, hate speech, etc. But I won’t lose hope. The new generation is rising. We, who do believe that all religions are equal and heaven is not an afterlife we pursue, but peace that we try to create in our life time in the world right now.  

The last heart breaks would be the common heart break that we feel when we lose people we love the most. I m in love with the young people I met in Youth of UNAOC. Brilliant minds who come from allover the world. Actual inter- faith, inter-cultural, inter-racial, real exercise to understand each other in intense 3 days which was impossible to happen without the assistance of United Nations. Who knows that Serbian, Naim Leo is such a great dancer? Who knows that Bosnian, Milan Balaban is such a great leader? Who knows that Spanish, Claudia is such a comfort friend for everyone? Who knows that Canadian, Max Seunik went to Rwanda with the Rwandan health ministry, place that I only see in the movie, Hotel Rwanda? Who knows that Sofiso, a Zimbabwe lady standup for woman empowerment? Who knows I will have a doctor rommie from Myanmar, Hanni?

Who knew it that I will shake Ban Ki Moon's-UN Secretary General hand,  but failed to take a selfie with him?

I am home with a lot of things in mind. A new spirit and heart to learn. A hope that someday I will work for United Nations. We have a promise, whoever of us, this 100 youth become secretary general, he/ she must invite the other 99 to visit UN head quarter. :D

This heart breaking stories makes me triggered to be a better person. Thank you, United Nations for having me and 99 others great young minds.