R.I.P. HJ. SOLHA BINTI H. BACHTIAR

(Kontemplasi Kehidupan Dari Sebuah Kematian)

oleh. Mohammad Ichsan

(03/01/08)

Tulisan ini saya dedikasikan kepada keluarga dan saudara-saudaraku pada khususnya dan untuk seluruh manusia yang memiliki keluarga pada umumnya. Dari kejadian ini, saya ingin berbagi beberapa renungan yang saya lakukan. Semoga bisa bermanfaat bagi yang membacanya.

Bagian I

Pada Sabtu 27 Desember 2008 telah berpulang ke Rahmatullah Hj.Solha binti H. Bachtiar di usia ke 79. Tiada satupun yang menyangka dan mengetahui secara pasti kapan malaikat maut menjemputnya. Menurut anak lelakinya—beserta istri—yang tinggal satu rumah dan selalu merawatnya, di pagi itu ’Ibu’—begitu ia memanggilnya—tampak sangat menikmati tidurnya sampai-sampai mereka tak kuasa untuk mengganggu tidur dan mengusik buah tidurnya. Tidak seperti biasa memang, pagi itu begitu tenang dan tiada rengek-an Ibu untuk meminta makanan ataupun buang air—karena memang kondisi ’Ibu’ yang telah demikian tidak memungkinkan dirinya untuk melakukan segala sesuatunya sendiri. Penasaran dengan segala keanehan di pagi hari itu, anak lelaki itu kembali memeriksa keadaan Ibunda tercinta. Namun tak disangka, tangan Ibu sudah dingin, kulitnya sudah memucat, dan matanya telah terpejam untuk selamanya.

Sekilas gambaran kejadian di hari meninggalnya nenek—begitu saya memanggilnya. Walaupun saya bukanlah seorang saksi utama atas kejadian tersebut, setidaknya gambaran itulah yang saya peroleh dari Om Dadang (anak lelaki) dan Tante Sari (isteri). Hari itu merupakan hari berduka bagi seluruh keluarga Soemardi Atma Prawira, termasuk Mama saya yang merupakan salah satu anak kandungnya. Masih teringat wajah Mama di pagi itu ketika mengatakan berita duka itu kepada saya yang baru saja pulang ke rumah pukul 06.30.

            ”Chan, Nenek udah gak ada….” , Mama berkata.

Sekejap wajahnya menunjukkan kesedihan yang tiada tara namun enggan untuk jatuh luluh lantak ke bumi karena rasa kehilangan yang teramat dalam. Betapa hari itu sangat mengejutkan baginya. Tetapi di lain sisi, keluarga pun juga mengetahui kondisi nenek yang secara fisik sangat meperihatinkan. Dalam hati saya, secara pribadi saya berpendapat bahwa mungkin ini memang sudah saatnya Nenek pergi untuk ketemu Aki. Saya melihat Nenek begitu sakit dan tersiksa dengan segala keadaannya. Ia hanya bisa merebahkan badannya di atas kasur dan tak mampu bergerak tiada berdaya. Ketika anak-anak dan cucu-cucunya datang menjenguk ia hanya bisa tersenyum dan sesekali menyebutkan nama. Dan ketika anak-anaknya datang dengan membawa sejuta masalah, ia hanya bisa meneteskan air mata dan tak berdaya melerai permasalahan yang terjadi di hadapannya. Betapa saya merasakan bahwa hati Nenek terombang-ambing di antara kebahagiaan dan kesedihan. Bahagia karena ternyata masih ada orang-orang yang memberikannya perhatiannya, sedih karena seolah merasa gagal dan tak berdaya menengahkan segala problema yang dihadapi keluarganya. Maka saya pun yakin kalau saat ini Nenek telah terlepas dari kesulitannya di dunia. Dan sekarang, tinggal keluarganya yang masih hidup harus bisa membuktikan bahwa kematiannya bukanlah sesuatu yang sia-sia. Tunjukkan padanya bahwa kita adalah anak-anak, cucu-cucu, dan sodara-sodara yang baik, shaleh, dan mengamalkan ilmu yang telah diajarkan. Niscaya, Nenek dan siapapun yang telah mendahului kita diterima disisiNya.

JANGAN MENUNGGU SAMPAI TERLAMBAT

Hari itu saya bertanya pada adik Mama saya, Om Rudi.

            ”Om, siapa anak yang paling nakal sama Nenek dulu?”

Tak disangka Om Rudi menjawab pertanyaan tersebut dengan jawaban yang membuat hati ini jadi tidak enak.

            ”Om Rudi yang paling nakal”.

Sambil menghela nafas panjang Om Rudi menungkapkan salah satu penyesalan dalam hidupnya, yaitu berbuat nakal pada orang tuanya. Di saat realita mengatakan bahwa kini Nenek telah tiada, Om Rudi hanya bisa memendam penyesalannya tersebut dan berusaha membuktikan bahwa tiada sia-sia Nenek telah melahirkannya ke dunia.

Pernahkah kita berbuat salah atau bahkan kurang ajar pada orang tua?

Jika Iya,

Apakah kita sudah meminta maaf?

Ini salah satu renungan yang paling menampar saya. Saat ini Papa dan Mama alhamdulillah masih bisa mendampingi saya. Begitu juga halnya dengan Oma dan Adik-adik saya yang mesih selalu menemani kehidupan saya. Tak disangka pertanyaan ”sepele” ke Om Rudi seperti itu membuat saya teringat betapa saya ini anak yang kurang berbakti. Langsung saja saya teringat kesalahan-kesalahan saya pada mereka bahkan ketika saya menulis kalimat ini. Begitu menyakitkan melihat keadaan diri saya sendiri yang sudah pasti tak luput dari dosa. Maafkan Ichan ya Ma, Pa, Oma, Rafi, Ghani, dan semuanya….

Saya teringat dulu ketika saya pernah berdebat besar sama Papa—karena terkadang kami tidak bersatu dalam opini, termasuk dalam calon presiden 2009. Pada saat itu saya merasa Papa tidak pernah memahami diri saya. Bahkan suatu hari Mama pun juga berpendapat demikian dan mendukung keadaan saya. Namun di suatu sore Mama menghampiri saya yang sedang tidur. Ia menceritakan hal yang benar-benar membuat hati saya menangis tidak karuan.. Ia mengatakan bahwa Papa kecewa pada saya. Papa menganggap saya anak yang sombong dan takkan berhasil mengarungi samudera kehidupan. Walhasil, tersentaklah perasaan ini tercecer menjadi serpihan. Setelah merenung beberapa saat, saya memutuskan malam harinya untuk berbicara dengannya dan meminta maaf. Yang saya rasakan memang untuk mengucapkan kata maaf itu begitu sulit. Malam itu merupakan malam yang penuh emosi. Saya mengucapkan kata maaf padanya dengan air mata menetes dan bertanya apa yang harus saya lakukan agar mendapatkan ketulusan hatinya untuk memaafkan saya. Selesai dari situ, terus terang saya merasa menjadi lebih baik dan lebih kuat dari sebelumnya. Kalau hati kita sudah kuat dan mampu mengikhlaskan, meminta maaf, ataupun memafkan, InsyaAllah hidup kita akan lebih tentram.

Singkat kata, kita harus berbuat baik pada siapapun apalagi kepada orang tua. Jika memang kita bersalah, maka segeralah minta maaf. Jika seseorang meminta maaf, maka maafkanlah. Sesungguhnya Allah itu maha pemberi maaf dan pemberi ampunan. Allah saja memaafkan, masa kita tidak? Jangan sampai kita meminta ataupun memberi maaf ketika waktu sudah tak jua mengizinkan. Lakukanlah secepatnya! JANGAN MENUNGGU SAMPAI TERLAMBAT!

Akhir Dari Bagian I

My Family (The True Teasure in Life)

Let me introduces to you my family members:

Start from my Mom and rotating in clockwise sequence:

1.    Dedes Komandini Irianti (Mother, Teacher, the Queen in my family)

2.    Mohammad Rasyid (Father, Enterprenuer, The King of the Queen of course)

3.    Mohammad Ichsan (2nd born child, the oldest son in the family)

4.    Mohammad Ghani Abdillah (4th born child, the youngest, High School Student, Unstable and annoying)

5.    Mohammad Rafi (3rd born child, University Student, Thinker and Narcistic)

My Family is my foundation. Your family is your foundation.

Love your family…

Love them…

and InsyaAllah…

You’ll be just fine…

DO NOT LIVE IN FEAR

15/12/2008

LAST Saturday, one of my friends called me and said that he needs to discuss something with me. As soon as I heard that, I presumed that he is having trouble with his girlfriend as always. In contrary, he professed that it is not—while in my head still thought that he does have that trouble. Then, it turns out at the moment he proposes an interesting topic. Although this particular topic has been something isn’t new to me, I still have a notion that this is a problem of a lot of people, including myself. It’s so compelling so that it woke me up from my sleep.

          He said to me that he is having a worry in living his life. He said that he is clouded by judgment and prejudice in many things. He is certainly live in a quandary, live in worries, live in FEAR. When he reminded about his girlfriend and question why she didn’t call him since morning, he always think the worse things. He thinks that she was cheating with somebody else; she bored with their relationship, or think that their relationship soon is going to falls apart. Another example, he frequently worried about his future. His afraid if one day he’ll never succeeded and unable to reach his expectations. The more he drowns into the thoughts, the more worry he feels. Afterward, I asked him if this problem affects his social life, because I totally believe that this trouble could cause him to avoid social interaction and makes him reluctant to meet someone new. And as I expected, yes, he did avoid socializing.

Thou Shalt not Live in the Future, Live in Now!

          Reminiscing the time passed by, I remember I was as same as my friend’s condition at that time. Live in worries and fears. Live in the dark shadow of trepidation and lock-bound within insecurity. Its Engender self alienation and isolation which contributes to ostracism by my own’s state of mind toward my selves. Yes, I had been there once, but now I’m different. Many ways I’ve tried to overcome this mind-defect. Many books I’ve read to find suit solution to vanish it. From the all attempt I’ve done, I would say the idea to live in the present time is the finest instead of put your life in the way future. Thou shalt not live in the future, but live in now!

          Without doubt, I pretty sure that no one wants to fail. We all expect our selves to be successful. Frequently we have put a high expectancy and dreamed about our success. Some expect to be billionaires and some expect to have their dream or prestigious jobs. And sometimes we’ve set the time when it all should be realized. For instance, I will have my own car at the age of 25; I want to get married at 22; or I will have 20 millions/ month salary at the age of 27; etc. Having a great dream and target for the future is good, but if you cannot manage it well, it will cause disadvantage to your selves.

          Living in the future while you’re in the present time is tiring. It makes your mind and soul fatigue. When you intensely concentrates on your plan in the future whereas you still in the ladder of reaching your target, at the moment when mistakes or failures are made in the way, a profound disappointment will tear you apart. So that is why we should more concentrate on the process rather than the destination. In every success story ever written are always consist of processes and how it’s obtained. It’s always a story about struggle from scratch. It’s never about the sweetness of success, but rather about the bitter process of success.  That is why those success story books were written, so that the readers will concentrate and learn about the process of success and not only to the success. Too much thinking about your future will emerge fear upon you. Therefore I suggest you to think about now! About the process to reach success in this present time! Not the unrealized yet future. Hopefully this will decrease your fear.

WHY BLOGGING IS BENEFICIAL?

By Mohammad Ichsan (12/12/08)

How badly you want to be constantly informed about the latest worldwide event? How do you want to see your writing to be read by larger community? How badly you wish others to recognize-in-and-out-you really are? And How do you like to have your voice listened abroad?  Definitely, most modern people would want it badly. We-modern society-are eager to enter a new world whereas no more boundaries among people throughout the world to communicate and understand each other. We undeniably fancy interacting with people from different culture and education background. For sure, we have the desire to exchange-not solely economically-but also ideas and others form of beneficial interaction. Then, the question is, how is that possible? What should we do to achieve those advantages? Is that possible? Well, the answer is possible! Today’s information and communication technological advancement make such things doable! The ‘American pie movie’s so-called blessed technology’, Internet, provide facility to facilitate those necessities, blog. By being a blogger, one can catch up with the updated ‘one minute ago’ news and build larger social networks[1] concurrently. Building social networks means that one’s able to maintain their personal social network or develop their own social network to create their own community. Hence, blogging is beneficial activity to be applied in order to fulfill one’s needs in this modern and globalized contemporary world.

Blogging Makes People Get Information Easier!

          Internet browsing is now become every modern people activity. They surf and search numerous websites through internet search engine to get information they need. Students around the world, from junior high to university, from sophomore to final grade, and from undergraduate to doctoral students rely themselves heavily to the internet. From it, students search about certain theory and its critics and development, or search for a certain event that support their hypothesis in their respective research. Professional, such as Account Executive, Public Relations Officer, Human Resource and Development Officer, and Chief Executive Officer, are also rely themselves to this hypermedia technology. This self reliance to the internet indicates that today’s people need to be informed. People need to be updated! Do you know why people browse the internet? Simple, because they want to be specifically informed with certain information! Nevertheless, browsing the internet to search for information has old fashioned. Frequently, seeking for specific information we need in the internet takes time. Moreover, it’s getting more time consuming when we should type the specific URL address for a certain website we need, it’s certainly classic and slow way to get more information. However, those classic way has meet their answer, blog facility has alter the ‘traditional, classic, and slow’ way of ‘to be informed’ into the contrary. Blog makes ourselves easier to be informed.

          Blog websites such as www.wordpress.com and www.blogspot.com provide facility called RSS. It changes the way how people get more information. Usually, we often visit a particular website for specific information. For instance, to know the latest news of national event and its point of view, we have type the URL address for Kompas, Tempo, Media Indonesia, etc. Or if we want to know information about the latest international events and its point of view, we should type the URL for BBC News, New York Times, or the International Herald Tribune. Through RSS, we don’t need to do that anymore. We could directly get informed just by opening our account in a particular blog website. Whenever our favorite website updated their news, the news will appear in our weblog and awaiting us to click on it. Simple, isn’t it? But, if we’re not using the RSS, we could create links in our weblog that directly links our weblog to our favorite websites. Those links can appear in a small window as we put the cursor on the link address. It’s like a sneak peek of latest news in that website so that we don’t have to click and open it to know what the latest is is. Not only news or search engine websites can be linked through our blog, but also other’s weblog. And it’s positively an advantage for a blogger to get more information.

          Blogger usually use their weblog for three purposes. First, one uses blog for their personal diary. Since their diary is published in their weblog, thus, the ’supposed to be personal’ stories are surely published for public consumption. Second, one uses blog to argue or at least describe about specific topic. Some use it for topics like politic and international relation, and some other use it for topics like automotive and music. Through blog ones expressing themselves and showing their interest toward something. Third, one uses blog to create discussion forum. Every single existing weblogs enable people around the world to leave their comment after reading about certain blog. Definitely, each blog contains the author’s ideas which could emerge other author’s opinion about their blog and creates cyber discussion forum among them. And people are free to join! Due to blog’s functions, bloggers without doubt will be well informed by abundance of information-that is specifically needed. First, bloggers will be informed about their friend’s activities simply by linking their friend weblogs to their own weblog. Second, bloggers will be informed by specific information from other’s ‘certain topic’ weblogs. Not only institutionalized media could publish news and their point of view, bloggers also become reliable sources of such information. Blog is becoming a form of journalism that derive from the grass root. Third, bloggers will beneficially involve in a larger community of bloggers. From that community, bloggers will share the same interest and mutually exchange information about it. Therefore, by becoming a blogger, one will be well informed easily compare to the old way of browsing.

 Blog Gives Profound Recognition to its Author

          It is natural for human being to interact with others. From that interaction, it is also natural if one expects to be well recognized by others. In the cyber world, ones also expect such interaction and recognition to happen. Indeed, becoming a blogger is socially facilitating it to occur. Since the year 2000, social facilities were mushroomed. It provides social connection amongst friends and families. Although it is completed with personal descriptions, social facilities like Friendster or Facebook still cannot present the person’s true personality or even the person’s quality. Frequently every social facility’s personal description consists of ‘pretty much’ same things. One may and permitted to exaggerate their personal description to camouflage their deficiencies in order to be well perceived. But, in contrary, bloggers cannot manipulate their true originality which is articulated in their writing. The words and ideas one argues reveal who the person really is. From one’s writing, we can identify their interest, their personality, their personal values, and of course their capability and quality as a person. That is why blog enable us to show our true color and be well recognized to other.

          Entertainment Network Channel-best known as E! Channel-often get glimpse of the latest gossip on a particular celeb through celebrity’s personal weblog. Through celeb personal weblog, E! can get more information about their targeted celebrity. Not solely information, E! also can get to know more the truth about celebrity’s personality, interest, activity and point of view from their weblog. Whenever celebrity is in the spot light for a scandal or issue, personal weblog is the only way for them to write down their point of view. Even though celebrities are well recognized, they use weblog to show the true them. Their subjective writing reveals their position in a certain issue or scandal they’ve been burdened by and furthermore shows their quality as a person. Not only celebrities are blogger, but also presidents and officials create personal weblog. Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Indonesia’s Minister of Defense, Juwono Sudarsono are also bloggers. Before deciding to quit 2009 Presidential race, Rizal Mallarangeng is also become blogger to interact with Indonesia’s intellectual in particular and to be more recognized to Indonesia’s citizens in general.  Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize author of Globalization and its Discontent, is also have his own blog in the Columbia University website. From those examples of who had become a blogger, therefore, we can conclude that blog is essential because it make us more profoundly recognized than just simply sign up for a particular social facility.

          Not only for personal using, weblogs also could represent an organization. Creating weblog for organization is as same as creating the organization’s website. It’s normal for big organizations like enterprises or corporations to launch their own website. But, the question is, how small organization or community such as students organization or students community to have their own website? The answer is launching weblog. Through their own weblog, small community or organization able to keep their members informed about their activities and agenda. For the non-members who seeking information about the community or organization, they will easily access information about the community or organization and its activities. Therefore, creating weblog for your own community or organization will give your community or organization profound recognition.

 Blog Makes Ourselves heard

          Become a blogger also means enabling ourselves to be heard. The phrase ‘to be heard’ means that we are not solely capable to deliver our words through text, but also deliver our massage through video. Post Script: Although our words are delivered through text, but still our voice that people read. Bloggers are able to share their ideas and express their arguments with other bloggers throughout the world. When bloggers are actively posting blog or embed their video in their weblog, continuously creates interaction amongst bloggers, and frequently join in a discussion forum, then bloggers can perceive themselves success. They successfully make their voice listened in numerous discussion forums and read by larger community. Today’s people should actively involve in international interaction so that people wouldn’t be left behind. And to be involved in international interaction, blog is the perfect media. Especially when one posting blog using international language, then the blog itself is potentially being international public consumption. How do you like to have your voice heard abroad? Then, blogging it is the way to make it possible.

          Blog contains genuine personal ideas about certain thing or subjective perspective towards certain issue, however, each posted blog potentially invites pro con. Every written blogs are voices longing to be heard. As America’s economy collapses and clouding worldwide with global crisis, People starts to utter their voices through blogs. For those who theoretically and pragmatically comprehend how this catastrophe arises, they posts their analysis packed with their siding on certain position and blame the culprit of tragedy. For those who are clueless about economic system, they simply tell stories about their life change due to the economic crises which depict the global economy disaster’s effect on the real sector. Furthermore, the global financial disaster took place coinciding with the most vibrant democracy presidential rally between Barrack Obama and John McCain. Bloggers who’s Democrat’s partisan continuously posting on how grace will come to America if Obama’s winning the race and how the current occurring blunder will be prolonged if McCain takes the first place and vice versa. Even Barrack Obama himself has launched his personal weblog to get closer to his people and to morally and financially collect support. Through Obama’s weblog, Democrat’s blogger express their support for Obama and convey their aspiration for the better America. From this communication channel, people are conveying their voices to be heard by the officials.

          In short, we can conclude that blog is an important facility in the 21^st century. It makes ourselves informed, recognized, and heard. In my opinion, contemporary world citizens should start their website by signing up for a weblog. Starting from scratch, people will start to enjoy themselves to be part of this interconnected world.

[1] A social network is a social structure made of nodes (which are generally individuals or organizations) that are tied by one or more specific types of interdependency, such as values, visions, idea, financial exchange, friends, kinship, dislike, conflict, trade, web links, sexual relations, disease transmission (epidemiology), or airline routes. (www.wikipedia.com); 12^th February 2008; 13.10 WIB

‘BIKE TO WORK’ IS A MERE DREAM

20/10/08

A few months ago, my brother and I went to D’best-Department store in Cilandak. But he didn’t tell what exactly he wanted to buy at D’best. Surprisingly, he didn’t went to the department store, instead he went to another shop in the area of D’best. Then, turn out that he went looking to bike shop. My brother is one of people-including me-who is agree with the idea ‘Bike to Work’. We are both like to exercising and do some sport together. And biking is certainly one of sport that we have missed so much since we were in elementary school. My brother intends to buy a bike for daily activities in his campus. I supported the idea of course! I think it’s also fun to ride a bike around campus. But to bad he canceled it. After I think about for a while, riding a bike in Jatinangor (his campus) was not a good idea. Beside the mountain contour, Jatinangor has rife with motor vehicles. Not only motorcycles and cars, but it also truck or even container crossing the Jalan Raya Jatinangor. It’s dangerous!

Environmental issue is currently a trend. Numerous Mass Media-printed or electronic-are competing to win audience’s attention by publishing environmental issue on their agenda. Corporations are also labeling their products with “green” labels or “green” languages such as “Fossil Fuel; Green Groceries; Biodegradable; Bio-fuel; and etc” which explaining it’s an environmental friendly product. Indonesia current government is also shows their concerns to the global environmental corrosion by hold a very vibrant and ambitious UNCCC which involves 10.000 world’s leaders to discuss the problems. Yup, it seems that 2007 was the year of environmental issue. It’s the enlightenment year of the world society that this is the time to consciously put this issue into notion and to do something about it. Since then, we often read, listen, or watch many tips from our friends and mass media on how to live life which is environmental friendly. One of the brilliant ideas is ‘Bike to Work’! It’s smart idea which is environmentally friendly and promoting healthy life at the same time. Now in 2008, people are-supposed to-more aware of how important the idea is.

Like I said, riding a bike is good for health. It’s true effective cardio training besides treadmill. Can you imagine how healthy you are if you riding a bike to work 5 days in week? Maybe you won’t see fat showing out from your tight pants no more! But to bad, today people are prefer to use motorcycle rather than bike. Car and motorcycle truly define what is technology all about-it’s suppose to make people’s life easier, isn’t it? So I guess current traffic conditions are depict that bike is not anymore in most people’s garage.

Unlike automobile or motorcycle, bike is a kind of traditional and old fashioned technology. It’s the analog camera of the current digital camera. It’s the buffalo-strength plough of the plough-machine. It’s the pong game of the current sony playstation. In short, Bike a human-strength technology. Since 1990s, people were started leave this technology and shifted their focus on cars and motorcycle. The number of car and motorcycle were increasing dramatically since then. Especially, current car and motorcycle purchasing are a lot easier than it was. Producers promote ‘Low Down Payment and Long-term credit payment’. What else could be tempting than that? All citizens with different social economic condition are now able purchasing a piece of “environmental friendly” and anti-fatigue technology. Now people can relax their muscles by using this technology advancement and cast bicycle away from their mind-which is led to the environmental damage by the thickening ozone layer causing the green house effect.

Now that people are enlightened from their relaxing dream, they are starting to act! President SBY join the ‘Bike to Work’ movement by leading 3000 bikers pedaling bike from the National Monument to the state’s palace in Jakarta-although it’s too short in distance, it’s a two thumbs-up for the president. Citizens of Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke separately start to join and support this idea. One of mass media cited that there are 10.000 people had joined to a mailing list that supporting Bike to Work-although it’s just a mailing list, but it’s a real effort.

But unfortunately, this brilliant idea’s vibrant weren’t last long enough. The agenda is now shifted. And Bike to work is falling to oblivion. And people start to ‘dreaming’ again.

Why is ‘Bike to Work oblivious? Why it’s just a mere dream?

Dreaming of global citizens is ‘Bike to Work’-ing is utopian. It’s an utopist dream so that people consider it as too good to be true. Especially in the city I live in, Jakarta. It’s a mere dream!

The Lost of Lion’s Credibility!

Ok, Michael Jackson said that if we want to make the world a better place, we must take a look at our self and make a change. Well, I personally realized the benefit of the idea ‘Bike to Work’ or Bike to everywhere else’. But I also realized that I could put my life in danger by doing ‘Bike to Work’ in Jakarta. Jakarta is a jungle where motorcyclist and car driver species are ubiquitous and rampant. Too many of them so they even established their own rules in their jungle. You see, I’m also the citizen of Jakarta Jungle. And sometimes I forcefully have to obey the rules of the majority species. And the rules are: (1) No Bike in Jakarta; and (2) This is a modern city, so there is no Bike in Jakarta. They’re probably bikers in the street, but they are so small minority. And people tend to consider that as a risky thing.

There is always a lion which is the rulers of the jungle. But sometimes when lions are not in place, the mischievous majorities are starting to act by their own rules. As a good citizen of Jakarta, I always try to follow the lion’s rules. But too bad, the current lions are not powerful enough and had lost their credibility. Yeah, Police currently can’t guarantee the safety of bikers. Their credibility is not well perceived anymore by the society. We often see when motorcyclists are queue up beyond street light’s line, and somehow police cannot make them stays in order to wait before the line. Or sometime we can see a motorcyclist taking the other side lane to avoid traffic and they perceive that as normal. Once again police officer has lost their roar.

Unsupportive Infrastructure!

Roads, underpass, bypass, flyover, etc are made for cars and motorcycles. As you know, car and motor drivers are often breaking the rules. To ‘Bike to Work’, people will put their life at stake if they have to paddle their bike amongst those drivers. It’s very dangerous! Beside our physical security, our health also threatened by the pollutions.

If the president wants this ‘Bike to Work’ idea to be realized, he must urge to the local government to establish infrastructures that support the idea. Local Government should stop thinking about how to make Jakarta denser. If they truly concern about the global environmental issue, they should start to act about it. It seems they have no intentions to make the idea ‘Bike to Work’ realized. Probably it’s only a discourse to color up the Jakarta dynamism.

Local government should take this idea seriously if they want it to happen. Not only should the government take it seriously, but also the corporations in Jakarta. Jakarta is the populous city in Indonesia. Every year the number of Jakarta citizen is increasing. It’s because Jakarta is the center of Indonesia’s activities. Many people are come to Jakarta to make a better living than they did in their respective hometown. Corporations absorb labors and employees each year. So it means, each corporation has their respective stakeholders to be suggested to adopt the idea. If corporations establish that ‘bike to work’ policy, certainly Jakarta will never be the same again. Can you depict the board of Directors and employees are riding bicycle side by side to go to the office? That’s truly a mere dream…

Bike is not Trendy!

Have you ever seen an executive riding a bike to their office in Jakarta? Have you ever seen a teenagers hang out to the mall by bike in Jakarta? Those are rare view to see and seemingly impossible to happen currently. As you know, media is an agent that injects values to their audiences. Evolution happens to a certain society by imitating other values from other society or from social interaction that occur in that certain society. Surely, riding a bike to work is not a value that Indonesia’s media inject to the its citizens. In contrary, they are injecting western and lavish lifestyles. And it does affect on how Jakarta’s citizen live. Bike is certainly not trendy for the Jakarta’s citizen!

The Comfort of Dream in 2008!

Bike to Work is just a dream also because it’s not well supported by the citizens itself. Live in the convenient of technology has pampered the entire society. I guess we are not going to change, aren’t we? Unless we are very determine to do so. We are too much in love and over depends ourselves to current technologies. That’s why ‘Bike to Work’ is a mere dream.

If you dare, try it! Bike to Work!

Nisa Got Confused!16 October 2008 -08.10 WIB-

Making testimonial about someone we know so much about could be a hard thing to do. For example, Nisa. Yesterday I asked her to made one simple and honest testimonial about me. Confusingly, it took 15-20 minute for her to make that testimonial. Many things came up in her brain so she had to organize all the words that symbolized her feeling, ideas, and thought. To make it easier, she wrote all those words in the computer. Then, she came up with these words:

1. Cute
2. Chubby
3. To many dreams to pursue
4. Negative thinking
5. Wise
6. Mature
7. Ugly
8. Fat
9. Abusive (What the…!?)
10. Egoist
11. Stubborn
12. Loving person
13. Humorist
14. “Hidupnya suram” (What!?)
15. Funny
16. Serious
17. Self-Confident
18. ETC

My first impression after I read those words is, “God, what a Bad person I am!” Most of those words are representing negative energy. I think I should make introspection to myself. But what the hell, after I think about it for a while, those words are representing honesty of a person who knows me for 7 years since we were in high school till we graduate from university. From the lowest level of interpersonal (just knowing each other) till the almost intimacy level of interpersonal (dating). I guess she knows me well enough. Let’s analyze those words one by one!

1. Cute
Hmm… undeniably true (hahahahaha)! Actually I was hoping she said “handsome” (at least for her—whether it’s a lie or not). But the word “cute” is often use by most person I know.

2. Chubby
Ok… I’m not sure this is good word or not, but I think it’s still related with the prior word. Except this word is the combination of the first word with the next word after this word.

3. Fat!!!
Ok! I’m fat! Thank you for remind me! You see, before university, I used to be in ideal weight. But, incident happens when we try to adapt ourselves to new circumstances. I start gaining my weight since the first semester in Jatinangor. The temperature was so cold that my skin felt like shrinking. And it drives me to eat more regardless to time schedules. In short, I was gained 11 Kg at that semester. From 72 kg to 83 kg! But that was not the worse. At the 3rdsemester I decided to exercise at a gym near to my dorm. Successfully, I lose 9 kg from the cardio and weight training. After 2 months of exercise, I decided to stop the training. Guess what?! Shockingly, in the next month I “succeeded” gaining 17 kg! That was disaster! 91 kg!

But now, my weight is relatively stable at 86 kg.

4. Ugly
Now that’s a lie!

This is the end of the physical part. Let start with the personal aspect!

5. Negative thinking and Abusive
I guess these mostly came from the emotional side. We are contradicted on how we see things. She always see things from the positive side. Too much positive even she doesn’t realize when someone is hitting on her! Over positive so she even dont thinks about the worse case scenario! Well, I guess it’s my job to wake her up, isn’t it?

Abusive? Why on earth she say thing like that!?

For this part, pretty sure she was joking. She utters the word “abusive” and laughing at the same time. Abusive probably by the move I’ve made when I got embarrassed by smoothly push her cheek away. Or probably by the way I express my emotion when I got mad. Yeah, sometimes I could be intimidating even when I’m not mad. But, important thing is, I never want or never will purposefully hurt someone I love, physically or mentally. She is too precious to be treated like that.

6. Egoist and Stubborn
My friends also find me an egoistic person who always does things according to the way I want. Personally, I think that’s partially not true. Well, sometimes I could be that way. But not all the time! When things are go in order, I always try my best to fit in. I like when things work in order. In order to make things in order, sometime I have to be an egoist so things could go in order according to my order (hahahaha). And one thing for sure, I have to be in state of equilibrium. So when something interfere my state of equilibrium, once again, I got to be an egoist to keep it stable and balance.

Stubborn?
My mother and Nisa are expressing their feels by saying this sentence: “Ichan itu mau bener atau salah, pokoknya dia yang bener!”

Once again, that’s partially not true. Well, honestly, I like when I’m right. And I like keep things work that way—stays being “mr. always right”. I guess no one like the contrary—being the “wrong!” And I always try to believe myself rather than someone else. However, I like when things go in order.

7. Wise, Mature, Self-Confident
Really? Thank you Nisa for the compliments. I’ll try my best to maintain and develop my quality as a human being.

8. To many dreams to pursue
Yeah, this one is completely true! But first of all, I have a profound aspiration to be a cosmopolite who is cross beyond borders and useful for people around me. Dreams that I have which could fulfill my aspiration to be a cosmopolite are so many. I want to achieve scholarship for studying abroad. I want to be one of minister of Indonesia Republic in a certain administration’s period. I want have a family corporation as a foundation of my family existence. I want to be a lecturer and transmitting my know ledges, experiences, and application of theories in this pragmatic world. I want to be a father who is accommodating his children development and curiosity. I want to be a diplomat who emerging integrity, greatness, solidarity, and ethic kindness of my country. And I want to be part of people who are blessed by Allah SWT. And still many more. Well I guess Nisa had heard enough the entire of my aspiration.

9. Serious VS Humorist
I’m seriously humorist. I’m harmonistically serious. I never joke when I making jokes. But, I’m also seriously serious when things gone serious. And sometimes, I like to make humor in between serious situation. I like when tension could be decreased by humor that I make. To me, life is rife with humor. Artist could make serious situation such as corruption trial and political conflict transformed and easily understood by making jokes out of it. So why don’t we make jokes in order to make life easier? Shall we?!

10. Funny
Hahahahahahahahaha! Really? Well, truly I’m not a comedian, but It’s always a pleasure to make people laugh and to put a smile on people’s face.

11. “Hidupnya suram”
I perceive that someone who live in that phrase as a person who has uncertain future. That phrase surely struck me like lighting. Of course I need more explanation to tame my affected emotion by such word. Then, Nisa explains it that I often feel gloomy. Yes that is true, especially when I’m wondering what she does, where she is, and why she hasn’t contact me yet. And it’s not mean that I have a vague future or has no future at all!

12. Loving person
This one is very subjective opinion! So I guess I just want to say “Thanks Nis, I hope I can always be that loving man who always you can count on and fulfill your needs as a women and best friend, and hopefully till the next level.” Je t’aime!

This is Nisa’s testimonial:
“He is a ‘negative thingking,cute and chubby, self confident, egoistically stubborn, wise, and mature’ person with too many dreams.” (Annisa Yumaladini, Girlfriend -15/10/08-)

]]> http://ichsanrasyid.wordpress.com/2008/10/19/nisa-got-confused/feed/ 1 Ichsan http://ichsanrasyid.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/live-in-drunk/ http://ichsanrasyid.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/live-in-drunk/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:16:32 +0000 Mohammad Ichsan http://ichsanrasyid.wordpress.com/?p=10 ]]>

Live in Drunk!

If you see a man or a woman staggering out and talking gibberish from a place for nightlife entertainment, then you can refer them as a—literary—drunk people. The concept drunk has a low degree of abstraction as it can be attributed by pointing your index finger to those drunken people. But you see, I am not interested to talk about them. What I’m about to discuss is people who do not know what, when, where, how, and why they living their lives. It’s kind of my reflection to myself though. But, I hope everybody can also contemplate it within you for a while. Whether you’re drunk or not?

Or probably you’re a drunken master? I don’t know.

Somehow, people should have known about themselves. Sometimes people know about themselves from external’s point of view—which is people around them. But what if people don’t know about themselves and nobody cares to tell them of who they are? Pity I guess. Certainly that person has no reason to live in this world. Ills n’ont pas reason d’etre! They have no reason to be! They don’t have either person who cares for them or people to care for. What if we don’t know who we are? What if we don’t know the purpose of our state of being? Then we must be lives our life in drunk!

Philosophy is a knowledge which tries to reveal an authentic truism by profusely (sedalam-dalamnya) dives into one’s mind. The definition of philosophy stated above is also my personal definition about philosophy—and maybe I should put the label “TM” after it. The prior stated paragraph was also a trigger or ammunition to take my mind drowned into the problem. So let’s start with it! Philosophy of live in drunk!

Why drunk?

Someone who is drunk has drunk so much alcohol that they cannot speak clearly or behave sensibly (Collins Cobuild Dictionary). Drunken people don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t realize it. They don’t realize why they’re throwing their shoes toward others. They even don’t know whether last night or one hour ago they’re throwing their shoes. They don’t remember all the insults came out through their mouth. They don’t know why it came out. They probably remember, but don’t know why they do it. So that is way they’re called drunk.

I use drunk as an analogy for people spread around the globe whose have no idea about them selves. They probably remember what they’ve done yesterday or two days ago. And they probably know what to do for tomorrow. But basically they don’t know why they do it. So to know why you’re doing what you’re doing is by initially knowing yourself first.

What if we don’t know who we are? If we don’t know who we are, then we certainly don’t know why we’re here. But in fact, we are already here? After the previous question, we might want to ask who send us here. This thought is get tougher when it starts to questioning about God. A transcendental power must have sent us here. And that must be God! Who’s our God then? There only one way to figure it out. It’s a long dialectical process with themselves and surroundings. Some people thought they already knew who their God is by inheriting it from their old fellows. But somehow there is still probability that indicated them still drunk.

As a Moslem, honestly I still try to figure who I am. My both parents are also Moslems. They teach me how to praise Allah SWT and pray five times a day. Besides the religious ritual, they also teach me about validated values in family. I have honored my parents, care and love them, pray for them, and etc. But guess what, all the validated values in family are explain in the Holy Koran. All the history of prophets also forces me to believe that these are the Authentic Truth! D’accord! I put the values in my faith! Iman! Don’t give in Sheitan! But I guess its not enough just by simply put it in Iman. I have to carry it out with devotion and know the reason why I should do it. Without it, it’ll be meaningless and displeasing to me. And it means I forcefully do Allah’s order and led me to find myself a robot! I’m a human with brain, aren’t I? Without meaning, all the practices I’ve done are done unconsciously. Then it makes me a drunken man. For instance, why should I do prayer five times a day? What for? What’s the benefit? Rich people don’t pray five times a day! Bill Gates not applied it! What do I get? If I know all the answers, all my prayers are become meaningful and reinforce me to do it continuously. Other questions such as why we should fast? Why we should set aside few of our properties to the poor? Why we should not have sex with our boy or girlfriend? Why should wait until married? Why there is man and women? Why they are all come in pairs? One should find what it means personally! Then personally you’ll have your reason why it should be done and then you’ll become a sober man.

Human being is a creature that unstoppably seeking justification to their desire and statement for the sake of their own satisfaction. I know a few people who try to find who their God is by reading all religious holy books. It’s good for your knowledge by the way. Every religious holy book consists of great values that explain how and why life should be lived. But we must remember that every religious holy book have their basic and authentic differences. Every religious holy book has their respective God—which is very authentic. And each of those holy books teaches us different rules. Buddhist cannot eat cows and Moslem cannot eat pigs. Moslems destination is heaven and Buddhist destination is nirvana or nothingness. Christian believes in one God whose equals to three. Moslems believes that Jews, Christian, and Moslem praise the same God as their ancestor, Ibrahim As or Abraham. And still many more differences! So, one’s cannot mix all the religious rules all together. They are different! Islam forbids umat not to have sex before married—and that sucks for some people—so some “confuse” human being find some kind of rules or justifications to justified their desire. I personally think that they are confuses people because of the meaningless of their life and themselves.

8 October 2008 (22.00 WIB)

Meaningful Learning in Attempt to be Sober

How to make anything what we do meaningful? In cusp of hierarchy level of learning process in Gagne’s Gestalt learning approach is problem solving learning. After individual face several level of learning such as verbal learning, concept learning, learning to establishing rules, and so on, then one’s will have to endure problem solving in their life. Tollman (1920) purpose that ones can make the learning process meaningful is by connecting the new obtained information with the old ones. So that one’s will have more profound comprehension and means to the learning process and activities that is suitable with their knowledge. By that also, one’s is attempt to be sober.

For instance, it’s visible to the eyes of Jakarta’s residences a huge gap between the have and the have-not. In one particular time we often see a luxurious Mercedes Benz crossing the streets next to a rotten cart carried by people who is underprivileged. After think about it for while, it’s not supposed to be a condition occur to the country that has Moslem majority in population. It means maybe Moslem society in Indonesia—particularly in Jakarta—including myself, were drunk. Probably we’re drunk because we’re not notice and have the meaning to apply the Islamic lessons. Or probably we’re drunk because we’re rife with excitement of transitory realm (dunia fana) so that we’re reluctant or even afraid to share the excitement with others. To all Moslem in the world, I suggest all of you not to forget sodaqoh and zakat, even to give others the smallest form of sodaqoh, smile.

Not only sodaqoh and zakat that Moslem must meaningfully learn about, but also every aspects of life they live in. Those aspects include religious values, cultural values, or values of professionalism. For instance, why should a consultant remain discreet about their handled cases to others? Why should we obey our parents order? What is journalism code of conduct stands for? Why there is a code of ethics? The entire substance or every human creation in this surface of the world is a culture that is made by human being in extent to survive and live in this world. Buddha is brought by Sidharta Gautama. Pancasila is made as a national ideology that suits for Indonesia. Computer is also a form of culture that is made to make life easier. Alexander Graham Bell recognized by his of telephone innovation. Edison recognized for his light bulb. Colonel Sanders is famous for his chicken recipe. John Lennon is major hit with his songs. Martha Tilaar is succeced with her natural cosmetics. Eko Patrio rules with his production house. Soekarno is a world widely recognized for his courage to proclaim Indonesia’s independent. And still more to say. Successful people in the world have meanings in things they do. It’s impossible for the new order regime of Soeharto would fall into the ground if it’s not because of the youth passion to clutch the true meaning of freedom. And it’s impossible for Islam to become the first civilization that widely spread all over the world if it’s not because of the passion of umat to convey authentic truth and values to human civilizations. They have the reasons and meanings to what they do.

October 9^th 2008 (09.00 WIB)

Apres de Compréhensif
(After Comprehensive)2008, Octobre 14

Alhamdullillah…
Allah SWT has give me this amazing bless allowing me to pass the first trial before graduate, comprehensive session. After one and half days I’ve tried to put all my attention to the entire campus subject matters, finally, all the cost I’ve paid is settled. I passed the session with satisfying grade—well, actually it’s not good enough, but considering on the way I learn, it’s suit. Usually people are preparing themselves one month before the session. But for me, it’s an anomaly. It took less than 48 hours for me to prepare myself. That’s what I call inappropriate to obtain adequacy and perfection. However, day continues to roll. And I deserve the grade 3,02 for my defiant behavior. Disappointed? Certainement! Of Course! It means I’m not fought harder to punch all those questions. Certainly, I have to change my learning method and I believe that I can score better than that!

The Story Behind 3,02! (out of 4,00)
On Friday, my grandmother and his brother’s family were visited Lembang for 3 day and 2 nights at Grand Hotel Lembang. As one of two of her grandchild who lives in Bandung—not after November, she asked me to came over and stayed for a night with them. Surely I cannot reject that offer. Someway, they need me to show them around the city. Specifically, I cannot reject it because it’s my grandma’s and my grandpa’s demand. How can I slip away from that? Certainly cant, can I? So I decided to meet them at Friday night, took them to their requested restaurant, and stayed overnight at the hotel.

For your information, I have these courses schedules at Saturday. It’s start at 07.00 till 11.00 O’clock and 13.00 till 17.00. For this comprehensive session, I’ve cancelled all of it. And that’s also an anomaly since the courses are also my main priorities that I never want anything to interfere. Here I’m not blaming my family. It’s actually just me being close to the family. To me, family is my guardian. And it emerges my obligation to also protect them. They are the first group of people that surely always there for me in any situation without hesitance and not asking for reward from it. So, when it comes to family, whatever, wherever, and whenever it is, InsyaAllah I will try to be there for them.

Two days ago I realized that I have three important things to do: (1) Comprehensive Session—the prerequisite to graduate; (2) My languages courses—which is my desire to learn and increase my language skill; (3) My Family—which is undeniably important.

So which one goes first?!

Of course the Comprehensive Session! I truly believe that family and work can goes concurrently. But, the wrong thing is, why I’m not start learning a week earlier?

At that point, I would say that I deserve vacation as lebaran’s day was still vibrant at those weeks. So I decided to be free from it and mingled with my family. But the thing is I notice that these were my fault. Maybe if I not take too much ease on it, probably I will get a better score. But, it’s already passed by. It’s too late. All I can do is not to take the same mistake again.

Starting to Learn!
I started to re-learn and recall my memory of those subject matters was nearly 2 days ago, October 12th, 6.00 O’clock. I’ve got confused when I open bundles of subject matters and don’t know where to start. So I start the first one to read was the thinnest. Guess what? I still not have the gate of attention open. I don’t know why but I can’t even remember what I’ve read. So, to help me cope with this difficulty, I went to my friend’s house to join his learning group at 18.30. In contrary, it was catastrophic decision for me. Came over my friend house is just made my level of intricacies even higher! But surely it was a good slap in face. They had made me realized that I already left behind the locomotion. Manifestly, I was had nothing in me to encounter the comprehensive session in the next two days! “God, help me with this!” And finally that night I slept at two o’clock in the morning. And it was awful!

The next Monday morning, when my friends decided to rest from all kind of learning and determined to have a review on all the subject matters they’ve learned, I prefer to believe myself and kept on learning with all the left behind matters. I started at 09.00 and stopped at 21.00—of course with a few breaks at prayer, lunch, dinner, and sleep at 15.00 to 16.00. So literally, I’ve learnt in a very short time compare to my friends—and believe me, you would not like it to forcefully read bunch of materials at a very short time! I profoundly believe that I can count on myself. Any outcomes and consequences are totally caused by me. And I think at that kind of situation, everyone was competing with each other to have high grade for themselves. Therefore, to face that situation, I put my mind and soul at critical condition and give myself an impetus to compete.

In short, the comprehensive session went smoothly—but not with the 3rd jury. It’s so relieving knowing all the participants passed. After that relieving moment, my friends and I went back to our domicile and continue to our respective activities. For me, today is very tiring and making my knee shaking and so trembling that I need to take another nap in my bed.

Silver Lining from the Event:
Prepare an umbrella before it rains. Load your gun before you start a fire or war. Put up you tuxedo before you go to the ball. PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE YOU DO WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO DO! THE SOONER THE BETTER! YOU ARE SOLELY THE CAUSE OF A CERTAIN RESULTS OR CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT YOU DO! AND DON’T BLAME ANYONE OR ANYTHING FOR THAT RESULT OR CONSEQUENCES!

Nakhoda di Arus Globalisasi
(2008 October 7th)

I. Internalizing Globalization System

II. Communication Networks in Globalization System

III. Stakeholders’s Interpersonal Needs

IV. Hypermedia Attacks!

V. Leader must shows his existence and discernably unique!

VI. Leaders of Globalization era must be proactive to be on the center stage of the world wide stadium!

VII. The whole things are borderless! Leaders Must Think Beyond Borders!

VIII. Flexibility dan Adaptibility

IX. Conclusion

Globalization is marked by the information and communication technology advancement which enables the growth of extensity, intensity, and velocity of the world wide stakeholder’s interconnectedness.
(2008 October 7th, Me)

Globalization is an era when a single issue of international relations cannot be categorized into a single criterion but can cause multiple impact.
(2008 October 7th, Me)

Tertulis di atas bahwa kedua definisi globalisasi tersebut adalah postulat yang didadasarkan pada pemahaman umum yang dimiliki oleh penulis. Kenapa definisi globalisasi terlebih dahulu dituliskan? Karena globalisasi melukiskan sebuah era baru yang abstrak bagi penulis dan tentunya bagi individu lainnya. Setelah individu memiliki pemahaman tersendiri, barulah individu tersebut dapat beradapatasi dan hidup di sebuah sistem sosial tertentu. Sama halnya dengan pemimpin, jika ia tidak tahu, maka ia tidak paham. Jika ia tidak paham, maka ia tidak tahu apa yang dia kerjakan. Dan jika ia tidak tahu apa yang dia kerjakan, maka ia adalah pemimpin yang “mabuk” tak sadarkan diri. Jika pemimpin “mabuk”, bagaimana dengan individu-individu yang dipimpinnya? Terlebih lagi di era globalisasi ini! Tentu saja pemimpin harus sadar bahwa ia sedang mendayung kapal di atas arus globalisasi! Jika tidak demikian, maka akan hancur dan hanyutlah kapal tersebut!

I. Internalizing Globalization System
Salah satu aspek penting dari pemimpin di era globalisasi adalah haruslah individu yang menginternalisasi sistem globalisasi ke dalam pikiran, tubuh, dan jiwanya. Saat ini Negara manapun dengan berbagai sistem pemerintahannya—baik itu monarki konstitusional ataupun parlementer, sosialis, komunis, berbasis agama, demokrasi, demokrasi pancasila, dll— telah terlibat di dalam sebuah sistem kompleks yang disebut dengan globalisasi. Saat ini juga penduduk suatu Negara dimanapun ia berada telah menjadi “tetangga” satu sama lain dengan penduduk lainnya yang berada dibelahan bumi yang berbeda. Di abad ini setiap kebijakan politik Negara tertentu berpotensi untuk menimbulkan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kehidupan manusia di Negara lain. Dan di abad ini juga konflik dalam suatu Negara—baik pada level pribadi, kelompok, ataupun organisasi—bisa dikonsumsi secara masal oleh tiap individu di dalam sistem globalisasi hanya dalam hitungan detik. Tanpa menginternalisasi sistem globalisasi maka seorang individu tidak mampu memimpin dirinya sendiri, kelompoknya, organisasi, dan Negara untuk bertahan di era globalisasi.

Kata internalisasi bisa diartikan sebagai penyatuan kepercayaan atau nilai-nilai ke dalam darah daging individu sehingga kepercayaan dan nilai-nilai tersebut menjadi bagian dari dirinya. Menginternalisasi sebuah kepercayaan atau nilai ke dalam pikiran, tubuh, dan jiwa, tiap individu membutuhkan proses yang cukup panjang. Untuk menginternalisasikan nilai dan kepercayaan kepada seorang anak untuk berani bercita-cita agar menjadi pribadi yang besar harus melalui proses pendidikan yang dimulai semenjak tingkat pendidikan yang paling dasar. Pada akhirnya, nilai dan kepercayaan tersebut akan menjadi kebiasaannya dalam berpikir dan berperilaku di masa yang akan datang. Begitu juga seorang pemimpin di era globalisasi, secara pikiran, tubuh, dan jiwa mereka harus menyatu dengan kepercayaan dan nilai-nilai dari globalisasi agar memiliki cara berpikir, cara pandang, dan cara berperilaku yang relevan untuk menerjang arus badai globalisasi. Jika tidak demikian, pemimpin tersebut tidak akan bisa merasakan tantangan dan tidak memahami konsekuensi globalisasi yang mengakibatkan individu tersebut terbawa hanyut oleh arus globalisasi.

II. Communication Networks in Globalization System
Jaringan komunikasi adalah pola-pola suatu hubungan antara pelaku-pelaku komunikasi yang tercipta dengan saling mengirimkan dan bertukar pesan-pesan di dalam ruang dan waktu[1]. Di dunia yang telah menjadi global—menglobal—ini, pelaku komunikasi di dalam suatu ruang dan waktu sudah tak dapat diidentifikasikan dengan mudah. Pendekatan realisme dalam hubungan internasional tampak usang dan tidak relevan di era globalisasi ini. Mengapa? Karena komunikator atau stakeholder yang dapat melakukan kontak dengan individu-individu di luar batas-batas geografis semakin besar jumlahnya. Ada state actors dan non-state actors. Kalau aktor Negara sudah jelas siapa komunikatornya, tapi aktor non-negara jumlahnya tak terbendung. Aktor-aktor non-negara seperti MNC (Multy National Corporation), Media Massa, LSM, Partai Politik, Kelompok-Kelompok Agama, Kelompok-Kelompok Budaya, bahkan masing-masing individu—who already in tune to the globalization—adalah komunikator yang sulit untuk dibendung. Sehingga hal ini menuntut seorang pemimpin untuk merangkul seluruh komunikator atau stakeholders tersebut dan menciptakan sebuah jaringan komunikasi yang terjaga.

Jaringan komunikasi disini bukan sekedar untuk diseminasi informasi mengenai isu-isu terkait kepada para stakeholders, Melainkan harus memiliki fungsi innovation, social relationship, maintenance dan connectedness. Sebagai seorang pemimpin di era globalisasi, mereka harus menyadari bahwa ia tidak sendiri. Jika ia kepala Negara, maka ia harus menyadari bahwa di subsistemnya ia memiliki pemimpin-pemimpin yang memiliki idealisme masing-masing yang harus dipenuhi kebutuhan interpersonalnya. Seorang pemimpin harus bisa merangkul para stakeholders tersebut dan menyamakan persepsi untuk menghadapi tantangan globalisasi.
Globalisasi harus dipandang sebagai sebuah peluang. Peluang dimana potensi mendapatkan sahabat dan jaringan komunikasi menjadi lebih besar. Peluang untuk memperluas jaringan komunikasi di era globalisasi ini harus bisa dimanfaatkan dengan baik sehingga visi dan misi pemimpin dapat terwujud. Berpikir positif dengan menganggap seluruh negara sebagai sahabat potensial adalah modal utama. kesampingkan segala prasangka dan tunjukkan ketulusan yang disertai dengan kredibilotas untuk membangun sebuah jaringan komunikasi di dalam sistem globalisasi.

III. Stakeholders’s Interpersonal Needs
Salah satu gejala globalisasi adalah dimana individu—dimanapun ia berada— terhubungkan dengan individu lainnya. Stakeholders yang sifatnya organisasi atau kelompok sudah pasti terdiri dari individu-individu di dalamnya. Sama halnya dengan sebuah negara yang dijalankan oleh sistem pemerintahan, secara pasti terdiri dari individu-individu yang berpikir (Homo Sapiens) sebagai penggerak roda-roda negara. Seorang pemimpin di era globalisasi harus memandang semua stakeholders tersebut –baik itu sebuah kelompok atau organisasi—secara personal yang kebutuhan interpersonal-nya harus dipenuhi.

Menurut Schultz, kebutuhan interpersonal terdiri dari inklusi, afeksi, dan kontrol. Untuk menjadi pemimpin di era globalisasi, ia harus mampu melibatkan (inklusi) seluruh pihak terkait untuk berperan serta dalam mencapai visi dan misinya. Ia juga harus menunjukkan rasa ketulusan, perhatian dan empathi terhadap pihak-pihak tersebut (Afeksi). Dan ia juga harus bisa mengontrol pihak-pihak terkait tersebut untuk bersama-sama mencapai tujuan bersama. Sangat rapuh sebuah negara atau perusahaan jika pemimpinnya tidak memiliki dukungan yang besar oleh pihak-pihak tersebut.

Pemimpin adalah seorang yang memiliki ego tinggi. Namun untuk menghadapi era globalisasi, ia harus mampu meredam ego tersebut untuk mempersatukan para pemimpin-pemimpin yang lainnya. Saat ini banyak sekali pemimpin-pemimpin yang masih menyimpan egonya dengan membuat kendaraan politik untuk mencapai pucuk kekuasaan yang penumpangnya hanya segelintir orang dari mayoritas populasi. Pemimpin di era globalisasi tidak seperti itu. Pemimpin di era globalisasi harus membuat para pemimpin-pemimpin tersebut bersatu dan membuat suatu suara besar bersama-sama which could turns the world on it’s ears! Ketika ia tidak berada di puncak kekuasaan, pemimpin di era globalisasi tidak berpikir bagaimana saya bisa menggantikan posisi kepemimpinan yang tidak lebih baik dari saya, dan ia tidak merasa dirinya lebih baik. Namun sebaliknya ia akan berpikir bagaimana saya bisa memberikan sesuatu agar jalannya roda-roda sistem menjadi lebih baik. Sebaliknya, ketika ia berada di puncak kekuasaan, pemimpin di era globalisasi harus berpikir bagaimana kita bisa membuat ini menjadi lebih baik.

IV. Hypermedia Attacks!
Teknologi mutakhir di era globalisasi ini salah satunya adalah internet. Internet memungkinkan individu berintekasi jarak jauh dengan immediate feedback dari individu lainnya. Dengan kecanggihan teknologi tersebut, maka internet disebut juga dengan istilah Hypermedia. Dengan teknologi internet, seorang anak SMU berusia 16 tahun bisa menjadi seorang jurnalis yang tulisannya bisa dibaca oleh khalayak tanpa batas. Siapa pun bisa menjadi jurnalis karena adanya fasilitas blogging di internet. Dan tulisan siapa pun akan bisa di multi-interpretasikan oleh siapa pun. Sehingga perkembangan teknologi ini dapat memberikan keuntungan maupun kerugian yang berpotensi memunculkan krisis.

Keuntungan yang di dapat tentu saja diseminasi informasi kepada khalayak menjadi lebih mudah. Namun kerugiannya bisa jadi menghancurkan diakibatkan oleh kesalahan persepsi maupun ketiadaan privasi individu. Dengan segala potensi yang dapat diakibatkan oleh communication technology advancement ini, pemimpin di era globalisasi adalah pemimpin yang melek teknologi informasi dan komunikasi. Dengan penguasaan teknologi, seorang pemimpin bisa mengoperasikan teknologi tersebut sehingga bisa secara langsung terlibat di dalam interaksi dunia maya. Disini pemimpin harus mampu menjadi Public Relations Officer untuk dirinya sendiri. Dan Secara langsung pula ia menjadi juru bicara atas organisasi yang dinaunginya. Dampak dari keikutsertaan pemimpin dalam interaksi di hypermedia bagi para stakeholders adalah adanya rasa kedekatan antara diri mereka dengan pemimpin—walaupun di dunia virtual. Tentu saja hal tersebut merupakan sebuah awal yang baik.

V. Leader must shows his existence and discernably unique!
Globalisasi menciptakan apa yang disebut oleh Marshal McLuhan dengan Global Village, dimana masyarakat di dunia memiliki kesamaan budaya dan nilai-nilai. Saat ini penampilan penduduk di seluruh dunia secara fashion hampir serupa. Pakaian penduduk Jakarta yang berkiblat kepada dunia fashion barat saat ini sudah mampu menyamai bahkan lebih fashionable daripada orang barat sendiri sebagai trendsetter. Kehidupan keluarga di Prancis menunjukkan bahwa usia pernikahan laki-laki adalah 30 sedangkan bagi perempuan 27. Cultural Shift di Prancis tersebut—sebelumnya adalah 27 tahun untuk laki-laki dan 25 untuk perempuan—adalah salah satu budaya kehidupan yang sebagian penduduk Jakarta—yang terpisah oleh lautan dan benua dari negara prancis—sudah hampir menyamainya. Begitu juga halnya dengan seks pranikahan, berkeluarga tanpa nikah, dan perceraian. Nowadays people around the globe are sharing the same cultures! Dan ini bisa jadi sebuah perkembangan ataupun kemerosotan.

Dalam ilmu sosiologi dijelaskan bahwa budaya yang dominan akan menjadi budaya yang universal. Saat ini Negara-negara barat masih merupakan Negara dominan yang tiada henti mentransmisi budaya mereka melalui berbagai saluran yang ada. Hal ini membuat budaya mereka sebagai budaya yang dominan. Perkembangan teknologi yang mereka miliki sudah lebih maju. Sehingga Negara-negara berkembang hanya menjadi pengadopsi segala perkembangan budaya dari barat (teknologi adalah salah satu bentuk konkrit budaya manusia). Pemimpin di era globalisasi harus menyadari bahwa hal ini merupakan potensi akan kepunahan bagi keunikan budaya manusia. Apa jadinya jika semua Negara menjadi seragam? Tentu saja pencipta seragam tersebut akan menjadi “kepala sekolah”nya dan murid-murid yang ingin tampil nyentrik harus berbeda dari “kepala sekolah”. Pemimpin di era globalisasi harus menunjukkan keberadaannya, siapa dirinya, berserta identitas-identitas diri dan pihak-pihak yang terkait lainnya. Indonesia adalah salah satu Negara sasaran transmisi budaya barat. Saat ini budaya yang ditransmisikan tidak hanya perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan saja, melainkan gaya hidup. Gaya hidup kebarat-baratan sudah terinternalisasi bagi sebagaian masyarakat khususnya masyarakat perkotaan. Pemimpin harus bisa mempertahankan budaya bangsanya beserta potensi-potensinya dan tidak terbawa oleh arus globalisasi. Sayang sekali kalau budaya ketimuran bangsa Indonesia beserta potensinya terseret arus globalisasi seperti rumah-rumah yang terhempas oleh tsunami.

VI. Leaders of Globalization era must be proactive to be on the center stage of the world wide stadium!
Berbicara globalisasi berarti bicara mengenai dunia! Global! World Wide! Untuk menjadi pemimpin kelas, seorang murid harus aktif dalam kegiatan belajar mengajar dan proaktif dalam membina hubungan dengan teman-teman sekelasnya. Untuk menjadi pemimpin di era globalisasi tidak semudah menjadi ketua kelas. Pemimpin di era globalisasi harus memiliki jiwa proaktif untuk berperan di tengah pentas global. Seorang aktor atau aktris dalam sebuah teater akan selalu mendapatkan standing ovation jika para penonton menyukai tokoh yang dimainkannya dan bagaimana cara ia memainkannya. Setelah pertunjukkan teater itu selesai, aktor atau aktris tersebut akan lebih harum lagi namanya apabila penonton masih membicarakan tentang penampilannya di perjalanan pulang dan bahkan berbulan-bulan setelah pertunjukkan tersebut.

Pemimpin global harus bisa menarik simpati para penonton di stadium global. Memperoleh simpati para penonton berbeda dengan memperoleh popularitas. Untuk mendapatkan popularitas adalah sangat mudah, namun untuk mendapatkan simpati penonton lebih sukar untuk dilakukan. Prokatif adalah salah satu syarat untuk menjadi pemimpin di era globalisasi. Individu proaktif adalah individu yang memiliki inisiatif dan berjiwa enterpreneurship. Dan individu-individu yang penuh inisiatif adalah individu yang akan menemukan peluang terlebih dahulu dibandingkan dengan individu yang lain. Pemimpin proaktif bisa meningkatkan laju perekonomian dengan menciptakan lapangan kerja potensial dengan mengundang investor asing untuk menanam modal di negaranya, memberdayakan masyarakat kecil dan menengah dengan mendukung usaha kecil dan menengah, mempromosikan hasil budaya bangsa sebagai aset potensial bangsa yang dapat diimpor ke mancanegara. Pemimpin proaktif bisa memunculkan handsome policy dari berbagai hubungan politik dengan negara lain. Pemimpin proaktif mampu memperoleh simpatik masyarakat luas karena usahanya yang proaktif dalam membela kepentingan negara atau organisasinya dan ketulusannya dalam membina hubungan dengan negara atau organisasi lainnya.

VII. The whole things are borderless! Leaders Must Think Beyond Borders!
Teknologi informasi dan komunikasi di era globalisasi membuat segalanya menjadi tanpa batas. Saling keterhubungan (interconnectedness) dan saling ketergantungan (interdependent) antar negara menimbulkan konsekuesi baru yang dapat menimpa secara mendalam ke seluruh lapisan masyarakat yang ada. Individu dimanapun mereka berada dapat saling terhubungkan tanpa menghiraukan batasan geografis. Batasan normatif dan etika yang sebelum berlaku di suatu sistem masyarakat tertentu menjadi kabur dan bercampur aduk dengan batasan-batasan baru yang berasal dari luar sistem masyarakat tersebut. Isu-isu antara negara yang terjadi kini tidak lagi dapat diklasifikasikan ke dalam satu kategori isu tertentu. Isu politik bisa menimbulkan isu ekonomi atau bahkan sosial budaya. Sinisme terhadap suatu golongan tertentu bisa menimbulkan suatu sinisme massa atau isolasi terhadap golongan tersebut. Isu keamanan beserta kebijakan politik suatu negara bisa jadi merugikan negara lain di berbagai aspek kehidupan. Semua hal tersebut saat ini membuat segalanya seperti sebuah interrelated interplay sequences. Every thing is become borderless! To survive in today’s globalized world, Leaders must think beyond borders!

Seorang pemimpin yang mampu berpikir menembus batas adalah pemimpin yang memiliki pengetahuan yang luas. Amunisi utama seorang pemimpin adalah pengetahuannya. Pengetahuan tidak hanya meliputi ilmu-ilmu yang telah dipelajarinya pada jenjang pendidikan. Bukan hanya mengenai variable-variable yang teruji secara empiric lengkap dengan data statisitik dengan pemaparan secara komprehensif. Pengetahuan itu juga meliputi ilmu-ilmu mengenai nilai-nilai dan norma-norma. Baik itu norma atau nilai-nilai dari suatu budaya yang merupakan hasil cipta, rasa dan karsa manusia, maupun nilai-nilai yang terkandung agama yang bersifat transendental. Tanpa nilai-nilai transendental tersebut seorang pemimpin tidak memiliki suatu pedoman dan arah dalam memunculkan suatu keputusan bagi kepentingan orang banyak (stakeholders). Sehingga pemimpin sangat mutlak harus memiliki pendidikan yang baik, baik itu edukasi di instansi pendidikan, keluarga, dan masyarakat.

Pendidikan seseorang begitu penting karena mempengaruhi bagaimana seorang itu berpikir. Pengetahuan yang lengkap (ilmu, nilai, dan moral) dan luas, akan memberikan banyak wawasan sebelum seorang pemimpin mengeksekusi suatu keputusan dan menerapkannya secara praktis. Tanpa pengetahuan bisa jadi memberikan peluang kepada keniscayaan kosong untuk terjadi. Seorang pengusaha yang kaya raya di satu sisi berpartisipasi untuk memajukan ekonomi suatu Negara. Namun tanpa pengetahuan bisa jadi pengusaha tersebut menjalankan bisnisnya tersebut menembus batas-batas nilai, moral, dan etika. Seorang anggota parlemen bisa jadi sumber inspirasi bagi motif masyarakat untuk berkembang menjadi besar. Tanpa pengetahuan, bisa jadi anggota parlemen melakukan pekerjaan kotor di balik meja kerjanya. Berpikir boleh borderless hanya saja harus dilengkapi dengan control agar tidak menembus batas-batas nilai, moral,dan etika yang berlaku.

Presiden Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—Dosen yang juga sekaligus Presiden Iran-mendapatkan undangan untuk menjadi pembicara di Universitas Colombia. Sebagai salah satu presiden yang berani menentang Negara adidaya dengan kebijakan pengayaan uraniumnya, Presiden Ahmadinejad mendapatkan banyak opini dari penduduk global. Ada yang mengaguminya, ada yang mengutuknya, ada membencinya, dan ada juga yang mencintainya. Namun hal yang tampak dari setiap penampilannya adalah keyakinan akan kebijakkan yang dibuatnya dan kesederhaannya sebagai seorang pelayan bagi masyarakatnya. Seringkali ia tidak mengenakan dasi dalam acara-acara formal yang disorot oleh media massa dunia. Terhadap audiens Universitas Columbia, ia mampu menjawab semua pertanyaan yang diajukan kepadanya. Sebagai seorang pahlawan tanpa tanda jasa di negaranya, ia mampu menunjukkan betapa luas kapasitas pengetahuannya, kelapangan jiwanya, dan keluhuran hati nuraninya. Dan saat ini pun Iran meruapakan sebuah Negara yang hebat dengan pemimpin yang hebat.

VIII. Flexibility dan Adaptibility
enduduk global terdiri dari individu-individu yang pintar, cerdas, dan memiliki kepercayaan dan nilai sesuai dengan kapasitasnya masing-masing. Pemimpin harus memiliki pengetahuan yang layak untuk dapat memimpin individu-individu tersebut. Kemampuan adaptasi di segala lingkungan dan lapisan masyarakat juga mutlak harus dimiliki. Dimanapun ia berada, pemimpin harus mampu beradapatsi dan mengayuh dayung di atas arus globalisasi yang deras. Arus globalisasi dapat di analogikan dengan arus arung jeram yang deras dengan batu-batu besar sebagai rintangan. Maka pemimpin harus menggunakan perahu karet yang fleksibel agar berhasil merintangi medan-medan mematikan dari arung jeram tersebut. Tidak bisa seorang pemimpin di era globalisasi berpikir dengan cara kuno dan usang bagi perahu kayu besar nan kokoh. Lambat laun perahu tersebut akan hancur berkeping-keping.

China adalah salah satu Negara yang berhasil menerjang badai globalisasi. Dalam sejarah perkembangan China terukir banyak kisah yang menyedihkan, penuh perjuangan, dan kepedihan rakyat yang sulit dibayangkan. Namun kini China berhasil dan mampu menjadi salah satu Negara dengan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang hebat dalam sejarah dunia. Pada periode ‘maoist’, China merupakan sebuah Negara yang tertutup dan terisolasi dari dunia luar. Hal tersebut berdampak pada keterpurukan ekonomi China pada saat itu. Berbeda dengan periode tersebut, saat ini program the four modernization yang diterapkan di dalam negaranya berhasil membangkitkan perekonomian China. Pemimpin Republik Rakyat China Deng Xiao Ping berhasil mengadaptasikan sistem perekonomian yang sebelumnya belum pernah diterapkan sebelumnya ke dalam sistem pemerintahan China untuk survive di era ekonomi global. Dalam hal ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa Pemimpin China berhasil mengarungi jeram-jeram tajam di arus sungai globalisasi yang deras. Maka fleksibiltas seorang pemimpin untuk beradaptasi dengan situasi dan kondisi menjadi sangat penting. Jika saja tidak demikian adanya, China tidak akan menjadi sebuah Negara yang besar seperti saat ini.

IX. Conclusion
Menjadi seorang pemimpin di era globalisasi tidaklah mudah. Tanpa penginternalisasikan kepercayaan dan nilai-nilai globalisasi ke dalam diri mereka, tidak mungkin seorang pemimpin dapat bertahan mengarungi arus globalisasi. Globalisasi bagaikan sebuah sistem yang subsistem-subsistem di dalamnya saling mempengaruhi satu sama lain. Pemimpin—apapun kelompok atau organisasi yang dipimpinnya—akan memberikan pengaruh yang luas di luar dari apa yang dipimpinnya. Sehingga kualitas pribadi, pikiran, jiwa, pengetahuan, dan moralitas menjadi sangat penting. Komponen apa yang paling penting dimiliki untuk menjadi pemimpin di era globalisasi? Jawabannya adalah tidak ada yang lebih penting diantara pengetahuan dan nilai-nilai dan norma. Semua komponen tersebut harus bekerja secara seimbang di dalam diri seorang pemimpin. Pemimpin haruslah bercita-cita tinggi dan memiliki visi ke depan, tiada henti memperbaiki dan mengembangkan diri, memiliki hati yang lapang, dan memiliki hati yang luhur. Semoga Indonesia memiliki pemimpin-pemimpin yang mampu memimpin dirinya untuk menjadikan Indonesia pemimpin di era globalisasi.

[1] http://www.tec.spcomm.uiuc.edu./nosh/HOCNets.html –Emergence of Communication Networks, Peter R. Monge. Nashir S. Contractor, 1998