| The phenomenal success of both the movie and the | | | | critically and do not pose any problems to the |
| book Ayat-Ayat Cinta (AAC) is a reflection of our | | | | establishment. |
| social conditioning and aspirations. What is interesting | | | | The movie is pluralistic in the sense that it has a |
| is that AAC has been able to dilute the "differences" | | | | Christian character. I hope we do not believe that to |
| in such conditioning and aspirations to the extent of | | | | be the definition of being pluralistic. Even then, the |
| being unrecognizable. The movie and the book have | | | | author Habbiburrahman has been criticized by |
| been equally appreciated by our President, our clergy | | | | hard-liners. They argue, "Why should a Muslim defend |
| and normal people. | | | | the rights of an American in Muslim Egypt?" The |
| The question is, do we need a book or a movie like | | | | author's defense is actually based on civil and human |
| AAC to unite us? If we do, then we have some | | | | rights. And this is my third point: many of us are not |
| very serious problems here. | | | | appreciative of other peoples' rights. |
| "Ayat", to my understanding, is Arabic for "proof" or | | | | No wonder we are not sensitive to the plight of the |
| "evidence". "The proofs or evidences of the Lord's | | | | Ahmadis. They are being persecuted, but our |
| presence are scattered all over." All our scriptures | | | | authorities, our clergy and an overwhelming majority |
| agree on this. "Those with eyes can see them | | | | of our people are not at all concerned about it. Madi |
| clearly." | | | | of Selena village was brutally killed; the Ahmadis could |
| Does AAC bear witness to the "presence" of our | | | | be killed too. At least one of our hard-liners is caught |
| Lord? | | | | on video shouting and screaming, "Kill, kill, kill the |
| Or does it bear witness to the presence of a "God" | | | | Ahmadis." We are silent. |
| as envisioned by one particular religious group? The | | | | Our dear and beloved President could shed tears |
| book clearly promotes certain religious values, as | | | | watching AAC, but his eyes are dry at the plight of |
| "understood" by the author based on his social | | | | Madi, Ahmadis and others. Or, perhaps we lack |
| upbringing. | | | | paparazzi. Perhaps, he has been shedding tears in |
| A Christian girl praising Islamic values and falling in love | | | | private. Perhaps the media just haven't caught him |
| with a young Islamic hero is not only acceptable but | | | | doing it. |
| desirable. For a change, what about a Muslim girl | | | | I have nothing against AAC and its author. Let us |
| praising Christian values and falling in love with a | | | | however see AAC in the light of our indigenous |
| young Christian hero? | | | | cultural values as enshrined in the five points of |
| I wonder what would be the reaction of our | | | | Pancasila. What are the highest spiritual and universal |
| distinguished clergy who spoke so highly about the | | | | values in the movie that are not found in Pancasila? |
| film, and even appeared on television to promote the | | | | Indeed, Pancasila is at least one important step ahead |
| same. | | | | of AAC. A Christian does not have to convert to |
| I wonder if the producer of AAC would be willing to | | | | Islam to appreciate the universal values in Islam and |
| produce a movie along the above "opposite" line. As | | | | in the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon |
| pointed out by a dear friend of mine, writer Ayu | | | | Him). |
| Utami, this is a "dakwah movie". It promotes "certain" | | | | Our people are mesmerized by the Middle Eastern, |
| religious values. I agree with her. The author does | | | | Egyptian setting of the movie. We value their |
| too. So, it is quite natural that those particular values | | | | traditions above our own, and we are both |
| are upheld over others. | | | | sentimental and emotional about them. The |
| The producers of the movie may not be interested | | | | Egyptians, however, did not reciprocate our |
| in promoting anything other than their business. After | | | | sentiments. The producer of this movie had to film |
| all, they are entertainers. They would rather keep | | | | some scenes in India, for a purely "material" reason. |
| away from polemic. Had they been in the West, they | | | | AAC holds "males as the hero". Women are |
| would be filming just the opposite of AAC -- a Muslim | | | | subordinates. They are all around the hero, and not |
| hero or heroine appreciating Christian values and | | | | vice versa. This is not Indonesian. This is very Middle |
| falling in love with a Christian. Ayu Utami rightly says | | | | Eastern. The "male" and the "masculine" in AAC are |
| that the movie has the same plot as Hollywood | | | | so implicitly but definitely promoted, that one begins |
| movies of the 1950s. | | | | to wonder if love is masculine. |
| What does this prove? What are these ayats | | | | AAC is truly a reflection of our present society. It |
| pointing at? First, we are still very much conditioned | | | | has served well in pointing out to us the conflict going |
| by our narrow religious upbringing: I can tolerate you, | | | | on within us. AAC's stand on polygamy is a reflection |
| but whatever is said and done, my religion is the | | | | of such conflict. This is my fifth and last point. Deep |
| best. | | | | inside we are torn between foreign and indigenous |
| Second, my business is business. Do not confuse me | | | | values. Just consider our reaction to Ustadz A.A. |
| with other things. I am just an entertainer. I believe in | | | | Gym, Wong Solo, and their polygamy. We could not |
| the second part of Machiavelli's doctrine of "food and | | | | accept it. |
| circus" to keep people busy, so they do not think | | | | |