English Version Below      

KALA DAYAK DIBUAT GUSAR GEGARA TANAH ADATNYA DIKATAI TEMPAT JIN BUANG ANAK

Pengujung Januari 2022, Edy Mulyadi melontarkan komentar yang sangat tidak mengenakkan tentang Kalimantan. Saat membahas keputusan Pemerintah untuk memindahkan Ibu Kota Indonesia ke Kalimanta Timur, Mr EM mengatakan,”Mengapa kita harus pindah ke tempat jin buang anak”.

Hal ini tentu saja menimbulkan reaksi panas dari masyarakat Dayak. Mereka terluka dan gusar, dan memang seharusnya demikian. Bagaimana tidak, tanah tumpah darah mereka, tanah adat yang mereka hormati, apalagi sudah di tunjuk sebagai Ibu Kota Baru Negara (IKN) Nusantara, dikata-katai sebagai tempat “anak-anak setan”(Bukan kah demikian makna dari tempat jin membuang anaknya?)

Sejak itu, demonstrasi dan seruan untuk Mr EM harus dihukum negara dan adat menggaung di komunitas Dayak yang biasanya damai.

Patut dipertanyakan, mengapa seorang pria modern dari budaya Indonesia bisa mengatakan hal rasis seperti itu ? Jawabannya adalah ketidaktahuan. Dia tidak tahu. Keyakinannya didasarkan pada apa yang dia katakan, dan bukan berdasarkan pengetahuan. Sehingga hal itu tidak membuatnya untuk menahan diri dengan mengeluarkan pernyataan yang menghina sekelompok orang, tidak peduli apa yang dia yakini.

Terkait hal ini, Dayakdreams mewawancarai Bpk Tamunan Kiting, Ketua Umum Dewan Adat Dayak DKI Jakarta.Silahkan simak kanal YouTubenya ya.

Pertanyaannya, apa yang harus dilakukan orang Dayak terhadap Mr EM ? Saya katakan, meskipun saya seorang Bule Amerika yag tinggal di Jakarta bersama istri Dayak saya. Saya bukan orang Dayak sedarah, tapi hati saya bersamamu. Karena itulah saya dan Christina Salomita, my wife membuat Dayakdreams. Jadi wajarlah jika orang Dayak memboyong Mr EM ke Kaltim, ke tempat yang ia sebut tempatnya anak-anak Jin itu.

Saya pernah ke Kalbar, Kalteng, dan Kalsel, hampir ke Kaltim,tapi keburu Covid19. Sungguh tidak seperti yang Mr EM katakan. Kalimantan sungguh kawasan modern dan dihuni beragam suku di Indonesia.

Pada satu waktu, saya dan istri bepergian ke perbatasan Banjarmasin dan Kalteng. Tak ada yang kami kenal. Kami kebetulan melewati sebuah pesta pernikahan yang tendanya didirikan di seberang jalan. Saat mobil melaju perlahan, kami mendadak diajak bergabung di pesta itu. Orang-orang baik ini menyajian kami makanan dan menceritakan kisah-kisah hebat tentang sejarah mereka di Banjarmasin. Mereka orang Dayak di kabupaten Kapuas, Kalteng, kelompok yang ramah, dan saya tidak akan pernah melupakan keramahan mereka.

By the way, omong-omong, di sana terlihat banyak anak-anak bermain, berlari-lari. Tapi mereka tak memiliki tanduk di kepala, seperti anak Jin itu. Seperti semua anak Indonesia, mereka penuh dengan tawa, riang gembira.

Mr EM, saya tantang Anda untuk pergi bersama Dayakdreams ke Kalimantan, khususnya Kaltim, IKN baru. Saya yakin sudut pandang Anda akan berubah selamanya, tentang Kalimantan.   <<<

English Version

HE SAID WHAT???

At the end of January 2022, Edy Mulyadi made a very unpleasant comment about Kalimantan. While discussing the Government’s decision to move the capital city of Indonesia to East Kalimantan, Mr. Mulyadi said, “Why do we have to move to a place where the genies dispose of children”. This is a major insult to the prideful indigenous Dayaks of Kalimantan. The place where the Genies (Jinn) throw their children means the place for the children of demons.

This of course caused a heated reaction from the Dayak community. They were hurt and upset, and rightfully so. How could it not be? This is the land where their ancestor’s blood was spilled, the customary land that they respect, especially since East Kalimantan has been appointed as the New Capital of the Indonesian archipelago (IKN).

Since then, demonstrations and calls for Mr. EM to be punished by the state and customs have resonated in the usually peaceful Dayak community.

How can a modern man from Indonesian culture say such racist things? The answer is ignorance. He simply does not know. His beliefs are based on what he has been told by elders, and not based on firsthand knowledge. It doesn’t help that he didn’t have enough self-discipline to refrain from issuing statements that insulted a group of people (no matter what he believes).

The question is, what should we Dayaks do about Mr. EM? I said we even though I am an American Caucasian living in Jakarta—a Dayak by marriage, not by blood. But my heart is with you. That’s why Christina Salomita, my wife, and I made Dayakdreams. So, here’s our idea: Take Mr. Mulyadi to East Kalimantan and show him exactly how wrong he is.

What he learns will change his future speech. I’ve been to East Kalimantan. It’s nothing like Mulyadi thinks. Banjarmasin it’s one of Indonesia’s most modern and diverse cities. 

At one time, my wife and I traveled to the border of Banjarmasin and Central Kalimantan as strangers. We happened to pass by a wedding party whose tent was pitched crossing the street. As we slowed down to pass through, we were invited to join the party. These nice people served us food and told great stories about their history in Banjarmasin. They are Dayaks in Kapuas district, Central Kalimantan, a friendly group, and I will never forget their hospitality.

By the way, there were a lot of children playing. None of them had pitchforks, flames, or horns on their heads. Like all Indonesian children, they were full of laughter and joy.

Mr. Edy Mulyadi, I challenge you to go with Christina and me, Dayakdreams, to East Kalimantan, the new IKN. I’m sure your point of view will change forever. You will find the land of demon children to be warm—and forgiving.