Januari 2011

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Book Reviews

Indonesian Book Reviews

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Zalzulifa

Jumat, 21 Januari 2011

GranezhaPubly is dedicated to bridging mind and connecting boundaries for a good collaboration of exchange right among publishers all over the world. The word "GRANEZHA" means GRoup of Applied kNowledges with Zaps, Zones, Zelous, Zenith, Zephyr, and High Accountability. In addition, the word GRANEZHA also means the collaboration between Ratih (wife) and Zalzulifa (husband) in building partnership for a world of peace and welfare approaches to Healthy, Scienthy, and Wealthy.

In practice, GranezhaPubly provides its services with informations for those Indonesia youngsters who wish to start career in publishing industry through searching this site and build networking and becoming a member of Self-Publishing Community Forum Indonesia (Spectrumindo).

As a publishing lecturer at the State Polytechnic of Creative Media (PoliMedia), this site is also dedicated to scouting new generation in media of Student-Centre Learning (SCL) approaches to Production and Entrepreneurship Based Curriculum and Learning Process in which all learning materials can be found here. The so forth, let's be a creative and productive for a prosperous wealth-fare of country through book functional as the window of world called "Indonesia".

Student's Assignments

CD Assessment

INTRODUCTION

Now technology is used not only for business but also for educational purpose. Ballenden (1984) approves that computer will increasingly penetrate all areas of life, including education. Maddison (1983) portrays the education technology and the communication technology as two sides of the same coin. The newest one is CALL that has been used by the teachers particularly for the language teaching. According to Brandl, 1991 and Hartoyo, 1993:25, 1994; and Petermandl, 1980; and Davis, 1993, there are four advantages of using CALL as the teaching tools, such as its interactivity, its usability or flexibility. The performance and interactive aspects has become the great value in language learning progress. Here I try to asses the four CD’S given by lecturer “Hartoyo Ph.D”, focuses on five basic principles, such as :

1. INTERACTIVITY (feedback and instruction. Interactivity refers to how the program can stimulate interaction, especially interaction between the computer and the user. It includes the effectiveness of the instructions and feedback provided in the program.

2. USABILITY (flexibility).Usability (flexibility) refers to the flexibility, ease and inherent interest of the program used, and how easy it is to navigate within the program.

3. CONTENT APPROPRIATENESS. Content appropriateness is concerned with the amount of material presented in the program, how easily the material is learned and understood, and how far the material meets the students’ need.

4. EFFECTIVENESS. Effectiveness refers to how effectively the program assists language learners to improve their mastery of grammar.

5. PERFORMANCE (attractiveness). Performance refers to the presentation, layout of the screen, the color, and the illustrations (picture, diagram, charts, etc.) used in the program.

Now let’s see each of them, as bellows:

NO	SUBJECT	OBSERVATION
A	CD 1 = ENGLISH WORDS
1	Interactivity (feedback&instruction)	Children would need help to understand how to operate the program.
		It can stimulate the user especially for thechildren because it provides music, speech and animation which can make the user feel interact when use it.
		It can grow up the user’s motivation.
2	Usability (Flexibility)	Easy to navigate.
		It easy to use and also easy to understand.
		The games are easy to play .
		The curiousity of the user in every step of the games is deep.
3	Content Appropriateness	The content is sufficient for beginners.
		It provides more than sixty different languages.
		It also provides a voice recording for the users.
4	Effectiveness	Too much gaming part, could distract the learning process.
		It is good for the user to know more about vocabulary.
		The users can enrich they vocabulary by practicing for example the games as much as possible.
5	Performance (Attractiveness)	Colors and music are attractive.
		It provides colourful screen which can attract the user to learn more and more.
		It also provides a clear sound which make the user interested to hear the instruction.
	Conclusion	This CD is preferable for children of elementary schools, grade 2 and up.

B	CD 2 = VOCABULARY
1	Interactivity (feedback & instruction)	The “help menu” is useful to help users interact with the program.
		The user can practice to pronounce the word by repeating it.
		The user especially the children very interested by the sound itself.
2	Usability (Flexibility)	Easy to navigate.
		It easy to use and also easy to understand.
		The games are easy to play .
		The curiousity of the user in every step of the games is deep.
3	Content Appropriateness	The content is sufficient for beginners.
		Its contents are suitable and useful for the user especially for the beginners.
		It is eligible for Educational purpose.
4	Effectiveness	The level of difficulties enable users to select according to their skills.
		It is very effective to improve the user capability in vocabulary. However,
		This program is not really appropriate for the beginner or children because the vocabularies are quite complicated.
5	Performance (Attractiveness)	Colors, music, and the animations are attractive.
		It actually provides some interesting games that make the user get more interest to play and learn ,
		It provides a clear sound that make the user easy to follow the instruction.
		It also provides colorful screen that make its performance more interesting.
	Conclusion	This CD is preferable for children of elementary schools, grade 3 and up.

C	CD 3 = LEARN ENGLISH “BEGINNERS”
1	Interactivity (feedback&instruction)	The program provide excellent interactivity facilities.
		The user can learn the pronunciation.
		It has phrases-practice, dialog-practice, phrases-recording, dialog-recording and quiz that can be used by the user to be better learner
2	Usability (Flexibility)	The navigation works well, the users can easily access the menu
		It easy to use and navigate.
		It has beautiful color that make more interesting to use.
3	Content Appropriateness	The content supports users in learning English right from the start.
		Its contents offer so many vocabularies that can be learned by the user.
		The user especially the children can enrich their vocabulary.
4	Effectiveness	Native speakers and quises effectively help users.
		It is effective to improve the user’s speaking skills.
		It is effective for the children especially, they can learn much more by practicing what they heared.
5	Performance (Attractiveness)	Pictures, colors, and the whole composition are very attractive.
		It is interesting and colorful appearance.
		It is useful for the children who actually can directly imitate the speaker how to pronounce the words.
	Conclusion	This CD is highly recommended because the material is most preferable for children of elementary schools,
		grade 4-6.

D	CD 4 = SPEAK ENGLISH INTERMEDIATE
1	Interactivity (feedback&instruction)	Really “talk” to users and “invite” them to get involved.
		It makes the user feel involved
		It also provides a voice recording for the users
2	Usability (Flexibility)	Simple and understandable.
		It is Simple and easy to navigate.
		The user needs recorder to use it
3	Content Appropriateness	The program is well equipped with what user’s need to learn English.
		It has some different topics for making the lesson more challenging.
		Its contents are useful for the beginners level.
4	Effectiveness	WYSIWYG, very effective to support easy-and-fun English learning
		It is quite good for the user who wants to learn English conversation. The difference between American and British in pronouncing word and style of using their sentence can make the user get more of language ability.
		The user can improve their speaking by hearing and practicing the program itself.
5	Performance (Attractiveness)	The whole appearance is awesome, incredibly attractive.
		It has a good design that make the user feel interest to learn more about speaking.
		It also provide some attractive and beautiful pictures.
	Conclusion	The use of this CD is highly recommended because the material is suitable for children of 9-13 years old, (elementary grade 4-6, junior high grade 7).

CONCLUSION

Referring the above CD Assessment, it is concluded that in facing the 21^st century today the teachers particularly the language teachers should be self-active in penetration the teaching and learning activities. Now they do not need to bring so many books or using old fashioned way for teaching. Using CD is the best one in making a new teaching penetration because here teachers do not have to produce so much energy. However, here teachers have to choose the appropriate CD for teaching. It means the good teachers will always update their knowledge and make a new penetration for giving a good result in teaching and learning activity. Thank for a God Blesses us all!!!

An Idea Towards Creative School in Indonesia

1. A. INTRODUCTION

This article is originally inspired from the student’s written assignment at Oxford Brookes International Centre for Publishing Studies (Clarke P.D. Johnson, 1990) entitled “Think Publishing Think for All”. Furthermore, this article is also dedicated to the Indonesia Teacher Congress (2008) theme “Think Globally Acts Locally”. I can say that these two statements supposed to be the icon of motivation dealing with the effort of developing and empowering the writing capacity not only for teachers but also people as a whole. In relate to this view, I would first comprehensively portray by showing that publishing as potential and the most important part of supporting the growth of creative class in Indonesia. The creative class here means those who dwell in creative writing as a subject matter at school.

As the thinking time frame, this article is outlined from firstly gives the abstract view of publishing world in Indonesia. Then, the writer keeps continuing by giving the introduction on the bases of millennium school era view. The writing hence goes with the portrait of publishing as the opportunities and the challenges of establishing and supporting the growth of various sorts of creative acts. Last but not least, in implementing this thought as the chief of boys scout in Banten this article gives a conclusion and recommendation of logically reasons why do we need to support the growth of creative industries in which creative writing being parts of in Indonesia.

1. B. ABSTRACT

All Indonesian people, especially those who schooled at elementary school in the year of 70 widely known that in that era there was a pen-war among public intellectual figures like Armien Pane, Sultan Takdir Alisyahbana and Muchtar Lubis. The publics then were suspicious looking at their hold-on after journalistic quarreling in various media printed or electronic. This fact minimally supported our assumption that truly the writing talented has existed since previous time. The question is whether those good attitudes still exist nowadays? Or as a nation building, we are just absorbing toward the previous proud with know nothing what to do next. Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Limkokwing at one moment (2009) states that “…education needs to evolve and play its role effectively. Industry suffers when it is unable to obtain the right skills to help them cope with the first paced changes that need accurate and speedy responses. It is time we revamp, reinvent and review education as it is beining conducted worldwide.” This is hopefully this article could inspire the rational reason of designing the world-class vocational creative school in Indonesia as it’s already happened in our nighbourhood country Malaysia.

1. C. PORTRAIT OF MILLENIUM EDUCATION

In facing the challenges and opportunities of optimizing the education role as part of effort in making smart and competitive human resource, there are minimally four main factors of managing millennium school to take care of, such as: human resources, system, equipments and financial resources.

First, human resources include teachers we know today standing impromptu slowly but sure will erase. A good and successful teacher will then like a trainer or mentor who prepares learning teaching materials and design various kinds of resources for different students. Teacher will then have much time and consequently have lots of resources that help them teach easily. Class room will be occupied with smartboard that easily operated, 3-D diagrams, audio visual documentation or even web based animation and others. Here the students will copy all the materials into palmtop in order to learn at home. Consequently, class room is likely a multimedia auditorium occupied with specific computer that can be entered by students who want to download and exchange their learning material.

Second, resource system includes nowadays teaching methodology that will not be able to prepare citizens toward facing the future era. At that time there will be no more place for unity but diversity. Even though the present distance learning system is good for a learning activities and research activities, but some media and software companies are now trying to implement the education system that will replace the old one. Moreover, the future curriculum is no more focusing on mathematic and science, but provide the same priorities to technology, arts, culture, humanism, sports and language.

In the future, students will freely develop their social competencies, manage their own schedule that possibly support their growth to be truly one human being. This teaching learning system is providing the opportunity for the smart students to learn their most willingness subjects and even get their scholar before graduation. Respectively, the weak and slow learner students can study by themselves based on their own effort at home through interactive learning module without feeling shy to their friends.

Third, facilities and equipments resources tend to be similar, but class room is quite different because of radically changed from the previous models. The revolution change will start from the existing of international schools, then the privates and the public after then. Personal computer will play dominant role as it start from now on. Pupils operate computer and do some research through internet from the beginning. Here laptop and palmtop are parts of daily life in which students bring the teaching learning materials without bringing heavy printed books. This means that the development of world economy requires the switch of new generation mental attitude, as Renald Kasali says (2007) “from receiving to challenging, from adopting to producing”.

Forth, the opportunity of getting financial resource is widely open and not becoming part of mayor problem because of easily accessing to all the world through internet. At this time, the level of teaching learning materials exchange among the same schools will become so high in the form of world borderless societies. Here consequently the English language skill is unavoidable as the world class of communication, especially in digital era. The international school from other countries will be invited to Asia, especially the famous one in the strategy of developing creative thought.

1. D. TO FACE CHALLENGING AS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL

From the above world education illustration, will we still effort the job without following the changes of era? Humanly speaking, as a human being one can not separated from the need to develop in form of culture economy, politic and education. The operator now start replaced by the robotic, complicated design now done through computer, and CD contain of all accumulated knowledge at all skill, flexible working hour and short term contract as well as working through telecommunication networking replace the working hour from 09.00 WIB up to 17.00 WIB as we know today. Even the economic crisis speed up the erasing process of traditional working hour, by stating no more working by order. The company will see the result and a good and valuable staff are those who give added value. It means the company is no more seeking the right person at particular job, but as Jhon Hawkin says in his book the Rise of Creative Class (2007) “those who can find his self role play approaches and online with the companies’ need”.

Referring the concept of future education, consequently the education institution should focus on producing the truly man of action (insan khamil) personality with five basic efforts. Those five basic efforts according to Mr. Bambang Sudibiyo (2009); the ministry of national education consist of: managing qolb, managing thought, managing sense, managing words and managing physic. The five efforts are integrated factors that can not be separated each within their role of producing insane khamil. Managing qalb is needed for sharpening our trusty in making a decision. Managing thought is an application of Allah’s order in which the human beings are required to continually empower their thinking capacity and be innovative in real life efforts for optimum benefit at all creatures. Managing sense is the way to strengthen our empathy in order to be more taking care of others. Managing physic means to build strong and healthy life in facing all life phenomenon at cases. Managing words is the efforts of optimally using our thought, sense and qalb as well as speech tools being applied within the frame of writing and speaking capacity.

1. E. PUBLISING AS TO EDUATE, TO MOTIVATE AND TO EARN

The world of creative is dealing with the activity of soft skill in which Peter Drucker states as “the basic economic resources is no longer capital, nor natural resources, nor labor. It is and will be knowledge” (pp.36/2006). From this statement it concludes that publishing is not only assumed as creative solution of solving low people reading capacity, but it also will reduce the resistant of societies relate to the ability of controlling emotion out of fandalism conducts. In addition to the optimal role of education intellectual based institution “Publishing” as the birth place of creative people to produce manuscript is strongly approved the quality assurance of competency based education—from the practice of seeking, managing, producing and selling the manuscripts—which consequently within the steps there are economical value available there.

In order to support the publishing world as part of national creative industries, let’s see the publishing not only from the point of view the activities of producing printed or electronic products. The world of publishing dealing with the activities start from before beginning until after the end (Angus Phillip; director of Oxford Brookes International Centre for Publishing Studies, 2008). This statement is strengthened by Datus C Smith in his book A Guide to Book Publishing, with the word “…from Corpus Mysticum to Corpus Mechanicum.

To see the above root of thought from the business side, a founder of Gramedia Kompas Group, Mr. Yakob Utama, at one coffee morning (1996) the time when I was performing attachment era at Gramedia Ltd, told the key success of managing communication business is the communication itself. It means please let the one’s cognitive capacity freely run from feeling of fear because of affraidness from expressing ideas. Even though Frans Parera (head of IKAPINDO, 2006) at one meeting says “Do not manage publishing by management of feeling”. In book entitled “Mengungkap Rahasia Sukses Gramedia Make People Before Make Products, this management view is implemented through routine and regular open discussion among all level of management and staff. It is trustfully believed that everything to be done is fully understood when done after thinking throughout well planned as the business is not merely selling and getting profit.

From the above illustration of Indonesia publishing actors’ thought, it can be concluded soft skills plays dominant role in giving chain of hard skill activities known as knowledge capital (Willy.pp.37). So, it is wrong when we place the publishing world as the only setting and graphic arts as the printing only. Here factually setting, design and printing are un-separated integrated factors within the length of production process that should be followed in producing scripts as publishing raw materials.

Frankly speaking, almost all founders of national publishing industries are those who deserve in soft skill instead of hard skill. Let’s say for example, Yacob Utama (founder of Gramedia Kompas Group) with soft skill of history and language teacher. Sultan Takdir Alisyahbana (founder of Pikiran Rakyat) with soft skill man of literature, and Dalan Iskan or Surya Paloh (founders of Jawa Pos and Media Indonesia) with their soft skill of journalists. From the list of names, primarily shows that the contribution of knowledge based capital has strong potential capability in facing multi dimensional crisis comparing to other industries, then should be considered to continually support as the domain factor in increasing state income generation.

But, what is actually happened? Within the world of education the existing of national publishing actors that their works are widely known all over the world seems to be not enough arising our dignity (if not to tell PeDe or self confidence) toward the academic nuance by establishing publishing schools as found in Malaysia under the organization of University Malaya.

1. F. SUMMARY—THE WAY BANTEN SCOUT SEE THE WORLD PHENOMENON

The publishing world is not growing significantly in Indonesia. The more developed one country the more developed the publishing industries. The world of publishing is the world which relates to the intellectual bases instead of financial and social bases. As an intellectual bases activities it tends to approach more the brain-ware capital without annoying financial and social aspects. Based on this concept, Rasulullah Muhammad SAW declared that 9 from 10 income indoor derives from business activities. But however, very small number of people choose his career in business. Of course we should realize that not all people will become businessman. It is sunnatulllah one to be businessman on the other become workers. The question is why we should choose.

As the icon of motive, from 222 billion of Indonesian citizens (2007), the number of jobless was about 11 million with the poor around 37 million people. Even from the global view, as it is published by Key Indicator 2007 in Beijing (Merdeka Thursday August 9, 2007) assumed that the poor were mostly disappeared. The research showed that since 1999-2004 in China the expenditure of 20% rich people reaches 180% monthly, whereas the poor is only 20%. On the other hand, in Indonesia from 1999 to 2002, the growth of income 20% rich people reached 34%, whereas the poor was only 10% to 15%. The wide social economy handicaps among the rich and the poor is strongly indicated by the poor of knowledge as shown from the number of books published. From the sequence list of book published China-Malaysia-Vietnam-Indonesia with each number of people 1.3 million-26 million-80 million-220 million, produce books each yearly 140.000 titles, 10.000 titles, 15.000 titles, and 10.000 titles.

Assuming that national indicator reflects the local one, the question is what to do to help Banten’s societies in numbering 9.351.470 people. With the concept of starting form our own (ibda’ binafsi) Banten Scout tries to face the world phenomenon based on the research not only as the sleeping document but moreover used as the resource of action by establishing creative school named “B’SCOUT CREATIVE SCHOOL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP (BCSE).

Learning from the document “Banten Dalam Angka 2006, the school is expected to accelerate the positive effect toward the development of about 3.370.182 (36.04%) children, 240.742 (2.57%) old people and 5.740.546 (62.39%) people with age 15 to 64 year old. This non formal institution moreover is expected to support the rise of potential economy derive from the creative class that widely known in Gross Domestic Income 2005 came from production (49.75%), trade hotel and restaurant (17,13%), transportation and communication (8.58%) and agriculture (8.53). While from the job receptive, the contribution come from industry (23.11%), agriculture (21.14%), trade (20.84%), transportation and communication (9.50%).

In order to wisely answer all above phenomenon, the existing of BCSE is the one creative and innovative solution for the youngsters as a medium bridge to global business network. Throughout the institution, the youngsters are scouted from the step of finding and digging talent till establishing and managing business. Furthermore, the institution is the form of real contribution Banten’s Scout within the effort of realizing its vision “Menjadi Organisasi Pandu Pembelajar yang Perduli di Banten” and its strategy “Aktif Meningkatkan Potensi Diri, Progresif Menebar Manfaat Bagi Negeri”.

Finally let’s become part of unity within diversity where the scout movement organization is willing to make creative, productive and innovative young-net generation in facing next time challenging era. The rich and huge Indonesian natural resources with no good management touch is the key factor that becoming an entrepreneur is the wise and strategic choice nowadays.

References

Badan Statistik Daerah. 2005: Banten Dalam Angka. Pemerintah Daerah Propinsi Banten.

Howkins, John.2002: The Creative Economy. How people make money from ideas. England. Penguin Book.

Lim Kok Wing (2009): International recognition for Limkokwing’s new vision for global education. Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Malaysia.

Majalah B’Creative. 2008: Berita Banten dalam Angka. Gerakan Kepanduan Hizbul Wathan Kwartir Wilayah Banten.

Tickoo, Makhan L., tran. 1995. Reading and Writing: Theory into Practice. Singapore:SEAMEO Regional Language Centre.

Tim Studi, Depdag. 2007: Studi Industri Kreatif. Empat belas sector Industri kreatif nasional yang akan dikembangkan. Departemen Perdagangan RI.

Wray, Alison Kate Trott, Aileen Bloomer, Shirley Reay, and chris Butler. 1990. Project in Linguistic: A practical guide to researching language. London: Arnold.

Obama’s speech : Skepticism vs Optimism

By. ZALZULIFA (student’s assignment supervised by lecturer : DR. Abdul Mukti)

This article is about my proposal on facing skepticism and optimism in Obama’s commitment to be a problem solver in facing the issue of unity within diversity among the west and the east part of the world. My proposal is of course based on the critical analysis of Obama’s speech at Cairo University, 2009 supported by some comments of political actors that have been published through electronic and printed media. During the American Presidency’s election (2008), an ex Chairman of Muhammadiyah Centre Amien Rais at once Metro TV’s interview ever reminded the Indonesia citizen not to be over optimistic and over pessimistic to Obama’s competency in making unity among diversity especially toward Islamic perception in the world. Amien’s comment of course derived from the Obama’s silence in looking at Israel’s barbaric holocaust to Palestinians during three months before the end of George’s Bush Presidency. The world communities showed how Israel neglected the world’s voice even it came from the United Nation Organization, the Israel’s army continually killed thousand people consisting of woman, man, kids and youngster by using sophisticated war weapons in responding traditional rocket of Palestenians who have been struggling for getting peace life at their own land. Seeing this it is warmly understood why Amien suggested Indonesian citizen as a big amount of Islamic world to be rational instead of emotional in waiting the Obama’s step of actions.

Learning from Obama’s speech at Cairo University, on June 4th, 2009 it can be summarized into seven parts, such as: violent extremism, the Israeli/Palestinian dispute, nuclear weapon with a reference to Iran, democracy, religious freedom, woman, and economic development. The president Obama opened his speech seeking a common ground between Muslims and the USA, quoting from the Quran “Be conscious of God and always speak the truth”. In general, Obama’s speech called for improved mutual understanding and relations between the Islamic world and the West. He said both should do more to confront violent extremism. However, it was Obama’s call for peace between Israel and Palestinians that cut the highest profile. Obama reaffirmed America’s alliance with Israel by saying their mutual bond “unbreakable”, but he also described Palestinian statelessness as “intolerable” and recognizing their aspirations for statehood and dignity as legitimate—just as legitimate as Israel’s desire for a Jewish homeland.1 The speech was highly anticipated and generally acclaimed by the Muslim world, approved through critical comments of both skepticism and optimism.

Let’s see first from skeptical view. That is on 3 June, Al-Qaeda released a video in which Osama Bin Laden strongly criticized Obama’s foreign policy in the Middle East, saying that “Barack Obama followed the steps of his predecessor in antagonizing Muslims … and laying the foundation for long wars.” He also added that “Obama and his administration have sowed new seeds of hatred against America.” One day before, a video of Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri was posted to extremist websites, in which the leader criticized Obama’s policy, declaring “his bloody messages were received and are still being received by Muslims, and they will not be concealed by public relations campaigns or by farcical visits or elegant words.”2 President Obama was also criticized by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who delivered a speech in the 20th anniversary of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, a few hours before Barack Obama’s speech. He commented on the pending U.S. President’s speech declaring: “The nations of this part of the world… deeply hate America. Even if they give sweet and beautiful [speeches] to the Muslim nation that will not create change. Action is needed.”3

After seeing from the skeptical view, then let’s see from the optimism view. It was Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas described the speech as “clear and frank… an innovative political step.” Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhum also welcomed the speech, saying “It had many contradictions, all the while reflecting tangible change”. Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League, hailed the speech, saying it “was balanced and offered a new vision of rapprochement regarding relations with Islamic states.”4 Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the speech was “direct, significant and brave appeal in which President Obama elucidated his vision and important universal principles, which he wishes to share with the Muslim world”, and Israeli President Shimon Peres said the speech was “full of vision, a brave speech demanding a commitment to hard work on all sides involved in the promotion of the peace process in the Middle East…The idea of peace was born in the Middle East as the basis of the three monotheistic religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam – and the sons of Abraham must join hands in order to take on this challenge together, a sustainable peace in the Middle East.”5

Most commentators, especially in the Middle Eastern press welcomed Obama‘s speech, hoping it would lay the ground for concrete action. Particularly from Brussels, Javier Solana, European Union Common Foreign and Security Policy chief, praised the speech saying “It was a remarkable speech, a speech that without any doubt is going to open a new page in the relation with the Arab-Muslim world and I hope in the problems we have in so many theatres in the region.5 ” United Nations Secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon spoke of “the opening of a new chapter in relations between the United States and the Islamic world.” The Vatican also welcomed the speech saying it “went beyond political formulas, evoking concrete common interests in the name of a common humanity”6

Nevertheless the Obama’s speech, I think we should consider rational in order to build mutual understanding among all civilizations in the world. So that’s why I agree with what Amien says at the beginning, let’s wait and see the real steps of Obama. One thing that support our mind is the willingness of Obama showed in his speech approves as the new generation spirit of American people. Last but not least, putting our medium site of position doesn’t mean that we are unstable or hypocrite, but it is typically of Islamic lesson in order to be ummatan washatan as Muhammadiyah often plays it’s role at every moment in facing conflicts. So that is Muhammadiyah’s ideology, God will bless and pray for Obama’s life and safety. Bravo Obama! Keep continuing your effort! and share welfare all over the world.

GranezhaPubly

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