There’s been great hesitation to write this post.
I thought about letting it wash over but it’s a topic that hits too close to home. Literally.
I happened to be at the office the other day for a brief visit.
Being in sales, my primary aim is to be out on the road 90% of the time and to only drop by the office to pick up materials or attend meetings.
The other day, I realized why this was so good for me.
There’s no need to deal on a daily basis with people I would consider idiots.
Starting up an innocent conversation with a colleague about holidays, I tell her we’re planning an extra long one at the end of the year.
To Bali.
“Oh, I don’t know how you could possibly even think about supporting that country…”
THAT country.
Well, first of all, Bali is an island, I felt like saying.
Don’t state your opinion when your obvious ignorance is hindering you from getting the facts right.
Secondly, she’s obviously not a friend of mine on Facebook otherwise she would’ve seen this post.
So, consider her unfriended in real life.
From an Australian Indonesian’s point of view – who holds both countries with deep affection and allegiance, how does it make me feel when says something like:
“Gosh, why would you support that country?”
Because I have family there. I was born there. For a while, I was raised there.
And above all, my children have heritage there.
But we need to stick to the facts and not pile the problems into the “one country” pigeon hole.
No one’s country is perfect. Especially their government.
Not all Indonesians are cruel and heartless.
And for those who insist on boycotting Bali or vowing to never step foot in Indonesia, as far as I can see, that’s an attitude that only feeds the already existing anger.
For those who demand that we stop foreign aid to Indonesia, this is only going to harm those who need it most.
How is it going to stop Joko Widodo and his government from conducting further heinous acts and breaking basic human rights?
How can #istandformercy if I don’t stand compassion for the innocent and the poor?
The Indonesian/Australian relationship has held a long, complicated history, politically, socially, economically and culturally.
Two countries that are so close regionally but worlds apart culturally.
I ask that for those who are upset with what’s going on to take on the specific facts.
Get angry with the Indonesian government, not its people.
Get annoyed with how the Australian government who should’ve started lobbying 10 years ago when all of the Bali 9 were at high risk of being executed rather than only knee jerking when the death penalty becomes urgent and real.
Sign this change.org petition to stop the AFP sharing information regarding death penalty cases.
One more thing I ask?
If you hear me saying I’m going to Indonesia, to my home, to comfort my family who have gone through their own tragedy and sadness these two years, just support my decision.
Wish me a safe trip. Wish my family well.
Joining Essentially Jess for #IBOT
I don’t support the death penalty at all, anywhere. I do find the boycott odd, considering no one boycotts the US and they’d had more recent executions (Nor Vietnam and Singapore who in recent years executed Australians, but our media was less interested in reporting those).
That all said, it’s all so terribly sad.
Lydia C. Lee recently posted..Enjoy the singing.
I think the whole ‘boycott Bali’ thing is stupid. You are right in that it’s the governments to blame and not countries. And if we we wanted to take it up another level, if people want to boycott Bali/Indonesia for enforcing the death penalty, I can tell them 99 other countries in the world they should also boycott. America being one of them.
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life recently posted..Self doubt
Yes it is sad for the families who have just their beloved ones through capital punishment for a crime that they obviously knowingly committed. They went into the country of Indonesia to commit a crime that was and has always been punishable by death.
We have just returned from a short getaway to Bali and are planning on returning for our annual holiday later in the year. Grace you have a lovely holiday and enjoy catching up with your family, the Balinese are still very lovely people.
Sally@Toddlers on Tour recently posted..My Garuda Indonesia Review (with kids)
Beautifully put Grace. Boycotting Bali only hurts the Balinese and their families.
Kaz @ Melting Moments recently posted..Little Crate – Kid’s Craft Activities Delivered to Your Door {Review and Giveaway}
Such a sensible point of view Grace. Bali has never been on my ‘go to’ list, but I wouldn’t consider boycotting it either. Some arguments are so totally one sided, but so many people only see through their blinkers don’t they.
Wishing you a safe and beautiful trip x
JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter) recently posted..What makes you feel guilty?
Totally agree. Imagine if people stopped coming to Australia because of our treatment of asylum seekers? We’d be outraged. Not to mention that it would have no affect on the treatment of asylum seekers anyway, so would serve no purpose.
Enjoy your holiday later this year Grace. You deserve it x
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Hope you guys have a good time on holidays and enjoy spending time with your family x
I’m not even going to comment on the executions because I think its had enough air time already.
Toni @ Finding Myself Young recently posted..Mummy Must Have Review | Papercake foil prints
Great post. I don’t believe you can blame a nation / its people for the decisions of those in power.
Deb
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Dont let this silly woman’s opinion stop you from making the most of your trip to Bali. I wish you a safe trip and your extended family all the best.
Mumabulous recently posted..What I’ve Learned From TV
It’s always a hard decision to make if you want to go to a country that does something you don’t agree with. But what country do people agree with 100%? I sure as heck don’t agree with everything the Australian government does (FAR from it) but I’m not boycotting living here.
Life just isn’t black & white.
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Some people just do not think before they speak, do they? You’re very lucky to be on the road so much and not have to deal with idiots all of the time. One of my best friends has married an Indonesian and she’s lived there for quite a few years now. I wasn’t able to make it to their wedding unfortunately, but I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about the country and its people. Their dream is to set up a retreat in Bali. I hope that dream comes true for them. Great post, Grace. #teamIBOT
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So many people jump on the bandwagon with opinions and actually have no idea of anythign that actually goes behind supporting (or not) what they are saying. Idiots! Count down the days to your trip back to Bali!
Malinda @mybrownpaperpackages recently posted..Hiking in Sapa Vietnam
Can’t agree more…well said, Grace..and you’re right, no country is perfect! Don’t let some narrow minded people break those beatiful historical ties with your beloved families and homeland. Have a great holiday…
Indah Nuria savitri recently posted..Revisiting Tanjung Putus, Lampung, Indonesia
I hope you have the best of times there Grace and enjoy spending some much needed time with your family x
Kirsty @ My Home Truths recently posted..Family Holiday A to Z: Quiet Time
I know for a little while there, (years ago) it seemed unsafe to go to Bali, because there were rumours that you could have drugs planted on you. Now I realise how naive that was.
I’ve said this to you before, and I nearly wrote a post on it myself, but #ISTANDFORMERCY can not be one way. Mercy, like love, is unconditional, and given when it’s not deserved. If you think the country of ‘Bali ‘(giggling at that) is unworthy, that’s your issue, but at least stand by your hashtag and extend mercy anyway.
(And to clarify, I don’t think it’s unworthy in the least, I’m just saying for those who use that as an argument.)
Enjoy your holiday Grace. You deserve it. xx
EssentiallyJess recently posted..The Squirrels, The Bandicoots, and the Wise Old Badger #IBOT
I felt physically ill at the news those young men had been taken out and shot. The opinion of some seems to be ‘Well, they knew there was a penalty of death in Bali for drug smuggling, so tough’. Where is the mercy in a statement like that?! Young people think they are invincible. They make stupid mistakes. Youth and greed are a horrible combination that can lead to deadly consequences. Personally, I also believe in the power of redemption, and the endeavours these young men made in the following decade, and the achievements they managed in prison, should have counted for SOMETHING. As should the fact that their clients should have carried level of responsibility. No demand, no supply, as well as vise versa. Surely that was enough to at least spare their lives…?! Apparently not. And even if I believed in the death penalty for offences such as they were found guilty of(which I don’t), the manner in which they were executed was little more than barbaric and seems like such an archaic, out-dated and horrific way to carry out an execution…
I think the idea of ‘boycotting Bali’ came about more because people feel like they needed to take a stand and have their opinion of those executions made known. Many of us who felt morally outraged at both the fact that Indonesia went ahead with the executions of those young men, and with the manner in which they were executed, felt almost completely powerless to express our opinions. With Joko Widodo refusing to yield to the pleas for clemency from people of political power, ‘Boycotting Bali’ seemed to some, a possible answer. It seemed like an action that MAY cause the Indonesian government to understand the common people’s level of grief and disgust.
But just as #ISTAND FOR MERCY, I also believe in the basic goodness of most people. I am sure that there are many good people in Bali, as Grace herself, having family and friends there, knows well.
If there was a great human tragedy there(as with the Tsunami), I would gladly donate to the humanitarian effort.
Personally, I will not be visiting Bali. I do not have any family ties with that country that could call me there, and there are many other places I could choose to visit. I cannot force myself to look past the actions of Joko Widodo and his government and I do not want to put anything back into his country’s economy(and yes, I know it is not HIS economy, but still…). Call it a naive, pointless stand, but I WANT to make a stand. Because it feels like it is all I can do.
How incredibly hard it must be to be surrounded by such bigots, one of the joys of working at home is that I have no one else’s POV to put up with! xx
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Will miss you Mama G! You know I’ll always wish you well so this time I’ll just say…pasalubong! (Filipino for gift you bring back from a trip). A batik skirt or MC hammer pants hahaha!
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Happy Holidays! Hope you have a ball in Bali! Enjoy the family time xx
Sammie @ The Annoyed Thyroid recently posted..Wednesday Words of Wisdom – A Smile a Day
Gosh! A person with blinkers on obviously. What a stupid thing to say but unfortunately I have heard it a lot of late. x
Karin @ Calm to Conniption recently posted..Top Apps for Toddlers
for a start, I can’t believe how some people are so blatantly ignorant and rude. Get the facts people!
I honestly can’t see how boycotting and punishing the people of Bali will do any good at all. A country that relies on tourism so much could easily be crippled by knee-jerk reactions like this.
You’ll enjoy the time with your family, as you should Grace xx
Lisa@RandomActsOfZen recently posted..What’s Your Dream? // Lisa Jane Humphries
Totally agree with your point of view Grace. Blame the Government – not the people. I don’t agree with Capital Punishment. I don’t agree with the decision made by Joko Widodo. I stand for mercy! I do not blame the people of Indonesia for this decision and I wouldn’t consider any kind of boycott. I do not agree with LOTS of decisions made by our own Prime Minister. I do not agree with how asylum seekers are treated in our country. Governments make bad decisions. Don’t blame the people! I wish you a safe, happy and wonderful trip!! xo
Min@WriteoftheMiddle recently posted..(Tassie Trip) Day 2 – Hobart
Nice article from this web, Im from indonesia.bali its the best number one