Can We Move On Now?

While having the world’s largest Muslim population, Indonesia has been somewhat consistently practicing a loose form of Islam. Headscarves on women hasn’t really gone mainstream until recently. At the same time, acceptance for “uncovered” women is not changed at all. Men and women enjoy basically the same freedoms, unlike in Saudi Arabia and Taliban Afghanistan. Segregation of men and women is unheard of, except for doing salat prayers. However, some issues do make some waves in the country’s Muslims: one recurrent issue is Indonesia’s participation in Miss Universe beauty pageant, and its swimwear session.

Organizations claiming to represent Islam continue to protest our Putri Indonesia (PI) for participating in the “sinful” act, asserting that it goes against Islamic teaching. If I’m not mistaken, one organization went further in the past, suing Putri Indonesia and Putri Indonesia Foundation for either making pornographic material or indecent act. Parts of the society also cited “Eastern values” and “Indonesian norms” as reasons to why no Indonesian woman should be photographed in bikinis, or take part in the first place.

Before making fun of those flimsy arguments, I should lay down my own views on this matter: wearing bikinis for the beach is as normal as wearing the mukena for doing salat prayers. The right outfit for the right occasion. (Hopefully on the right person too - Dorce in bikinis is just not healthy.) Frankly, it makes much more sense than those middle-aged women who goes to the beach in full Lebaran attire. Moreover, the PIs donned their bikinis at their own discretion. It is fully their decision. They know that PI winners will be sent to the Miss Universe contest; Miss Universe contestants are required to do the shoot. No one’s rights are being violated here.

Now, let’s move on to the first bite. Islamic figures and organizations reject the event since it flouts their teachings. Even if it does, so what? After all, it is only their views, to which they are entitled and to which we can pay no attention. In a broader scope, as a human, each person has the freedom to practice his/her religion according to his/her faith. If a girl believes that bikinis won’t burn her in hell, it is totally up to her. Even the state cannot interfere, let alone mere figures and groups.

In my point of view of Islam, the last time I checked, there is no such thing as the vicar of Allah on Earth. No Muslim has religious authority over other Muslims, even if his/her name is changed into Arabic staple names and adorned with titles like sheikh, kiai, ustaz, or habib. Similarly, MUI’s or FPI’s or anyone’s fatwa has no real power on anyone. Otherwise, it would violate the freedom to practice one’s religion freely, which Islam itself acknowledges.

Next, the phrases “Eastern values” and/or “Indonesian norms” is as discombobulating to me as Mbah Surip: everybody talks about it, yet it remains a mystery. The real meaning of “Western trends/ideas” is also unclear; it became more of a cliché than an evil, thanks to Ahmadinejad. Those phrases are frequently abused to resist any kind of new stuffs. Victims include more freedom in friendship, better sexual education, and sharper presidential debate. They all had to brave the “Eastern values” storm, before either being widely accepted or being completely rejected. Until now, Putri Indonesia and her bikini are still floating on the raging wave of public opinion.

Instead of delineating what “Eastern values”, “Indonesian norms” are, fans of those phrases are making the impression that they all mean “oppression”. On the other hand, “Western ideas” stands for wild freedom. Yet, they never try to show what “Indonesian norms” do, what good are “Eastern values” for, and what on Earth are included in the “Western ideas” category. On the grounds of fuzziness, I think the phrases –and their users- deserve no attention at all. If you do have some thoughts on “Eastern values”, “Indonesian norms”, and “Western ideas”, do not hesitate to enlighten me.

One last question, “Can’t we just move one, like, now?” Indonesia has been sending delegates to Miss Universe for several years now. When it’s spanking new, I can understand the outrage; but now, I understand that people can be foolish. Let our present and future gorgeous Putri Indonesia’s make her own choices because at the end of the day, you can make your own choices too. Don’t approve of bikinis? Just change the channel. Don’t approve of beauty pageants? Well, stop paying so much attention! It’s so simple, even Tukul can do it.