Jennie S. Bev

Center

Center for Minority, Gender and Human Rights' Web site is currently being designed. It is a pending 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in California. It will publish monthly articles (posted and as PDF file) and annual anthology (in print and in PDF).

The center focuses on minority, gender, and human rights issues in Indonesia. Its scope will eventually be expanded to cover other regions worldwide.

Thank you for supports from dear colleagues (alphabetically based on last name):

Aimee Dawis
Patrick Guntensperger
Soe Tjen Marching
Dede Oetomo
Bramantyo Prijosusilo

Change

Change has come and gone gradually.
Now a few big ones are coming.
We need to enjoy the ride and keep smiling no matter how hard they could be.

No highs, no lows.
As they all are mere constructions of thoughts.

Just different.
Just changing.

Charles Handy once said, "Change is not inevitable. We can influence it, if we know what we want it to be." Now let's do it.

Peace Writer

Yesterday I received a great news that I was selected as one of four 2009 Peace Writers for Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at University of San Diego. (Related post: here.)

It is a new beginning and it is good timing. After a few huge losses, it's about time to flip it into a few huge blessings. Given San Diego's blue sky and inviting beaches, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy this post a lot. I can also visit those panda cubs as often as I want to.

A good friend forwarded the announcement and I thought, "Hey, looks like something I can get into." So, thanks a lot amigo, I owe you one cup of Joe and a big buffet dinner or lunch. I would like to thank another friend who has been very kind and supportive in my endless pursuits of truth, understanding, and perfection.

Of course, a big chunk of gratitude goes to hubby, mom, grandma, and my late grandpa who believe in me and my decisions. And the one and only God, whoever he or she might be ("the bilateral and unisex" God).

Pursuit

It is never easy to choose. Now it's time to choose again. What to learn? What to advance? What to expand? What to delve deeper?

In the midst of three important examinations and three books to write, I have to decide what to pursue. Anything related to communications, writing, human rights, and peace. For sure.

And this time around, I'll work things out a bit differently due to re-focusing lifelong goals.

Add

Add me to your FaceBook on my Author's page. Thanks.

New beginning

I'm considering to pursue another doctorate. This second time around would be a PhD. Why? Isn't a DBA good enough and is as good as a PhD?

It has nothing to do with others' perceptions of it; it has everything to do with my lifelong goals.

The economic downturn has made me re-considered priorities in life. I have lost six-figure in savings and investments. I could have used it for many many more meaningful things. I just let the funds sit there and evaporated.

Money comes and goes. It took me a few months to get a grip of this bitter reality. Ten years of sweat and hard work in dollar terms have gone.  But I learned the lessons really well.

Life is a series of impermanence, just like when I lost my unborn baby in September 2008. By this time (July 2009), the baby should have been born, if she had survived the pregnancy.

2008 was the year of losses. But it was also the beginning of my personal renaissance. And obtaining another doctorate is a symbolic action to commence a new beginning.

In the last ten years, I have been focusing on financial pursuit more than anything else. Now it's time for me to resurrect from the dust and be stronger internally.

No more tears, as tears weaken.
Anger strengthens.
Calmness produces.
Tranquility brings clarity.

We bring renaissance to ourselves, not the other way around.

Done my best

I applied for this program. They are looking for 4 peace writers to be matched with 4 peace makers. It is a 12-week writing program, which is some sort of a fellowship (but they prefer to refer it as a "peace making program"). Each of those 4 pairs will need to produce a narrative paper of 30-80 pages chronicling the peace maker's activism journey.

In my application, I included a narrative paper based on my own activism and life journey in addition to a personal statement. Two letters of recommendation also accompanied the package: one from a former supervisor with whom I worked as an adjunct professor of college paper and essay writing and one from an NGO I volunteered. One of my books, an anthology, was submitted as an evidence of analytical writing competence. Also included was a lengthy and detailed resume emphasizing academic, professional, and writing credentials.

I truly hope that I'd get accepted because I believe in building mutual understanding among peoples. I've been doing it with or without their program, but an opportunity to learn from like-minded peers is priceless.

The final selection interview has been completed this afternoon and I showed my enthusiasm. I hope the interviewers sensed it too, as I believe my contribution will be quite meaningful to fellow peace makers and writers. I was one out of 7 finalists competing for 4 spots. I'm probably the only one whose English is not mother tongue and the only one born, raised, and partially educated in Indonesia.

Erika and Dee, the interviewers, said that if I don't get selected it is not because of my credentials, which they thought were quite impressive already, but most likely due to unmatchability with selected peace makers.

I've done my best, now I just need to hope for the best.

Stop

We chase a lot of stuff. Modern people do that. Until they hit a brick wall. A really thick one.

We blame a lot of stuff. Others. The system. The corruption. The unethicals. The criminals. The foes. The people who call themselves our "friends."

We hate a lot of stuff. Others. Ourselves. The Universe. God.

Now stop. And be.

Enough

We all live with aspirations, hopes, wishes, and desires. Sometimes many of them are so unreachable, either too high or too low. (Mostly too high, though.)

We see ourselves through distorted lenses, which are responsible for narcissism and self hate. Euphoria and depression.

Finding balance between the two is key. Have you found it?

When you have, you will feel comfortable and free. Enough.

Bow

The essence of religion is humility. Something or somebody with absolute power has absoluteness over you. Without having humility, one would find it hard to bow and to surrender.

It is always hard to bow especially for those who consider themselves intelligent and highly educated. In some cultures, bowing has lost its meanings, as it has become a daily gesture just like waving or smiling.

Religions remind us to bow mindfully. Of course, unless one has reached a point where he or she does it on auto-pilot mode.

We should train our minds to bow. We should train our hearts to be humble. No matter how high we have reached. No matter how great we have become.

Bow. Be humble.