Jennie M. Xue

A call to arms against bigotry and the politics of amnesia

by Jennie S. Bev 

As part of international efforts to commemorate the Rwandan genocide, a New York-based group is calling for the United Nations to declare April as Genocide Prevention Month. Here at home, next month will bring the 11th anniversary of the Jakarta Tragedy Riots in May 1998. Crimes against humanity occur every day around the world, and we need to remind ourselves of the root causes of such problems and consider ways to work on solutions.

Let me begin with myself. Being born a female of a minority ethnic group and a member of a minority religious group in Indonesia has put me in the “triple minority” category. While Indonesia’s population has almost equal numbers of males and females, the latter are still considered to be a minority due to their marginalization in civic and political spheres despite some recent symbolic advancements, such as a quota in the legislature.

Lifting moratoriums and loan restructuring hope

by Jennie S. Bev

The foreclosure moratorium, which basically banned foreclosure sales and evictions for mortgages funded and securitized by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ended on March 31. It came with many consequences: the good, the bad and the sexy. Loan restructuring is the last resort for most homeowners, but why is nobody getting any?

Some have taken the liberty of extending foreclosure moratorium. The state of New York is processing a bill that would extend the moratorium to one full year, and Marshall & Ilsley Corp. announced it has extended its foreclosure moratorium with an additional 90 days through June 30.

Fannie and Freddie owned and securitized half of the $12 trillion mortgage market. Lifting this ban means homes lining up for the foreclosure process are set loose speedily. This would create an enormous supply nationwide.

On the carpenter and resurrection

by Jennie S. Bev

Two millennia ago, a simple man from Nazareth made his debut in the world of politics and religion by starting a minuscule Jewish sect.

Jesus was a humble man whose values and virtues were remarkable. He was inspiring to all mankind, and Christians believe that he was divine, rising after his death on the day now referred to as Easter Sunday.

In search of radical public intellectuals

by Jennie S. Bev

Contrary to popular belief, academics are intellectuals but not all intellectuals are academics. Additionally, not all intellectuals are known to the public, and not all public intellectuals are radical.

Radical intellectuals can be found somewhere between university classes and writing and research gigs. They might even be unemployed and possess no Harvard or University of Indonesia PhDs. They are usually those who possess strong opinions but stay on the sidelines. They are iconoclasts, critics and polemicists.