Wednesday, January 26, 2011

GADO GADO ALA INDONESIA

What are the things that make gado-gado become a delicious meal? The answer: peanut sauce. Not rebusnya vegetables, eggs were not an option, and not the choice of potatoes. But the peanut sauce. Are we aware that without the peanut sauce, gado-gado is only a collection of boiled vegetables, eggs, and potatoes that have no meaning. How high was the quality of the ingredients.
And gado-gado Boplo is one of the many hodgepodge that I like. Peanut sauce just right. Peanut was fitting. Not too broken, and not too rough. Sometimes there's a jumble of peanut sauce that was too shattered. So mushy beans that are too thin.
I do not know, but maybe this is under the conscious understanding of our society when 'create' dish called gado-gado this. Understanding of the needs of a 'peanut sauce' that can define a nation called Indonesia. The problem is, 'peanut sauce' that fits up to now has not been realized. Whereas 'peanut sauce' is supposed to be a common thread that unites the various differences in Indonesia. Where did the arrival of 'bean sauce' for Indonesia may be different with gado-gado. But the idea of 'bean sauce' as a common thread Indonesian identity is a necessity.
Some time ago I read a book written by John Rawls, titled "Political Liberalism". There is one interesting inspiration, and perhaps could be the 'peanut sauce' for Indonesia. That is by pushing for the establishment of a consensus - an agreement about Indonesia. Consensus is not imposed, but realized gradually, in a long time, through the action-reaction in the community interaction. The key to the realization of 'bean sauce' is: the reason an action taken by members of the public, must be accepted by other community members.
Take for example the busway, for example. Could the reason of the act of a community member who barged busway lane received by other members of society? If the reason is an emergency, such as ambulances, would be accepted by other community members. But if the reason just to avoid traffic jams? Of course there are community members who will not accept this excuse. Mainly those in the busway.
Dialogue and debate is crucial here. Dialogue and debate to achieve a 'Sensibility' of the reason an action. In our lives too often we do this. Only too often we do not see this method as a best way to solve social problems. For me, only through dialogue and debate like this, 'peanut sauce' of gado-gado Indonesia can be created. Not by force, intimidation, or a 'show of force'. We have enough experience with using violence and intimidation in trying to create a red thread Indonesianness.
Dialogue and debate is what should have been developed in Indonesia. Of course, with directions for creating this thread. And not only dialogue and debate 'for the sake of Itself'. Most importantly, is the state's role to facilitate, rather than co-opt this process.

1 comment:

  1. Agree with you.. the one that makes the taste different is the sauce.

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