Islam = Cultural Genocide

The performers of the jaipongan, a Sundanese traditional dance, now have to change their costume and type of performance on stage. Besides covering up their bodies, dancers are also asked to make their moves more modest. "Exposed parts of the body should be covered," said Herdiwan Iing Suranta, West Java Culture and Tourism chief, contacted by Tempo in Bandung yesterday.

According to Herdiwan, the request came from West Java governor, Ahmad Heryawan, as conveyed to West Java Culture Office official, Wawan Ridwan. "During the hand over, Wawan conveyed the governor's message," Herdiwan said.

Herdiwan confirmed the information yesterday, following the issue concerning the ban on jaipongan dance in West Java. The issue upset many dance artists in Bandung.

Herdiwan said the governor did not directly give him the instruction, however, the previous official conveyed the governor's mandate specifically to him.

Other than covering the "bare shoulders' of the costume, the dancers should also reduce the hip movements in the dance. "It's like reducing just 10 percent of the movement. It won't affect the beauty of the dance," Herdiwan said.

The controversial pornography law has been blasted for targeting cultural heritage, after West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan used it as a legal basis to forbid Jaipong dancers from wearing "sexy" costumes and executing "provocative" dance moves.

Herdiwan said he agreed with the mandate, pointing out that the government was not banning jaipongan, but only reminded that some groups in the community feel uncomfortable with the bare parts of the dancers' body and the demonstrative hip movements. "It is not to discourage the artists' creativity," he said.

The West Java administration's ban has prompted severe criticism from artists and legislators who blast it as a move to curb the traditional arts and culture of local people.

Bandung-born singer and dancer Dewi Gita said she did not see the need for the administration to delve into the matter when there were so many other problems affecting the province, including floods, poverty and expensive education.

"You see, Jaipong has nearly vanished. It is our unique heritage and we should do our best to keep it alive. But instead of supporting the internationally recognized dance, the authorities encourage its extinction," she said.

Dewi, who traveled the world performing Jaipong in the 1990s, said that in the pre-reform era, she could travel abroad five times a year to perform, and always won huge praise from overseas audiences. But now, she said, a once-a-year international performance was considered lucky.

"Jaipong has nothing to do with pornography, it's merely a cultural expression. The dance is actually derived from the traditional ketuk tilu dance, which is a way that girls attract boys in Sundanese traditional customs. No wonder, the girl must be provocative and sexy," she said.

Noted Sundanese artist Gugum Gumbira created Jaipong to help indigenous dance and music compete with Western popular shows, after then president Sukarno in 1961 banned rock and roll and other Western music.

Although an urban dance, Jaipong is based primarily on village forms of ketuk tilu and on pencak silat, the Indonesian martial arts.

Yes some groups in the community feel uncomfortable with the bare parts of the dancers' body and the demonstrative hip movements.

Yet in Java, the same as all over the muslim world in the predawn darkness, Starting as early as 3.30 in the morning, a muezzin (ascended in the minaret of the neighborhood mosque) calls out in all directions to the faithful to kneel on their prayer carpets, face towards Mecca, and say their prayers to Allah. The mosques are so numerous and spread out here that there isn't a direction you can go in and not hear them. They do these mandatory prayers (salah) five times a day.



To me the most beautiful times are totally destroyed by some fungus faced Cleric hollering the call for prayer sounds like someone is standing on his nuts and that he was begging for someone to put him out of his misery

I've found that sitting at any elevated place at sunrise or sunset is a pretty, spiritual and cosmic experience. No music or chanting is really necessary. It makes you realize we are tiny little beings sitting on a planet in a vast ocean of space-time.

Obama said the Muslim call to prayer is "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."

Obama keeps saying "The Arabic Call to Prayer is the most beautiful sound on Earth"

Obama recited the Muslim call to prayer, the Adhan, "with a first-class [Arabic] accent.

Obama chanted it with pride and finesse.

Wake up, this cacophonous attack is heading your way, you are already being softened up with bile like Desert Rose.

How long before this shit hits you between the ears.