This interview was done on March 12th, 2002 at the Internet Outpost in Kuta, Bali in Indonesia. Endah Kismiwahyumi and Ika Kiloalpa are both clerks at the Internet cafe. Ika, a Hindu, and Endah, a Muslim, are the best of friends, and personify the communal bonds on Bali that bind all its inhabitants together.
FASOTE: What are your thoughts on the United States of America, either spiritually or politically?
ENDAH: Personally, I like the country. You are the most powerful country in the world. But, honestly, I don't like the president, I don't like Bush at all. He has a personal problem with Saddam Hussein, but he is using the world's name, the people's name, to fight a war that is for his own purposes.
IKA: I have to agree with Endah. I like America - I want to go there.
FASOTE: Why?
ENDAH: Because she is looking for a husband (laughter).
IKA: I wish (laughter). No, it would just be so nice to be there - there is so much technology there. But, they judge us - all of Indonesia, as a bad Muslim country. I mean - I am a Hindu, but they judge us all to be bad and I hate it. And, same like Endah, I don't like Bush - he is continuing what his father did before him with this war on Iraq.
ENDAH: They should be using religion as a bridge to achieve peace - not as the reason to destroy other countries.
IKA: Just because the Muslims did September 11th doesn't mean that all Muslims are bad. Although I am Hindu, I don't think that Bush is correct when he is saying that Muslims are bad. Because Endah is not bad - I love her (laughter).
ENDAH: Why don't you kiss me (laughter)?
FASOTE: Let's ask another question - what do you think of the Islamic world right now?
ENDAH: As a Muslim, I am proud of my religion. But, on the other side, I am sad, because I wonder why all the terrorists are coming from the Muslim side.
FASOTE: What do you think is the answer to that question?
ENDAH: Maybe, I hope this isn't true, but maybe they think that they are in a jihad. It is not true - their jihad is wrong - it is political, not religious. But jihad is dangerous, and we have many people who are misusing the term. It is bad.
IKA: I don't judge people on their religion. I don't care if you are Muslim or Hindu or Christian or whatever - we are all praying to the same thing, for the holy one. The Muslims are wrong to be trying to fight a jihad - they should be trying to respect others.
But, in Bali, we are all the same, and we all live together with different religions. I think we do that better than in America - over there people get separated on color and religion. We do not do that here.
FASOTE: How do you define terrorism?
ENDAH: I don't think people should be judged until evidence is shown against them. Maybe it is easy to call someone a terrorist - why not shown the proof? We cannot rule out who actual terrorists are - and who was responsible for 11 September - until we see the evidence. Maybe it is those who call others terrorists who are the terrorists themselves.
FASOTE: Do you think that Islam and the West can ever live happily together?
BOTH: Why not?
FASOTE: Well, there are many problems right now.
ENDAH: I think it is just differences - they are personal. For me, it doesn't matter if my friend comes from a different religion or country - it doesn't matter at all. If he comes from Africa, if he is an Aboriginal - it doesn't matter at all. So, of course people can live together - we only have one world. As long as people try to understand one another, there will be no problems.
FASOTE: Who is your hero?
ENDAH: My father. He will always be there for me, no matter what happens. He does not judge me - even if I make mistakes, he is still there to help me.
FASOTE: What is the best thing about Indonesia?
ENDAH: The culture. We have 27 islands, with maybe a 1000 different languages. Like, between Kuta and Denpasaar, which are two cities so close here in Bali, there are differences in the language and customs. And on Java, there are three different parts - West Java, East Java and Central Java. All three parts have different languages. I love it, because it is the only place in the world like that, I think.
FASOTE: OK - thank you both for your time
