April 1, 2008 as well known as April Fool's Day, will be a few hours away and many Jakarta's youngsters does not have knowledge about the history as reported by Antara News on March 30, 2008.
In Indonesia, most of the people known that April 1, 2008 is popular is as "April Mop". Mop is a Dutch Word, means joke. In English, this days is known as April's Fools Day. Usually we all know that day is a day to tell a lies, no matter how serious they sound. But the history about it is quite a tragic ones especially for Muslim of which it caused barbaric slaughter of Muslims in Spain on April 1, 1487.
Unfortunately, not many Muslims in Indonesia know about the history of April Fool`s Day (April Mop) and then preferred to celebrate by lying the public through the media or personal contact.
A Muslim intellectual, Ir H Asmara Dharma, as contacted by phone at his home in Medan said the celebration of April Mop was preceded by a big attack by western troops in Spain which was at that time under the rule of a Moslem's caliph in March, 1487.
According to him, cities in Spain like Saragossa and Leon in North, Vigo and Forto in East and Valencia in West, Lisbon and Cordoba in South as well as Madrid in Central City and Granada as a port were occupied by the attackers.
The Muslim community who survived in the attack were promised not to be harmed if they wished to abandon Spain by ships already made available at the port of Granada. Western troops pledged to let Muslims go free by ship if they surrendered their weapons.
At the time when thousands of Muslims without any weapon gathered at the port of Granada to wait for their turn to leave Spain as promised by the troops, they were slaughtered viciously and their ships set on fire.
Asmara further said the genocide of Muslims and the breaking of the promise happened on April 1, 1487 which was then known as April Fool`s Day. Furthermore, this incident was a ritual popularized as "April Mop" (this term became popular in Indonesia during the Dutch colonial times, mop is a Dutch word meaning joke). It was later used to criminalize other people by the news and action.
I am personally, never heard about this history and all I know is that, on that day I can make a fool to anybody, even to my lovely ones. After I read this news from Antara, I think we should use this day as a momentum to look back on the relationship between us in eastern country or developing country with our "fellow" from western country. We should take a look again our relationship with them. Do we have a good deal or not. So far what I can see, there is no indication from the Western to have a partner from any of developing country. In fact, they will use us as their place to sell their products.
In Indonesia, most of the people known that April 1, 2008 is popular is as "April Mop". Mop is a Dutch Word, means joke. In English, this days is known as April's Fools Day. Usually we all know that day is a day to tell a lies, no matter how serious they sound. But the history about it is quite a tragic ones especially for Muslim of which it caused barbaric slaughter of Muslims in Spain on April 1, 1487.
Unfortunately, not many Muslims in Indonesia know about the history of April Fool`s Day (April Mop) and then preferred to celebrate by lying the public through the media or personal contact.
A Muslim intellectual, Ir H Asmara Dharma, as contacted by phone at his home in Medan said the celebration of April Mop was preceded by a big attack by western troops in Spain which was at that time under the rule of a Moslem's caliph in March, 1487.
According to him, cities in Spain like Saragossa and Leon in North, Vigo and Forto in East and Valencia in West, Lisbon and Cordoba in South as well as Madrid in Central City and Granada as a port were occupied by the attackers.
The Muslim community who survived in the attack were promised not to be harmed if they wished to abandon Spain by ships already made available at the port of Granada. Western troops pledged to let Muslims go free by ship if they surrendered their weapons.
At the time when thousands of Muslims without any weapon gathered at the port of Granada to wait for their turn to leave Spain as promised by the troops, they were slaughtered viciously and their ships set on fire.
Asmara further said the genocide of Muslims and the breaking of the promise happened on April 1, 1487 which was then known as April Fool`s Day. Furthermore, this incident was a ritual popularized as "April Mop" (this term became popular in Indonesia during the Dutch colonial times, mop is a Dutch word meaning joke). It was later used to criminalize other people by the news and action.
I am personally, never heard about this history and all I know is that, on that day I can make a fool to anybody, even to my lovely ones. After I read this news from Antara, I think we should use this day as a momentum to look back on the relationship between us in eastern country or developing country with our "fellow" from western country. We should take a look again our relationship with them. Do we have a good deal or not. So far what I can see, there is no indication from the Western to have a partner from any of developing country. In fact, they will use us as their place to sell their products.
-Dian-
Source : Antara News
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