A Book of Stupidity
As a researcher, of course you have to publish something. It’s part of the job. But usually we publish something which usually contain lots of analysis, theories, social contexts, data, comparative studies, bla bla bla bla. To put it simply, the boring stuffs 
If i were given the opportunity to write my own book (I wish!), I would have written a book of stupidity. Yup, it will be a documentation of all those stupid silly shit things that I did in life. A book that can make people laugh. A book that gives a different perspective and alternative on how to see the world, despite of what the world gives to me and to the people with their unique characters in it.
People have thoughts. Feelings. Emotions. And there are thousands of ways of expressing it. You always have choices. It’s up to you whether you prefer to be drawned in your own misery or you just "get up, dust yourself and get back with the flow of the herds" (well, actually this is friedman’s words on neoliberalism :P). I choose the funny way. The funny perspective of life. Funny. Thoughtful (dalem banget, kalo kata adith). A little bit of satire sometimes. That’s the way I like it. I believe that you can always find a funny thing even from your shit-iest experience. Laughing at your own stupidity sometimes. Accepting that we are only just human.
It’s amazing that people who are the victims of tsunami can find the funny thing about it. I went there in 2005. It was 4-5 months before tsunami. There are many people who are involved in the tsunami relief programs were also the victims. They lost their families and friends. Indonesia and the world were mourning. But ironically, when we sat together at the teras on a beautiful afternoon having a nice chit-chat with Kopi Ulee Kareng, they finally came out with… jokes. One joke that I always remember is from Rufriadi (an old friend who just suddenly passed away.. a great man with great integrity and commitment for the development in Aceh). He made a joke about "kapten tsunami" who took away his house. And other jokes. Some people may think it is not appropriate that you make a joke out of such situation, but I guess that’s how we survived. We live in a world full of shits, downcasts, dissapoinments, dissasters, never ending conflicts, political unrests, bla bla bla and making jokes.. humour.. no matter how satire it is, keep our sanity… that life is still worth to fight for.
If you read javaneese philosophy, happines and sadness are only a cyclical pattern in life. Whether you are hot and sexy or sweet and adorable like me (I wish! :P), strange and unique, etc etc, you always have this cyclical pattern. You shouldn’t divide the happiness and the sadness. At the end of sadness one will find happiness. One should always be grateful for whatever blessings one has. And sometimes one tastes both the hapiness and the sadness at the same time. That what makes life as the greatest gift.
And when I look at all those stupid silly shit things in life, yes, they’re all funny. Felt like shit of course, but still…funny. One day (sometimes I even dont have to wait for days :P) I will laugh about it.
And that’s the book i really want to make… a book of stupidity.
