Humanistic Studies in the first meeting

Diversity is beautiful, powerful,peaceful and respectful. Those words reflect on how we are as mankind livetogether. No fight and violence that would be happen if we were as mankind havemulticultural and tolerant attitude in dealing with other cultures and religions.That’s the point that I got from my humanistic studies lecture when he wastalking about what kind of humanistic studies 1 course and what topics that wewill learn in this course.

Well,,,I never imagine thathumanistic studies course succeed to grab my attention in the first meeting. Itwas so funny when my lecture, Pak Hatim Gazali invited us to have a short discussionabout some issues related with some topics in humanistic studies. I still rememberabout a discussion that we had. It was about POSO conflict. My friends and Itried to give a comment about the conflict and guess what cause of POSOconflict. But unfortunately, no one knew about the cause except pak Hatim.Hemt,,,It was awful. Yet, I consider it was just a warming up in the firstmeeting and I wish it wouldn’t happen again in the next discussion.

For my expectation is about how tomake us as students enjoy and have a big passion to join with this course. I suggestthat it will be better if we have many interactive discussion and also debatesessions. Every student is free to express their opinion on an issue that isbeing discussed without worry about their background. Their opinions alsoreflect on how students respond to the issue from their perspective. That’s why I think that those are effective totest students’ understanding and their critical analysis about some issues.Oke..that’s all my expectation of this course. What about the diversity aroundme?

Since I’ve studied at Sampoernaschool of education, I realize that not all of my friends have the same cultureand religion with me. I’m Muslim and I’m Javanese. So, What I have to do? ShallI be picky in looking for friends? Shall I look for friends from java and theyare also Muslim? Oh no,,, I might not be selective in lookingfor friends because I know that each person has their own specialty. I don’t worry about their culture and religion.Those are just the symbol and not effect on their personality. I need them asmy partner in campus. So that, I have to respond toward others and try to understandtheir characters. My friend said that respectwith others and they will do so. Those are all the reasons why I have a bigpassion to study humanistic studies. It’s really useful to teach me about howto live together ever after and also as a place for me to discuss and findfurther information about some issues especially about socio - cultural and religionissues that might be for some people those are too sensitive or even taboo totalk about.

My quote :” Even once we have had the right response,it does not mean that things will be easier. It's not about easier, or better,or anything along that line. It's about doing what is right before the Lord”(artistta, 2011).