When Ade Armando Is Considered To Have Ruined The Atmosphere Of Victory, Greysia/Apriyani: Ending The SARA Narrative

Greysia/Apriyani (Photo source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Badminton athlete Greysia Polii/Apriyani Rahayu's victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics made Indonesian citizens proud. Many people were moved by it. However, in the midst of the euphoria, University of Indonesia Communication Science Lecturer Ade Armando made a controversial tweet that was considered SARA. His actions in the midst of a moment that can strengthen this nation are useless. It is time for the practice that could actually divide this nation to stop.

The name Greysia/Apriyani echoed after winning a gold medal at the Olympics. How not, they are people who can make Indonesian songs reverberate with pride. Not a few Indonesian people cried with emotion.

An employee at a private company in Jakarta, Kianti, for example. She couldn't hold back her tears when Greysia/Apri scored the last point which marked their victory against Chinese women's doubles, Chen Qingchen/Jia Yifan.

"I was really nervous at the last second. When they won, it was like they automatically burst into tears", said Kianti when contacted by VOI.

Kianti said the touching moment grew when the anthem Indonesia Raya was playing. "Like happy, shaking, touched".

Andreas, a private employee in Bogor, feels the same way. He admitted that he had goosebumps after Greysia/Apriyani's final seconds won the match. "I'm really proud to feel goosebumps. Can get a gold medal in an international class sports event".

Block the euphoria

In the midst of public euphoria celebrating Greysia/Apriani's victory, Lecturer of Communication Studies at the University of Indonesia Ade Armando made a controversial tweet. In his tweet, he mentioned the Gyesia/Apriani religion.

"If I say that Greysia/Apriani is a Christian/Muslim duo, are they still going on a rampage, aren't they?", said Ade.

pic.twitter.com/j8XH7cxFgq

— ade armando (@adearmando1) August 2, 2021

This tweet that mentions religion is not the first. Previously, Ade had also provoked public debate regarding the religion of badminton athlete Anthony Sinisuka Ginting.

"Eh Ginting is Muslim or Christian? Yes, he's Christian... oooh", Ade tweeted.

To VOI  Ade Armando explained the message from his tweet. "It's to insinuate those who associate religion with everything, including sports".

Regarding the opinion of netizens who called Ade's tweets to spoil the atmosphere and the actions of SARA, he did not feel that way. "In fact, we must always remember that Muslims and Christians are brothers. If we are united we can win", said Ade.

However, not all netizens think that Ade's tweets are like that. On the other hand, not a few people protested the tweet.

Netizens protested

Mazzini's history activist, for example, via his Twitter account @mazzini_gsp, regretted Ade's tweet that touched on the religion of the women's doubles athletes Greysia/Apriani. Mazzini said even though no one had a problem with the athlete's religion. It was Ade himself who made him lean as if there was a group that didn't like the athlete because of a different religion.

"Yesterday Ginting's religion was, now it's women's double religion. Even though no one has a problem with religion, he himself makes the framing as if there are groups who don't like athletes due to different religions", said Mazzini.

Similarly, the owner of the @zalkad account also said that Ade was manipulating the conflict. "So he makes it seem as if there is a conflict between supporters or from conservative groups... So he makes himself seem significant to reduce the conflict that he has created himself".

Meanwhile, the owner of the @wyasmin account questioned why Ade's tweet was still SARA. He thought that Ade might run out of topic. "Do you still have SARA? Isn't there another topic? Catch up on airing".

Do you still have SARA? Isn't there another topic? Catch the show😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

— Ir.H.Wijaya Y. (@wyasmin) August 2, 2021

Seeing this problem, Suparji Ahmad, a criminal law expert from Al-Azhar University, spoke up. He regretted that in the midst of the public's euphoria for the victory of Greysia/Apriyani, why would anyone question things that don't need to be questioned. Moreover, according to Suparji, sport is one of the things that unites the nation.

"As a unifying symbol, sport releases from these barriers. Respect, mutual tolerance. From the beginning, no one questioned belief, religion in the context of sports. Because that's where sportsmanship is", said Suparji to VOI.

Must end

According to Suparji, narratives that link religion like this often happen. And he was never tired of repeatedly inviting these people to re-introspect themselves.

"So, in my opinion, this time and again we have to go back introspection, why say that as an academic, as a social media activist... Just ask what needs to be questioned, what doesn't need to be", said Suparji.

Suparji said that overcoming problems like this is not easy. Even to face legal problems. "And then ended up without a legal settlement".

In fact, according to Suparji, if an action has offended religious differences, it is a racial intolerance. So that this difference cannot be questioned anymore.

"So when it comes to distinguishing people based on religion, it's a matter of SARA, right. Because it's something that is human rights, it's essential. Religion starts from God, rights that are obtained automatically. So people shouldn't question it", said Suparji.

Therefore, Suparji appealed that it is time for the SARA-related narratives to be ended. "Stop being sarcastic like that. It's better to have a useful narration like that. Good for the life of the nation and state", he said.

*Read other information about VIRAL or other interesting articles from Ramdan Febrian Arifin.

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