Starvation (Busung (Lapar))
Balinese often get very upset when talking about the Javanese. They think that Javanese have caused many troubles for them; many Javanese make livings in Bali without giving any contribution to maintain Balinese tradition.
“The Balinese spend billions of Rupiahs buying young coconut leaves (busung) and most of the busung vendors are Javanese,” says I Made Ajeg Bali Mara Dibi (I Made Just Joined on Sustainable Bali).
Everyone laughs. They know that when I Made talks like that, the discussion will be controversial. It is understandable because they follow different political point of views. Some follow liberal-capitalism, some neo-socialism, some fundamentalism and the rest are nationalists. Apart from this, most of them are what we call nasi gratis pedofils (join political group for free meals and sex).
“You are right, Dé. Why have we Balinese always been exploited. You know most jobs in Bali now are taken by the Javanese; even offering vendors now are Javanese. Who can guarantee they understand about porosan (the small part of the offering), or about sacred and profane.” I Putu Lalapan No Lawar Ya (I Putu Javanese Dish No Balinese Dish Yes) agrees.
Do you think that all Balinese understand about porosan or banten, by the way?
Who can guarantee that all the Balinese offering (canang)-makers understand about holy and unholy?
“We might say that when there are more and more canang vendors, it seems that the Balinese less and less understand, or decline to make canang,” I Wayan Fanatik Sing Munafik (I Wayan Fanatic But Not Hypocrite) interrupts.
“What is really your problem, Tu? You know, nobody protests when a Balinese buys a load of offerings at a priest’s house (geria). But why do you protest when one buys canang from a Javanese vendor?” asks I Wayan.
“Because the Javanese selling canang are not Hindus,” I Putu replies angrily.
Everybody stays calm. They are afraid of discussing on this further as this is a sensitive issue; it has come to ‘SARA’ issue (religion, race and origin).
“If you think so, it means that the non-Hindus are not allowed to produce Hindu accessories and so vice versa,” replies I Wayan.
“Consequently, the Balinese carvers will go bankrupt as they are not allowed to produce Buddha and Jesus Christ statues. And Balinese workers are not allowed to work in church building development, either.”
“If you worry about the billions of Rupiahs we Balinese spend on busung from Java, have you ever bothered about the billions the Javanese and other domestic tourists spend in Bali?” asks I Wayan.
“If you are really concerned, it’s better for you to find the answer why the Balinese spends billions of Rupiahs for canang. It has nothing to do with Javanese or others.”
Everyone nods. I Wayan is right. It has nothing to do with the Javanese or canang or busung. It is just a matter of ‘envy’ to others and being wasteful of your own money.
