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Argumentative paper, Mataram (2025)

30/06/2025

Tirta Gangga: A Royal Palace That Reflects More Than Beauty

Can a place be both a work of art and a symbol of resilience? Tirta Gangga, the former royal water palace of Karangasem, is exactly that. More than just a stunning blend of Balinese, Chinese, and European architecture, this water palace tells the story of a kingdom that valued harmony, sophistication, and survival. To treat Tirta Gangga as nothing more than a picturesque tourist spot is to rob it of its deeper meaning.

Built in 1948 by Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem, the last king of Karangasem, Tirta Gangga was a reflection of royal vision. Its name meaning holy water from the Ganges echoes the spiritual essence the palace was meant to embody. The palace features tranquil pools, tiered fountains, guardian statues, and sacred springs, all intricately designed with symbolic precision. Every stone and stream reveals a connection between power, purity, and peace values deeply rooted in Balinese culture.

However, much of today’s attention focuses only on its visual appeal. Social media posts often highlight its stepping stones and koi-filled ponds, but rarely do they explore its cultural or historical significance. Tirta Gangga was destroyed by Mount Agung’s eruption in 1963, yet it was rebuilt not just as an act of restoration, but as a royal declaration that culture must not bow to disaster. That alone makes it a symbol of resilience, not just beauty.

To preserve Tirta Gangga is to protect more than a palace it is to defend the legacy of a kingdom that refused to disappear. When we appreciate its story, we recognize that elegance can be political, and architecture can be a statement of identity. Tirta Gangga is not just a monument of the past it is a message to the future.
‎ (ThrowbackThursday)
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18/06/2025

Blanjong Inscription: The Stone That Rewrites Bali’s History

What if the oldest piece of Bali’s written history has been quietly standing in a small village, barely noticed by most tourists or even locals? The Blanjong Inscription, carved in 914 CE, is not just a weathered stone pillar it is the very first written evidence of Bali’s political, religious, and linguistic identity. Overlooking it is like ignoring the very birth certificate of Balinese civilization.

Located in Sanur, Denpasar, this single pillar-shaped prasasti (inscription) was issued by King Sri Kesari Warmadewa, a ruler who established one of the earliest known dynasties on the island. What makes the Blanjong Inscription even more remarkable is its use of two languages Old Balinese and Sanskrit and two scripts Nagari and Balinese. This linguistic duality signals a sophisticated society, open to Indian cultural influences yet rooted in its local tradition. The inscription details a victorious military expedition, proving that early Bali was not isolated, but politically active and assertive.

Despite its immense historical value, the Blanjong Inscription remains relatively obscure, overshadowed by temples and beaches. But this stone deserves far more attention, not only from historians but from every Indonesian citizen. It provides proof that Bali had a structured government, international influence, and a written culture more than a thousand years ago. Isn’t that worth preserving, studying, and sharing?

To ignore the Blanjong Inscription is to deny Bali’s deep intellectual and political past. It should not merely be treated as an artifact in a corner it must be elevated as a national treasure. This stone is not just a remnant of history; it is a foundation of identity. And identity, once forgotten, is difficult to reclaim.
‎ (ThrowbackThursday)
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18/06/2025

Pura Besakih: A Sacred Legacy Beyond Worship

Have you ever wondered why thousands of people climb the slopes of Mount Agung just to pray at an ancient temple complex? The answer goes beyond religious duty Pura Besakih is not merely a place of worship; it is the spiritual heart, cultural anchor, and living proof of Bali’s enduring civilization. To reduce it to just a religious site is to ignore the deeper layers of identity it holds.

Perched majestically on the southern flank of Bali’s highest volcano, Pura Besakih is the largest and most important temple complex on the island. Comprising 23 separate temples, with Pura Penataran Agung at its center, its architecture is both monumental and symbolic. Built from dark volcanic stone and harmoniously integrated with the natural landscape, Besakih embodies the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana the balance between humans, nature, and the divine. This is not random construction; it’s a carefully planned cultural system carved in stone.

Yet sadly, many still perceive Besakih as no more than a tourist attraction. Such a view undermines its true role as the spiritual and historical backbone of Balinese culture. This temple complex even survived the violent eruption of Mount Agung in 1963 an event many see as a sign of its sacred protection. Shouldn’t this be a national symbol, not just a regional heritage?

Thus, preserving and honoring Pura Besakih is not only the responsibility of the Balinese Hindu community it is a shared duty of all Indonesians. To let it fade into the background of tourism is to let go of a powerful link to our cultural soul. Pura Besakih is living heritage, and defending it means defending who we are.
‎ (ThrowbackThursday)
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17/06/2025

“Between Lotus and Law: The Forgotten Wisdom of Taman Mayura”

Step through the ornate gates of Taman Mayura, and you’re not just entering a garden you’re walking into the echoes of a royal court, a sacred temple, and a place where justice once bloomed among lotus ponds. Built in 1744 by the Balinese Kingdom of Karangasem in Lombok, this water palace was more than a serene retreat; it was a center of diplomacy, spiritual practice, and conflict resolution. In its calm reflection pools lies the once-vibrant heartbeat of a multicultural kingdom.

At the center stands the Bale Kambang, a floating pavilion where kings and priests gathered to settle disputes, blending law with spirituality in a way modern systems rarely replicate. Hindu and local Sasak traditions coexisted here proof that governance need not be cold and distant, but thoughtful and rooted in sacred values. Taman Mayura wasn’t just a symbol of royal power; it was a blueprint for harmony between cultures and belief systems.

Yet today, it risks fading into a quiet backdrop for photos, rather than being seen for the living philosophy it once embodied. Without strong educational efforts or cultural programs, younger generations may overlook its historical value entirely. This is more than neglect it’s a missed opportunity. In a time when divisions grow deeper, places like Taman Mayura remind us that leadership, when grounded in culture and community, can unify instead of divide.

Preserving Taman Mayura means more than maintaining architecture it means reviving a way of thinking. Schools should tell its story, and youth should revisit it not as tourists, but as cultural heirs. Let it become a space once again where reflection literal and spiritual can take place. Because the wisdom of the past doesn't disappear; it simply waits to be remembered.
‎ (ThrowbackThursday)
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16/06/2025

“Where the Ocean Meets the Afterlife: The Enduring Spirit of Makam Loang Baloq”

On the western shore of Lombok, where the waves kiss the sand in quiet rhythm, stands a graveyard wrapped in stories deeper than the sea itself. "Makam Loang Baloq" isn’t just a burial site it is a spiritual crossroads, a cultural monument, and a symbol of how deeply faith and folklore flow in the veins of the Sasak people. While tourists pass by to chase sunsets, the real magic lies in the ground beneath their feet.

This sacred site is believed to hold the tombs of Islamic missionaries, including a figure known as Maulana Syekh Gaus Abdurrazak, whose arrival brought Islam to Lombok’s shores. But more than religious reverence, the graveyard holds layers of belief: tales of invisible guardians, rituals of healing, and prayers whispered to the ocean breeze. It is a living example of how Islam in NTB was not enforced but embraced, interwoven with local cosmology and traditions.

However, modernization threatens to dilute this spiritual heritage. With nearby development and a lack of structured cultural education, younger generations may begin to see Makam Loang Baloq as “just another cemetery.” That would be a dangerous loss not just of a physical site, but of the local philosophy that teaches reverence for history, nature, and spiritual connection. When a sacred place becomes invisible in the eyes of its own people, a part of cultural identity begins to die.

To protect Makam Loang Baloq is to protect the story of how faith was planted, grew, and took root in Lombok. It should be more than a pilgrimage site it should be a cultural classroom. Through documentation, storytelling, and respectful tourism, we must ensure that the next generation doesn’t just walk past the tombs but understands the legacy resting beneath them. Because this isn’t just a graveyard it’s a compass for the living.
(ThrowbackThursday)

15/06/2025

“Silent Walls, Loud Resistance: Why Benteng As-Syura or Asa Kota Still Speaks to Us Today”

If stones could speak, "Benteng As-Syura" in Bima would shout stories of courage, betrayal, and unyielding resistance. Hidden in the rugged hills of NTB, this fortress may seem like a forgotten ruin, but its silent walls once echoed with the sounds of war cries and the pulse of a people fighting for freedom. It wasn’t built to impress foreign tourists it was built to protect dignity. And in that, it holds more meaning than any modern monument.

Benteng As-Syura stood as the stronghold of local warriors during fierce resistance against Dutch colonial forces. Its strategic location wasn’t just about defense it symbolized defiance. This was where the people of Bima decided they would not be silenced. Unlike battles remembered only in books, the scars of As-Syura are carved into the very earth. Every stone is a witness. Every path around it tells a tale of local pride and sacrifice too often left out of national narratives.

Yet today, few even know it exists. Overshadowed by grander histories and tourist-centric attractions, Benteng As-Syura risks fading into complete obscurity. That would be a tragic mistake. Because when we forget where resistance was born, we also forget how to stand tall ourselves. This fortress isn’t just a place it’s a reminder that local history matters, that our ancestors didn’t wait to be rescued, they chose to fight.

Preserving Benteng As-Syura is about more than protecting a pile of stones. It’s about restoring the dignity of local memory. Schools in NTB should teach its story; cultural programs should reenact its battles. Young people should visit, not just to take selfies, but to reconnect with a legacy of resilience. If we let the fortress crumble, we don’t just lose a site we lose a signal of who we once were, and who we still have the power to be.
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12/06/2025

“One Temple, Two Faiths: The Urgent Lesson of Tolerance from Pura Lingsar”

In a world that often draws hard lines between beliefs, "Pura Lingsar" stands as a quiet rebellion. Located in West Lombok, this 18th-century temple isn’t just a place of worship it’s a rare symbol where two faiths, Balinese Hinduism and the indigenous Wetu Telu Islam of the Sasak people, meet without conflict. Imagine that: a single sacred space where prayers are offered side by side, not in competition, but in mutual reverence. That isn’t just unusual it’s revolutionary.

Built by the Balinese Kingdom of Karangasem, the temple was never meant to be exclusive. Over centuries, it became a cultural sanctuary where rituals from two belief systems were practiced in harmony. The annual "Perang Topat" a rice cake war held in its courtyard is not just a festival. It is a living metaphor of unity, where people of different faiths throw offerings at each other not in anger, but in celebration. In today’s polarized world, Pura Lingsar doesn’t just matter it’s essential.

But such spaces are fragile. With rising religious conservatism and growing ignorance about local syncretism, there is a danger that Pura Lingsar could be reduced to just another tourist stop, stripped of its deep symbolic meaning. If we let that happen, we risk losing a model of peaceful coexistence that took generations to build. Tolerance is not just taught in classrooms; it’s lived and Pura Lingsar has been living it for over two centuries.

This temple should be more than a historical footnote it should be a cornerstone of modern education in NTB. Students, visitors, and leaders alike must learn that faith doesn’t always need fences. By preserving and promoting the legacy of Pura Lingsar, we aren't just saving a monument we’re saving a mindset. And in today’s world, that might be our most sacred duty.
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11/06/2025

“Beyond Bamboo Walls: Why Masjid Kuno Bayan Beleq Is More Than Just a Place of Worship”

Tucked in the highlands of North Lombok, a modest structure made of bamboo, wood, and thatch has stood against storms and centuries. "Masjid Kuno Bayan Beleq" doesn’t glitter like modern mosques, and its roof won’t pierce the sky—but its spiritual weight is unmatched. Built in the 16th century, this ancient mosque is not only the oldest in Lombok, it is the cradle of Islam as it blended with local Sasak tradition. And yet, many pass it by without knowing the sacred wisdom it holds.

This mosque is more than a relic; it represents a rare harmony between religion and indigenous culture. In Bayan Beleq, Islam arrived not as a replacement of old beliefs, but as a bridge that blended with Wetu Telu the local syncretic belief system. Rituals here are a dialogue between old and new, faith and folklore. The mosque, with no electricity or loudspeakers, speaks softly but powerfully about a kind of spirituality rooted in community and respect for nature.

Sadly, in a world obsessed with modernity, spaces like this are at risk of being seen as irrelevant or backward. But erasing or neglecting Masjid Kuno Bayan Beleq would mean erasing a chapter where faith adapted not dominated. We need this mosque not just as a museum piece, but as a living classroom that teaches tolerance, adaptability, and local resilience. Its very structure built without nails reminds us that strength can be achieved through unity, not force.

Preserving this mosque means preserving a philosophy: that faith can grow in local soil without uprooting identity. Let it be a place where young people learn that Islam in NTB didn’t just arrive it evolved, with care, patience, and deep cultural respect. If we want future generations to understand not just "what" we believe, but "how" we came to believe it, then Bayan Beleq must remain not just standing but alive.
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10/06/2025

“A Palace Made of Wood, A Legacy Built on Wisdom: Why Istana Dalam Loka Still Matters”

At first glance, it’s just a wooden building old, silent, maybe even forgotten by time. But walk into "Istana Dalam Loka" in Sumbawa Besar, and you’re stepping into one of Southeast Asia’s largest wooden palaces, a space once alive with royal debates, cultural rituals, and the wisdom of generations. It isn’t merely architecture; it’s a living document carved in teak, reminding us that greatness doesn’t always come in marble or stone.

Built in 1885 by Sultan Muhammad Jalaluddin III, this palace wasn’t just a home for royalty. It was a center of governance, justice, and cultural preservation for the Sumbawa kingdom. Every pillar, every hand-carved panel speaks to a time when leadership was deeply rooted in tradition and spirituality. To dismiss the Istana as “just an old building” is to ignore its deeper function: a living symbol of Sumbawa’s political, social, and moral philosophy.

In an era where modernization often erases local memory, historical structures like Istana Dalam Loka are not optional they’re essential. They anchor us to our cultural compass, offering an architectural language that textbooks can’t replicate. Sadly, without active preservation, the palace faces slow decay. And if it vanishes, so too does a chapter of NTB’s soul. Restoration is not just maintenance it’s resistance against cultural erasure.

That is why the preservation of Istana Dalam Loka must become more than a tourism checkbox. It should be integrated into education, storytelling, and youth programs. Let students learn statecraft where sultans once ruled. Let local children perform traditional music where kings once held court. The palace must live again not just in history books, but in the living hearts of NTB’s future generations.
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09/06/2025

"More Than Faded Ink: Rediscovering NTB's Identity Through Ancient Inscriptions and Lontar Manuscripts"

Imagine climbing into your grandmother’s attic and finding a brittle palm leaf manuscript its letters nearly erased by time, yet whispering stories of how your ancestors lived, prayed, and solved disputes. In West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), ancient inscriptions and lontar manuscripts are not just dusty relics they are living voices from the past, offering direction in a world where roots are often forgotten. While many dismiss them as outdated, these texts hold the blueprint of NTB's unique identity.

Lontar manuscripts contain much more than folklore; they record traditional laws, royal genealogies, medicinal knowledge, and the philosophical beliefs of the Sasak and Samawa people. Likewise, stone and metal inscriptions found across Lombok and Sumbawa reveal political and spiritual histories that formal education often overlooks. Ignoring these cultural records is not just neglect it’s a form of cultural amnesia. Without them, we lose context, direction, and ultimately, ourselves.

The sad truth is, many of these manuscripts are disappearing. Some have been damaged by time, destroyed in disasters, or sold without ever being documented. This is a cultural emergency. When we lose these texts, we’re not only losing stories we’re losing the mindset, values, and spirit that once shaped NTB society. It's not enough to romanticize the past; we must protect it.

Now is the time to re-center these artifacts as vital sources of education and identity. The government, scholars, and especially the youth must take action—translating, preserving, and sharing them through both academic and digital platforms. Because how can we move forward with confidence if we’ve forgotten where we came from?
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09/06/2025

Terima kasih kepada pengikut terbaru saya! Senang Anda bergabung! Noah Lockley, Pak Hirman, Lin Hizoku Av, Singgih Pratama, Bang Beck, Sumarni, Touraj Aminfar, Manuel Sanchez, Jean Pierre Plemevaux, Alessandro Corridore, Rika Yulianingsih, Ucie Adellia, Ilham Abdul Deni, Gotri Putrie Gbs, Kurniawan Hasunan, Fanowers Mart, Kus Wantoro, Tin Tin, Sami Nawafleh, Vingroher Manob, Barbie Louis, Jobear Hosean Sohel, Genesis Gabriela, Aldo Tiarawowo, Joel Soria Braceno, Sanvi Gupta, Saffeudin Road Too Peace, Anny Tore, Jerry Rozario, Sepak Bola Mania, Yutari Kaswadi, Irfan Minu, Youssef Halabi, Awallia Fitri, Adrian Pertama, Asya Sabine, Shinta, Amber O'Tegana, Freedom Paul, محمد اليوسف, Hos Hos, Jadhav Raj, Itz Lekzy, Suryadin Jr., Riska Anjar Dewi, John David, Zacki Putra Antiqa, Akhi Ardi, Helena Nõid, Ayoub Ck

03/10/2022

should gendang beleq be an extracurricural activity at school?

Gendang Beleq is a tradisional instrumental that is played in groups. The origin of word Gendang comes from the sound of the Gendang itself, namely the sound of deng or dung. Beleq comes from the Sasak language wich means big. However, this instrument is being criticized in a an unexpected place, the public school. The issue is, should Gendang Beleq be an extracurricular activity at school? Gendang Beleq are better choice for three reasons.

First, to preserve the culture. Gendang Beleq is a very unique culture and needs to be preserved, now the Gendang Beleq has been slightly shifted because of a kecimolan that is more in demand by the public in general. We as the next generation must preserve and care for the culture that hass been created by our predecessors.

Second, apart from being an education outside the classroom, this extracurricular Will have a pretty good impact. In this Gendang Beleq training, it teaches students to be disciplined on time and of course cooperation with other members, because Gendang Beleq is a musical performance in groups.

Third, the existence of Gendang Beleq extracurricular at school Will teach children to love local wisdom or local culture found in community. To fight foreign cultures that effect the development of local culture in a society. Local culture Will gradually sink with the influence of foreign cultures.

Opponents say that there are many other activities that are more modern than the Gendang Beleq that can be used as extracurricular activities at school, but as I said, we as the next generation must preserve the Beleq drum as a legacy from our predecessors who have a lot of important history and because culture is a very valuable inheritance from anything.

In summary, we as the next generation must always maintain the culture that has been handed down by our ancestors so that it is not forgotten and not replaced by modern cultures and so that it can continue to be enjoyed by our grandchildren in the future

Argumentative paper

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