On Bridge Blogging

Everyone in the universe must’ve been very familiar or at least ever heard of such popular names as Mc Donald (McD), KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), Nokia, Sony, Pepsodent, and many other international brands. All the brands barely talk about themselves, not to say about their respective countries. But almost every single person knows where those brands come from. America world-widely known at least for its McD and KFC, and Japan for its Sony, Toyota, Honda, etc. As far as I am concerned, these international brands have successfully bridged world understanding towards the countries they belong without even a word of explanation.

When I urged Indonesian to start blogging and blog in English, what I had in mind was something like what the above international brands have done to their countries: repute, good positive image of progress and modernity and, no less important, more understanding.

What I’d like to say is that, we do not necessarily write a lot of thing specifically about Indonesia in our blog–though that’s a good thing to do. For me, as far as you blog in English and so long as you let your audience know that you are an Indonesian or something to that effect that would serve the purpose. And that’s precisely the reason why I pick many Blogger Indonesia of the Week who write nothing specificifically about Indonesia. See for example such Blogger Indonesia of the Week as Isnaini and Jauhari both are free template creators for Blogger/Bogspot and WordPress respectively. They are Indonesian, who are blogging in English. And that’s more than enough. If addition to this they write a lot about Indonesia and its nitty-gritty, it’d be a bonus.

That’s also what I had in mind several months ago when I urged Jennie S. Bev to start blogging. I never expected her to make a special Indonesian blog. I simply requested her to turn his then website into a blog which she did. Jennie and Ong Hock Chuan seem to have similar opinion in the sense that Indonesian bridge blogging means a blog that writes a lot on Indonesia.

To sum it up, Indonesian–indeed anyone who regards Indonesia closely to their heart– does not need to push him/herself too hard so as to make him/her feel the burden of “responsibility”. Blogging for most people is an activity to enjoy after a full day hardwork as I always do. I strongly feel that we should keep the blogging activity that way. Afterall, the so-called a good life can only be achieved when we enjoy what we’re doing.

Or what do you think about bridge blogging which will make the world understand more about you and anything you stand for–culture, countriy and impression?