By: Samsul Nizar
Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis
An old story says that a ghost once untied a donkey tied by its master one night. It was a very happy day for the donkey. After spending all day tied without eating, the donkey began to feel hungry and thirsty. Afterward, he went to the farmer’s garden. The farmer’s garden was destroyed as he ate the plants voraciously. The farmer’s wife became angry when the donkey destroyed his crops, so she took a gun to kill it. Donkey was shot in the head by a bullet. There is no doubt in the owner’s mind as to what caused the donkey’s death. In response to the farmer’s wife shooting his donkey, he was very angry. The death of his beloved donkey broke his heart. He becomes angry and hateful towards the farmer’s wife as his anger mounts. A farmer’s wife was repeatedly shot by him after he went home with a rifle. The farmer’s wife finally died. The farmer was very angry. He went home, took the sickle, and killed the donkey owner. The donkey owner’s wife and children were furious. A revenge burning took place at the farmer’s house. The farmer was angry and then killed the wife and children of the owner of the donkey.
After the whole family of the donkey owner died, the farmer finally realized and regretted what he had done. He bowed his head crying, regretting his savagery. On the way, he met a ghost and asked why everything happened and caused many to be killed, even the destruction of all property. The ghost replied, I never killed anyone. It is humans who “kill and build greed” each other. I just untied a donkey. At the same time, humans untie all the ghosts and demons within you that cause all evil or bad deeds to occur coherently. Thus, crimes for the sake of tyranny are carried out by humans repeatedly throughout their lives, even seemingly endless.
The story above is actually a mirror for human life throughout history, especially today. There are several lessons from the story above, including:
First, today’s social media is like a ghost that keeps releasing “asses” every second. News, issues, information, and statements encourage people to react (positively or negatively). If it is positive, praise will appear, which, if not suppressed, will make you forget yourself. If it is negative, there will be insults, arguments with each other, blasphemy, slander, and even hurting each other. The media are like ghosts and demons. When all the bad things and disputes happen that destroy the human side of civilization, the media is not responsible for what happened. Precisely humans will be responsible for what is done in the field of any media area.
Second, humans are like tied donkeys that are hungry and thirsty. Once the bond is released (whether because of power, position, strength, position, or otherwise), it often causes humans to go out of control to devour what is in front of their eyes with greed that surpasses all creatures. Not again knowing whose it is, violating the rules of law or religion, even beyond his ability. Everything was devoured greedily as if his stomach could put in everything that was to be eaten. Thus, the message of the donkey was freed from the bond of plundering the farmer’s garden beyond the required food.
Third, in the modern context, the parable of the donkey is the era of social media that is in sight. Various kinds of social media appear with various offers given. Humans must be wise when they see the “donkeys” released by the media every time to be digested properly and responsibly. Any media needs to be observed and used wisely. Policies that mark human beings as possessing reason and high civilization. Think carefully before providing information (statements), receiving information, assessing information, and disseminating information (sometimes even limited to flexing style).
Be a smart as a media user to maintain self-dignity, family, friends, and universal human dignity. Not the other way around, like the behaviour of the “farmer and donkey owner” above. Start with shame in this month of Ramadan. Be a wise human who uses the media to educate, provide truthful information, be responsible, avoid debate and slander (hoax), and expose your brother’s disgrace, which leads to even greater disaster. Don’t let the media trigger anger, breed grudges, and become a means of “killing” fellow brothers and sisters. It’s not just killing physically (taking lives), but sometimes killing the characters and the future of others.
Don’t be gullible or provoked, and check for sure. In fact, if the truth is obtained, it is not necessarily worthy of publication. Especially if the error (untruth) is obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the benefits and harm. Not many people can accept praise, especially when they accept slander and insults.
Life is like walking in a beautiful flower garden with a fragrant aroma. Choose the flowers to be picked. However, the condition is that you can’t go backward because time never goes backwards. For the wise, he will pick the flowers he sees. Because he thinks that is his sustenance and is grateful for what he picks. However, those who are not wise will think the flowers at the end of the road will be more beautiful and beautiful. Unfortunately, at the end of the road, he found that the flowers he had previously passed were more beautiful. Instead, only withered flowers have been found at the end of the road. However, he could no longer retreat to pick the more beautiful and beautiful flowers he had seen.
Thus, the picture of greed often abandons and leaves the opportunity obtained to pursue the uncertain. Just hoping that something will be better in the future, but it turns out that the result of greed leads to disappointment. Then, who’s at fault? Is it greed or gluttony that causes the loss of the best opportunities? Gluttony due to the release of the donkey that is inside.
So cleverly, the ghost plays its part just releasing the ass. On the other hand, humans are so stupid (like donkeys) and can be played with like mindless creatures, even though they claim to be wise with the attributes of pseudo-intelligence full of deceit. Then, where are our positions? Of course, only everyone knows.
WaAllahua’lam bi al-Shawwab
Translated by RiskaSaputra, S.Pd
Alumni of the English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis
Master Student at Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology in National Central University, Taiwan
