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| Ilustration of historical traces of Makassar City (Source: Pixabay) |
Reading the news entitled "40
Professors Sue for Animal Street Names in Makassar" (Time to Immortalize 7
South Sulawesi Figures) published in the Thursday edition of the East Tribun
Daily, 5/2/2015, aroused my desire to participate and take part in the plan
which is still in its infancy. this discourse. The proposal regarding changing
the names of several streets in Makassar City which was submitted by professors
to the Mayor, Danny Pomanto and the chairman of the Makassar DPRD (Regional
People's Representative Assembly), Farouk M. Betta, was inspired by at least
several main reasons.
First, the news in this daily stated that the proposal to
change street names in Makassar was because many considered it inhumane. This
is proven by the many street names taken from animals and plants. As a result,
from the street names construct terms such as Coto Gagak (typical
Makassar soup culinary delights), Pallubasa Srigala (typical Makassar
soup culinary delights), and Pallubasa Onta (typical Makassar soup
culinary delights) in Makassar. In short, the main thrust of the desire to
change the name of this road is to "humanize" the seven roads.
Second, the proposal to change the name of this street stems
from the reason that many meritorious figures have almost been forgotten by the
younger generation because their names no longer ring true. For this purpose,
several names of figures were proposed as replacements for the street name,
namely Prof KH Abdurrahman Shihab, KH Fadeli Lurang, Prof Dr A Amiruddin, Prof
E A Mokodompit, MA, Brigadier General H.A. Mattalatta, KH Jamaluddin Amin, and
Drs KH Muhyidin Zain.
Third, the basis for the name change
proposal is to convey the impression of education to the community and the
importance of developing the younger generation. This is based on the argument
of the importance of preserving the noble values that have been demonstrated
and practiced by figures throughout their lives in our area. Furthermore, the
street names of these animals and plants are considered to have no historical
basis.
Considering this, as citizens of
Makassar and heirs of history and cultural values, on the one hand, we should
appreciate the proposal and plan to "humanize" the street names.
Moreover, the intention and aim is to develop the younger generation in an
effort to preserve the names of figures who have become the locomotive for
driving civilization in South Sulawesi. It is conceivable that several figures
who have made important contributions to the history and dynamics of the city
of Makassar should disappear from collective memory simply because of our
indifference.
However, with the word tabe', let
me discuss several different points from the proposal and plan to change the
name of the road. This view may be considered wrong, but at least it will be a
second opinion as well as a complement to the process of collective reflection
thinking about the development and face of Makassar in the future.
If the proposal to change street names
from names of animals and plants to names of figures is considered a humanizing
process, then the question is what about the names of a number of places, for
example, buildings, shops and various other facilities that already use the
names of animals or plants? The terms Coto Gagak, Pallubasa
Srigala, and Pallubasa Onta, which were adopted from the name of the
street where it is located, are actually a special attraction and uniqueness
that Makassar has. This means, let it be unique because after all it is not
crows or wolves that are used as ingredients for Coto and Pallubasa,
just like the uniqueness of Sop Brother which never makes you into soup and
Coto Jeneberang whose water is also not from the Jeneberang River.
Then regarding the seven figures or
maybe more than that proposed as street names, basically it is a very good
idea. It's just that it's not a replacement for the name of an animal, but its
purpose may be for a newly built road or to be part of a road section that has
been very long in distance. Apart from that, preserving the names of figures
does not necessarily just depend on street names, but can/has been done through
naming public facilities such as libraries, halls and various other public
facilities. In fact, why not, the names of these important figures have been
immortalized in the form of an encyclopedia created by the city government
which can be used as reading material across generations.
Likewise, eliminating and replacing
animal names from a number of streets for reasons that have no historical basis,
does not seem appropriate because the historical curiosity of future
generations will be born from interest in these unique names. For example, the
Way of the Camel will become the basis for historical questions that will guide
generations on a scientific pilgrimage to the past to find out about its name
which is characterized by this desert animal.
Never mind terms like historical street
names, even current terms have meta-meanings behind their construction process.
For example, the names of Eifel crackers, Begal chips, Broken Heart Noodles, Es
Teler Kumpayakun (iced drinks), and so on that have appeared recently
have stories about the naming process or maybe it's not too extreme to say that
they all have asbabunnuzul (reason for giving the name).
We must continue to believe that every
inch of space that has been lived in or where humans have stood and been active
throughout the ages, has its own stories, tales and history which are
definitely different from each other. History does not only belong to the
characters/actors, but also to the totality of space, activities and time in
the course of human life. Have we forgotten that almost all reconstructions of
past history involve animals in the preparation of the stories?.
So, if we agree with this statement,
then replacing the names of animals on several roads with the names of
characters means trying to "animate" the characters by immortalizing
their names on the roads. However, at the same time erasing the name of the
animal means erasing traces and stories of the history of Makassar City.**
[Makassar, May 3, 2015]