Ripples

I post this not to alarm anyone who might be reading this (hi Mom) - we are in no danger here, no threat, nothing. I simply want to make visible the ripples of a distant idiocy lapping upon the shores of our temporary island home. Here's a memo I got from the Jakarta headquarters of my organization:


U.S. EMBASSY JAKARTA NOTICE TO AMERICANS
U.S. Embassy Jakarta
U.S. Consulate General Surabaya
U.S. Consulate Medan
U.S. Consular Agency Bali
Warden Message:  POSSIBLE DEMONSTRATIONS SEPTEMBER 2010 DUE TO ANNOUNCED U.S. KORAN BURNING
SEPTEMBER 9, 2010
Americans are advised that there may be anti American, possibly disruptive, demonstrations to mark an announced Koran burning on September 11 in Florida.  We again remind Americans to exercise prudence and continue to take active, personal responsibility for their security.  We suggest that Americans monitor news reports, follow the instructions of Indonesian authorities and avoid demonstrations.  We remind Americans that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  Americans are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.
Americans living and traveling in Indonesia are urged to register and update their contact information with the U.S. Embassy Jakarta, U.S. Consulate General Surabaya, U.S. Consulate Medan or U.S. Consular Agency Bali.  Registration facilitates the U.S. Mission’s contact with Americans in emergencies, and may be done on line and in advance of travel.  Information on registering can be found at the U.S. Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travelregistration.state.gov and at the Embassy’s website at http://jakarta.usembassy.gov.  All Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, Worldwide Cautions and recent messages are posted on the Embassy website.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
U.S. Embassy Jakarta is located at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan No. 4-5, Jakarta; the 24-hour switchboard telephone number is 62-21-3435-9000.  The telephone number of U.S. Consulate General Surabaya is 62-31-295-6400; U.S. Consulate Medan is 62-61-415-2200; U.S. Consular Agency Bali is 62-361-233-605.

SMS text:  Koran burning may cause demonstrations.  Avoid & stay abreast of news.

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That's it - please, as I said, don't take this as something to cause anxiety in anyone. There is nothing in Salatiga, nor anywhere else (save a couple of protests outside embassies and consulates - I promise all my readers I will not in my manic curiosity seek one out just for the experience), that can be construed as threatening to us. We're in no danger, and the Muslim neighbors that surround us are nothing but incredibly hospitable and generous. But insanity begets insanity, stupidity stupidity, bigotry bigotry. Eight thousand miles is very very close.