Indo in America: The Dutch-Indonesian Journey

Dutch and Indo fall prey to the horrors of the Bersiap.  Sutomo inflicts atrocities upon Dutch and Indo people, who see him as a butcher, while the Indonesians see him as a hero.  WIth the age of the internet, Indonesia must decide to face its own atrocious past.

Sources:  Inez Hollander, "Silenced Voices"; Rémy Limpach, "De Brandende Kampongs van Generaal Spoor"; Asvi Warman Adam, "Seabad Kontroversi Sejarah"; Abdul Wahid, The Jakarta Post; Blog: myindoworld.com; Blog: Inside Indonesia, "The Forgotten Killings", Youtube: History Hustle

Dutch monarchs take a sacred oath when taking the throne.  William of Orange aligns with the Protestant Calvinists.  The Netherlands achieves independence and the Dutch Reformed Church is born.  The Dutch National Anthem alludes to William's faith.  Christianity spreads to the Dutch East Indies.  The Dutch Christianity and help shape Colonial America.  Dutch Reformed pastors give positive encouragement in a post-war USA.  Indo Catholics in Southern California find a new home for their faith and culture.   References: "The Low Countries" by E. H. Kossmann, "Move Ahead With Possibility Thinking" by R.H. Schuller, "The Power of Positive Thinking" by N. V. Peale; "Legerchef Middendorp draagt rijkszwaard" from Metro, Marble Collegiate Church (marblechurch.org), Hour of Power w Bobby Schuller (hourofpower.org, sgp.church), Reformed Church in America (rca.org)

Dutch and Indo civilians become POW's; those who did not survive are buried at places like Leuwigajah Cemetery.  The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs free the surviving POW's. Survivors of the Japanese invasion share their childhood stories.  Some of the horrors of the Bersiap are recollected.  Survivors and their children/grandchildren discuss the silence after survival, and the weight which results from it.

Sources:  Documentary, "Buitenkampers: The Color of Survival" by Hetty Naaijkens-Retel Helmrich; The Indo Project (indoproject.org)

Sukarno and Hatta declare Indonesian Independence, and become the Republic of Indonesia's first President and Vice President.  Jan van Halen meets Eugenia van Beers.  The Van Halen family moves to Holland, then move to America.  Alex and Eddie Van Halen face adversity as new immigrants, but overcome it to form the band that bears their name.

A discussion of the phrases "Indo / Dutch Indo / Dutch Indonesian", a look at Indo ethnicity and heritage, history, and anthropological significance, the influences of World War II and the Indonesian Independence movement on the Indo people, their place in a post-war world, and where they came to be today.  The relationship between the Dutch East Indies and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as the evolution of the Dutch East Indies to Indonesia, are also discussed.  

Introducing the new podcast, Indo in America, which takes a look at the journey of the Dutch Indo people who settled in the United States after fleeing their homeland.