I don't know how long the phrase, itself, has been around, but it is mostly associated with Arema, the local professional soccer club (futbol or sepak bola), usually ranked either 1st or 2nd in Indonesia.
My take on Salam Satu Jiwa - Peace of One Soul, roughly - is expanding fast, because I'm beginning to believe that religious and ethnic pluralism, unity in diversity, and embracing the stranger may be a part of the culture here in East Jawa that goes back to the Majapahit Era! (A bit of a reach, but it IS my opinion - civic culture doesn't happen overnight and there are some areas of the world that have, historically, had more experience with people from different backgrounds - this is one of those places)
Since living here, I've participated in more than a few inter-anybody/everybody peace initiatives (that's one area in which the people of Malang are very proactive - they know there's something special here and they work to keep it front and center)
One of the signs from a local community group, Neolath, that I particularly like. It means
"Don't care where you come from or who you are,
when you're here, we're all the same"
And this one from another local group in Malang, Asli Malang (Original Malang)
It means "We're different in one soul"
Where I used to live, I dreaded passing groups of children - they would inevitably point, laugh, and shout "BULE! BULE! BULE!" "Bule", I was told, meant foreigner, but Google Translate provides "Caucasian" as the correct definition. I guess either works, but foreigner is also "orang asing", so you can decide which one it really is for yourself.
Believe it or not, that has not happened to me one time here. Not once. There are fewer foreigners here, too.
Is it weird? I don't think so - it's Salam Satu Jiwa and it's the way we live (Begitulah Cara Kita Hidup)
So, until next time - Salam Satu Jiwa!
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