'Don't bring up past generations' mistakes'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto told the younger generation
\nyesterday to emulate the good deeds of past generations and avoid
\nrepeating their mistakes.<\/p>\n
He also said the younger people should not keep bringing up
\nthe mistakes of the past generations with the intention of
\ndiscrediting them.<\/p>\n
Addressing thousands of students who were attending a ceremony
\nfor the commemoration of the national heroes in Surabaya
\nyesterday, Soeharto quoted a Javanese saying, 'mikul dhuwur mendem
\njero', which tells people to honor their forefathers and bury
\ntheir mistakes deeply.<\/p>\n
\"Don't keep on bringing up the mistakes of past generations,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He told the students that everybody has both good and bad
\nsides. \"Imitate the good, and don't repeat the bad deeds,\" he was
\nquoted by Antara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
\"What should be imitated from the past generations is their
\nheroism,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, Soeharto launched the National Drive to
\nInstill and Emulate Heroic Values.<\/p>\n
\"Our heroes have sacrificed themselves and their belongings,
\nfighting selflessly, willing to work hard,\" he said. \"These
\ncharacteristics are still relevant for the younger generation
\ntoday.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that in today's world the young people could
\nshow their heroism by supporting government programs to alleviate
\nthe suffering of the 25 million poor in the country.<\/p>\n
The government launched the program in 1993, providing annual
\naid of Rp 20 million (approximately US$8,800) to each of the
\nnation's 20,622 poorest villages. The money is used for the
\nvillagers to launch income generating projects.<\/p>\n
In addition, businessmen have been asked to annual aid of Rp
\n20 billion to help the poor not yet reached by the government
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
\"Our enemies today are poverty and ignorance,\" Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
During the ceremony, President Soeharto watched a tableaux
\ndepicting freedom fighters climbing onto the roof of a train and
\nwaving the national flag in defiance of their enemies.<\/p>\n
Heavy rain provided a backdrop for the scene which took place
\nnear the Heroes Monument. The monument is a memorial for the
\nfreedom fighters who died in 1945 during armed conflicts with
\nDutch troops trying to reassert the Netherlands' colonial rule.<\/p>\n
In his speech earlier in the day, President Soeharto reminded
\nthe people to work hard and improve the quality of the services
\nthey provide and the goods they produce.<\/p>\n
Only with such efforts can Indonesia face stiff competition in
\nthe international market, he said.<\/p>\n
\"There's no other way for us but to prepare ourselves as best
\nas we can,\" he said. \"Only then can we compete with more advanced
\ncountries.\"<\/p>\n
\"The international community will choose goods and service of
\ngood quality and with competitive prices,\" he said. \"Our people
\nshould be able to improve their performance so that we can stand
\nup in confidence within this competitive world.\" (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dont-bring-up-past-generations-mistakes-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}