Proud to be an Indonesian<\/p>\n
I was very disappointed to learn that Eka Dewi (The Jakarta
\nPost, Oct. 29, 2003) does not respect our country and does not
\nfeel proud to be an Indonesian. A student of the London School of
\nPublic Relations, she cannot make the distinction between a state
\nand a government.<\/p>\n
Corruption, collusion and nepotism are practiced by some
\ngovernment officials, who, ironically, used to condemn corruptors
\nwhen they were younger. Now that they enjoy important government
\npositions, their corrupt practices are worse than their
\npredecessors.<\/p>\n
If Eka and the like do not feel proud to be Indonesian and are
\nreluctant to sing the national anthem, Indonesia does not need
\nthem and they may move abroad.<\/p>\n
These people do not have any gratitude for the older
\ngeneration and their sacrifices in defending our independence.
\nThousands of them died fighting the Dutch colonial soldiers, who
\nalso killed thousands of civilians.<\/p>\n
When I was in elementary school, I was bitterly angry upon
\nseeing a picture of the transportation by sea of our freedom
\nfighters to Boven Digul (now Irian Jaya), their land of
\nbanishment. Their legs chained, these people were also chained to
\none another to prevent them from jumping into the sea.<\/p>\n
In the colonial era, there were only five elementary schools
\nfor indigenous Indonesian children and children of Chinese and
\nArabic origin in Surakarta, but today there are innumerable
\ngovernment elementary schools there.<\/p>\n
Yuki, of Chinese descent, feels she has been discriminated
\nagainst. If so, she should move to another country where there is
\nno discrimination. Chinese-Indonesians, while being discriminated
\nagainst, also practice discrimination. Few indigenous Indonesians
\nare found in the top management of large companies owned by
\nChinese-Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Contrary to the youngsters, I am proud to be Indonesian. In
\nthis respect we must always remember how our independence was
\nachieved.<\/p>\n
Some countries were lucky enough to receive their independence
\nfrom their former colonizers. Indonesia, however, had to fight
\nhard and bitterly to gain its freedom, both through diplomatic
\nchannels and armed resistance.<\/p>\n
As a schoolboy I joined the independence war. Armed with only
\nprimitive weapons, we defeated the Dutch soldiers who were
\nequipped with modern weapons.<\/p>\n
SUNARTO PRAWIROSUJANTO
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/proud-to-be-an-indonesian-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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