Scholars to discuss national pride, identity<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Hundreds of scholars will discuss at a seminar
\ntoday how education should be developed so that it can rebuild
\n\"national identity and dignity\".<\/p>\n
The seminar, to be held at the University of Indonesia in
\nDepok, West Java, is to submit its recommendations to the
\ngovernment, either directly or through the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
It also commemorates National Education Day which falls today.<\/p>\n
The board of the Association of Alumni of Indonesian
\nUniversities, whose membership encompasses graduates from 72
\nstate universities and 1,128 private universities, organized the
\nseminar.<\/p>\n
From Airlangga University here, former rector Marsetio
\nDonoseputro, heart surgeon Puruhito and economist Tjoek Sukiadi
\nare expected to attend.<\/p>\n
Marsetio has prepared a paper in which he expounds the virtues
\nof restoring the nation's identity and dignity through self-
\nrespect and responsibility.<\/p>\n
\"I notice that Indonesians lack these two things. My concept
\nis to develop and maintain self-respect and a sense of
\nresponsibility through education.<\/p>\n
\"What I mean by self-respect is that you are not cheating,
\nlying or doing something that is against your conscience, which
\nis what many of our leaders are doing.\"<\/p>\n
He said the words of officials and the nation's leaders did
\nnot match their actions.<\/p>\n
\"Student demonstrations have now reached the fourth phase (of
\nactivism),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"First, they were disappointed (by the situation and leaders
\ndeceiving the people). Second, they became angry. In the third
\nstage, they began blaming the government (for the situation).<\/p>\n
\"Now, they demand that the government take responsibility.<\/p>\n
\"Many of our leaders give irresponsible statements, or simply
\ndon't take responsibility for their actions.\"<\/p>\n
Marsetio cited, as an example of the lack of respect, news
\nreports in which members of the House of Representatives were
\nbeaming with pride because President Soeharto invited them to an
\nunprecedented meeting of officials, military leaders, and
\npolitical organization leaders.<\/p>\n
\"It was really inappropriate,\" said Marsetio, a former House
\nmember from the ruling Golkar. \"In fact, it should have been the
\nHouse members themselves who invited the President to the
\nmeeting, instead of the other way around.<\/p>\n
\"Second, the President did not invite them in person, through
\na formal invitation, but by telephone calls made by the
\nassistants of the secretary-general of the House of
\nRepresentatives.\" (26)<\/p>",
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