Whither the national ethos?<\/p>\n
In a comment on the ongoing debate regarding the amendment
\nprocess of the 1945 Constitution, Yislam Alwini in this column
\n(The Jakarta Post, April 22) stated that \"no matter if the
\nConstitution is changed a thousand times, it will remain
\nimperfect\".<\/p>\n
Speaking of a constitution, even England, after all, is famous
\nfor having no written constitution. Nevertheless, its legal
\nsystem works in an orderly way and its integrity is exemplary. Of
\ncourse, the Magna Carta is famous, dating back to June 15, 1215,
\nbut it is not a full-fledged and comprehensive written
\nconstitution.<\/p>\n
Now, national political discourse is engaged in a relentless
\ndebate on the process of the amendment of the 1945 Constitution.
\nFive groups or mainstreams of contestants can be distinguished
\naccording to their respective stance taken vis-a-vis the issue.
\nEach of the groups has a political basis and rationale of its own
\nto plead its cause. For this reason, one must be aware that it
\nwill be futile for any group to remain adamant about its
\nabsolutist doctrine of self-righteousness or self-justification.<\/p>\n
As in facing the problem of the desired amendments, there must
\nbe no room for any of the contesting groups to take on a diehard
\nstance, alternatively, an attitude of enlightenment inspired by
\nbroad vision, rationalism, pragmatism, and an accommodative
\nspirit of reconciliation must prevail among the groups.<\/p>\n
What will be the judgment rendered by the people of the far-
\nflung outer regions, if the political elite in the nation's
\ncapital fail to materialize at least the essential amendments? In
\nthis context, the stance advocated by the coalition of NGO's to
\ncreate a new constitution must be fully reappraised as regards
\nthe timing, momentum, and sense of urgency, notwithstanding the
\nfact that their aspirations and cause are well understood and
\nrecognized. The latter belongs to the younger generation.<\/p>\n
If Thailand, the Philippines and South Africa reportedly were
\nsuccessful in updating their constitution, where is the
\nIndonesian state of mind, its national mentality or national
\npride heading for, should the current constitutional process meet
\na dead end?<\/p>\n
S. SUHAEDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/whither-the-national-ethos-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }