Celebrating independence day

Celebrating independence day

From Neraca

The month of August is just around the corner. Indonesians
will celebrate this historic month in various ways. Sports, art
festivals and other activities will climax on Independence Day,
Aug. 17.

Every time we celebrate the national day, the festivities are
colored by extravagant activities. The programs are filled with
all kinds of races and contests, most of them childish such as
shrimp chip eating contests etc. There is nothing wrong with such
games really. But to cultivate patriotism and nationalism, more
serious and beneficial programs could be introduced, a special
program involving government institutions and large-scale
companies.

For example, government institutions should be required to
repaint their buildings white so as to alter their appearance.
This sort of thing was done in the 1960s and could be revived for
a change. Companies could do the same and advise their regional
branches to follow suit.

On this important occasion, religious leaders could also be
involved in uplifting patriotism and love of the country.

MUHAMMAD LIEM

Bogor, West Java