Flag burning insults people

Flag burning insults people

My heart ached profoundly when I watched, on TV, the Red-and-
White flag burning incident in Australia, the scribbling in the
Philippines, and when I learned of a similar incident in New
Zealand. I felt like I had been struck dumb, not even being able
to murmur a few syllables. Don't they know how Indonesians feel
about their flag?

I recall the times when I was still in Elementary, Junior and
Senior High Schools. As a member of the flag hoisting team, I
will never forget one thing: Never let the Red-and-White touch
the ground, right from attaching it to the rope, unfurling it,
and hoisting it to the top of the pole. To intentionally or even
inadvertently let it touch the ground will only disgrace what we
are supposed to hold in high respect.

This is why the above mentioned incidents have deeply insulted
me.

Why are they so ignorant of the meaning of the Red-and-White?
To us Indonesians, the Red-and-White is not only a reminder of
our patriots, who fell headfirst when shot while holding sharp-
pointed bamboos with the much-loved Red-and-White fixed to them.
It is not only a recollection of our courageous freedom fighters,
who died with their hands still holding the red-and-white stripes
so tightly. Neither is it just an image for the red color of the
blood and the white of the brains of our patriotic youths, who
died in the quest for freedom from the yoke of colonialism.

The Red-and-White is a loved reality, it is loved now and for
ever, as long as this nation is a child of planet Earth.

The Red-and-White is so significant, proudly fixed to bikes,
pedi-cabs, carts, and cars on special occasions. We also proudly
hoist it in front of our homes and offices on particularly
sanctified occasions. Let every soul know that we do this with
heartfelt sincerity. There is nothing for you to doubt this fact.

Perhaps the foreign nationals are not aware of the fact that
Indonesian athletes cry out of joy and pride when their national
flag is hoisted after they gain the gold medal in a certain
sports event, such as the SEA Games, Asian Games or Olympic
Games. Foreign athletes may yell joyful shouts on similar
occasions but our athletes, in the first instance, are
overwhelmed with emotion and it is only later they may shout in a
joyful manner. It is an expression of deep love for their nation,
that is represented by the Red-and-White flag.

Other countries may have different ways of treating their
national flags, by making trousers or shirts from them, or use
them as decorations for T-shirts or cassette covers, or even make
them a laughing stock. But that is not the case with Indonesians.
We not only hold our flag in the highest respect, but we also
have a high respect for other nations' flags. This is evident
because there is a law which penalizes activities causing harm to
other countries' flags. I strongly oppose burning the flag of a
foreign country here. Please, take a note of this!

Shouting slanderous words against Indonesia may not be too
insulting. But insulting the Red-and-White is an unforgivable
misdeed, and it would not fail to make Indonesians agitated and
cause deep anger. By Indonesians I mean the whole population,
from Aceh to Irian Jaya, from kindergarten children to veterans
walking with the support of a walking stick.

Let the honorable gentlemen in the Australian, Philippine and
any other countries' embassies in Jakarta be convincingly aware
of this sentiment of ours. An insult towards our national flag
will remain imprinted in our minds for a long time, it will leave
an imprint in the hearts of the people.

Friendly countries should always make every effort to maintain
good relations, by trying to annihilate problems that can upset
the good relations with their neighbors. Even more so, when it
concerns sensitive matters which not only upset the government
but may also insult the people even more.

HENDRY CH. BANGUN

Ciputat, West Java