I pledge allegiance

Every morning students of elementary and high schools in the United States stand in their school yard before the American flag and recite, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the principles for which it stands...etc".

To commemorate the Sept. 11 tragedy people sang America the beautiful and on TV it was clear that everybody seemed to know all the lyrics of the song. A retired school teacher here told me that many youngsters in elementary schools nowadays do not even know the words of Indonesia Raya, our national anthem, nor do they know national songs like Padamu Negeri (To you my country we will pledge allegiance, to you my country will we serve)..., and Dari Sabang sampai Merauke (From Sabang to Merauke).

Lessons in Budi Pekerti (morality and good conduct) were also scrapped from the curriculum by the former minister of education, Daud Yusuf, in the name of progress. People are now complaining about the lack of nationalist feeling among youngsters and the danger of Indonesia's disintegration.

In contrast, 200 year-old America thinks it is still necessary to continue to nurture nationalist feelings. Why do we not start the same curriculum again, like before. Instead of complaining, we should engage in analyzing, deliberating the cause of all these problems. It is only a small step to start educating the young in the right direction. I hope our current minister of education will take note of this suggestion.

SUMARSONO SASTROWARDOYO

Jakarta