Nationalism

Nationalism

From Merdeka

For hundreds of years, our freedom fighters fought many wars
to drive out the Dutch imperialist power. And with the
establishment of Boedi Oetomo in 1908 and the declaration of the
Youth Pledge in 1928, they worked against all odds to build up
the nation's sense of nationalism and nurture their patriotism.

All these freedom pioneers readily gave up everything
belonging to them, body and soul, for the sake of their nation's
freedom and the expulsion of colonial power from their land. They
are worth praising and remembering always because none of them
joined the struggle for independence eying a position or material
wealth, let alone stashing away U.S. dollars. They successfully
aroused their people's love for the nation.

They fought together, arm in arm, imbued with the spirit of
national unity and union.

In order that this nation be free from narrow-minded
nationalism and chauvinism, Bung Karno formulated in his teaching
that "... our nationalism is the nationalism that lives on the
garden of nationalism."

This sense of nationalism and patriotism is instilled in the
minds of the young so that all Indonesians, from Sabang to
Merauke, will share a common perception with their leaders.

To cope with the present economic turbulence and to find a
solution to the ongoing monetary crisis, many of our leaders and
high-ranking officials have again spoken of nationalism. It is
said that nationalism is needed because many business tycoons and
entrepreneurs have accumulated dollars at home and abroad,
causing, therefore, the people's plight. Besides, our economic
and political experts as well as our officials must always bear
in mind that an economic crisis must be settled both economically
and politically. Hence the need for economic and political
reforms. It turns out that nationalism is sought when we are in
trouble.

MARSOESI

Surabaya, East Java