Spirit of togetherness

Spirit of togetherness

Speaking on the occasion of the Waisak celebration on July 12,
1994, President Soeharto said that the sociocultural society of
Indonesia is a natural phenomenon. So we have to respect each
other in our social life. According to the President, we have no
choice but to nurture the spirit of togetherness, so that
differences prevailing among us become a dynamic force in our
course to progress and achieve common goals.

This perception is not new. It remains factual and relevant
for various reasons. One of the reasons is that the globalization
tide has caused a pluralistic nation to disintegrate. This
apparently happened because the unity of the nation, which
consisted of different ethnic groups, was based on the power of
arms, instead of the people's conscience. The nations with plural
societies must learn a lesson from this fact and question the
nature of their pluralism.

As far as Indonesia is concerned, the society will see whether
the implementation of development serves to solidify and
strengthen the spirit of togetherness, and encourage social
solidarity. This is the real challenge facing us.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta