Spirit of togetherness

Fri, 15 Jul 1994 | Source: WYS

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

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