What's your sense of patriotism on Independence Day?

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In a country run ragged by assorted problems, from corruption to crime, terrorism and lack of leadership, does a sense of patriotism still have a place?

As Indonesia celebrates its 58th Independence Day anniversary today, we talked to its citizens, ranging from much-criticized Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso to a Papua high school student visiting the capital for the first time, about this special day.

Ade Rai, national bodybuilding star and fitness center entrepreneur:

Celebrating this anniversary means many things. It may stir thoughts about our successes or prompt us to think about our failures.

It should remind us about the obstacles we encountered in the past and prod us to try to find a way for a better future.

Celebrating Independence Day is basically the same from year to year. However, the message it conveys varies each year, relevant to the current hardships.

Indonesia seems to be facing its most complicated problems this year in all walks of life, be it politics, the economy and even sports.

Security is the most prominent issue today after the recent Marriott bombing, which follows the Bali bombings.

Do we want all these problems to beleaguer us? Should we just sit back and let things go from bad to worse?

The Independence Day anniversary should be able to unite the nation and provide fresh motivation for us to create a better future.

Samudra Sukardi, chairman, PT Abacus Distribution System Indonesia:

Independence Day reminds us that we should take advantage of the freedom to do something for our country. I think nationalism and patriotism are still very much alive.

We still feel that we are free. It won't change. We can see how people react to issues about national pride. For example, the issue with the International Monetary Fund or when two U.S. aircraft entered Indonesian airspace.

I don't think our image is that battered in the international community, but they do see what we have done so far with our independence.

To boost our national pride, I think the key lies in education. We lag far behind other countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. They have many educated people. If we had a good education system, then the Indonesian people would behave more intelligently. Good education boosts self-esteem.

We are among the largest oil and gas producers, so why don't we do something about education? We should have free education from elementary school through high school, so that many more people could attend university.

Abdul Malik Fajar, minister of national education:

On this 58th celebration of Independence Day, Indonesians have to understand their situation very well. We need a common agreement, respect for each other, not to make demands on each other, but to look to the future.

This is particularly true among state leaders and politicians, who are now seen as being in a critical condition.

If this becomes a prolonged situation, we might lose our confidence as a nation. And if that happens, it will be as though we have lost everything.

Somehow the demands of globalization also bring problems in our lives. We are still crawling along while the demands of globalization are so great.

Artha Marpaung, 16, a high school student from Jayapura, Papua. She is visiting the capital as a participant in the 2003 Youth Scientific Study Competition.

Independence means the whole world to me because without it I could not participate in this national event and meet fellow students from across the archipelago.

I have lived in Papua since I was born. It is a very beautiful and comfortable place to live. For me, Papua has more of a true Indonesian atmosphere, as people in the province treat people the same socially, and almost all people speak Bahasa Indonesia.

I understand that Jakarta is the melting pot of Indonesia, but it surprises me that many people in this city prefer to use their own dialect, especially Javanese. And people here seem to make such a big deal about what one's religion is.

I used to think that independence meant that all people are equal, and instead of focusing on the differences between us people would emphasize what we have in common.

It breaks my heart to see the reality here. I feel a lot more comfortable back home in Papua.

Thomas Darmawan, executive director of the Indonesian Food and Beverages Producers Association:

Indonesia should use this year's Independence Day as a momentous time to revive the idea of nationalism. We should learn from other countries, like the United States and China, that in times of war and sorrow, people must unite and together improve their situation.

The government, the people and businesspeople all have to prioritize nationalism, meaning we have to build our economy together, opening up as many employment opportunities as we can and upholding shared welfare and fairness in our lives.

In this liberalized era, the world is borderless. Imported products and foreign workers can enter Indonesia easily. We cannot close ourselves off from the outside like Myanmar, for instance, but we should launch a campaign for the people to love their own products.

I think previous campaigns on the same issue were not successful. We should do better.

So we have to enhance the competitiveness of our products, increasing their quality while at the same time keeping their prices low. The government should, for example, cut all the fees that are a burden for consumers.

For instance, Medan oranges are better than imported oranges. But they are not as popular as the imported ones because they are more expensive due to several levies imposed during the distribution process.

Sutradara Gintings, legislator from the Indonesian Nationhood Unity party.

Nationalism and patriotism will always be relevant if their meanings are adjusted with current conditions. Now we face the threat of disintegration, the challenges of globalization, as well as diminishing national pride.

We see that nationalism and patriotism are still relevant to answer these three problems.

Nationalism and patriotism cannot be put in the context of 1945, but in the present context.

To me, efforts to restore national pride will depend on three things: solidarity between leaders and the people, the presence of leaders that provide motivation and the ability to give the people solutions to their problems.

The commemoration of independence is a time for me reflect on recent years: Has the situation become better? Has security been improved? Have the people become the pride of their nation?

Optimistically, we have the ability to improve, but with two conditions. First, there must be a better political system, and there must be better national leaders.

Sutiyoso, Jakarta governor.

This Independence Day should remind us about the importance of unity among all elements of society. The bombing at the JW Marriott Hotel ... should make us realize that our problems must be faced together.

However, we should be able to put ourselves in the right position (to contribute). What we see now is that many people want to become leaders, become number one. It's an unhealthy situation because people need to serve different functions in society.

Employees should be good employees; businesspeople should be good employers; a public driver should be a good driver. If everyone fulfilled their functions, they would create harmony in society.

I think Independence Day should be a moment for contemplation: Have we done our respective functions well, or are we are just good at criticizing others?

T. Gayus Lumbuun, a senior lawyer and member of the Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin):

I feel that the people's sense of nationalism and patriotism is weakening. There are fewer people celebrating Independence Day; games and sports contest are on the decline in terms of quantity here in Jakarta, for example. In the past, people were enthusiastic about celebrating the day.

I was born in 1948, and when I was a child, I had a much stronger feeling of nationalism and patriotism in the country.

We don't know the reason for the declining sense of patriotism, but the people may be fed up with the attitude of the political elite and political parties that fight only for their own interests, not for the people.

People have begun losing trust in their leaders, and it has badly affected their sense of nationalism and patriotism.