What's your sense of patriotism on Independence Day?

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.