THE SPIRIT OF BHINNEKA
More than 17.000 islands, 250
millions people, 1300 tribes, 5 religions, 700 languages and a thousand
cultures remarkably describes that Indonesia is one of the biggest countries in the
world. Having various cultures can be an advantage for a nation, but it is
possible to be a disadvantage if people in there can’t respect the difference one
another.
I am an Indonesian and so proud
of being the people of Indonesia. Feeling the differences and varieties which
have become the identity of Indonesia has made me more grateful. My blood
divided by two cultures, and two traditions –Java and Gorontalo- always teaches
me to believe that the differences can be united and beautiful.
All along of my life, I met many
friends having the different ethnic groups and religion with me. I am a muslim, and have a good relation with Christians, Buddhists and Hindu people. The experience
was so amazing, moreover I spent my time mostly with Makassar, Bugis, Toraja and Tionghoa people,
because I lived in south Celebes since I was a kid. As long as that time, I
never got bad treatment from the others -the native people there - about the
culture. Also, never watching occasion which showed disrespectful behavior
between the minority and majority by my own self in my socialization.
Even though we can’t disprove
that in every difference occurred will give the challenge and problems to us to
face. In the real moment, occasionally a number of Indonesians still don’t
understand yet how to act and tolerate wisely with the thing which is different with
them and they disagree with the other people. But, still exist until the number appointing
71 years as a one nation today has proved that we have successfully answered most
of the challenges.
We can’t resist and must admit
that Indonesia built by our heroes from a whole of nation many years ago contains of various and a lot
of cultures and differences. According to the history, it’s easy for us properly
to accept the difference among us by convincing Indonesia would never be
Indonesia even if losing just one ethnic/tribe of us. Because nobody is
perfect, so that we need the others to complete us. That’s why our founding
father created a motto ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” which means unity in diversity as
our guidance to develop our nation with the spirit of togetherness.
This nation will never be great
if its people can’t still appreciate the difference among us such us the others’ ethnic,
language, tradition, and definitely religion. Don’t want to be involved in
every situation such as politic issue and self or group-interest which has a
bad purpose and bad effect to destroy our harmony in national society.
We should assume the difference
we had as our positive opportunity to soar aloft as a big nation. We have to see our variety as
the precious asset we must watch over. We must make our diversity become our
advantages for us to live in peace. And we must implement the true spirit of
Bhinneka Tunggal Ika as well as what our founding father think and hope to us.
“Kemerdekaaan adalah hasil dari segenap
perjuangan rakyat. Maka itu pula menjadi pikiran Bapak, negara Republik
Indonesia ini bukan milik satu golongan, bukan milik sesuatu agama, bukan milik
sesuatu suku, bukan milik sesuatu golongan adat-istiadat, tetapi milik kita
semua dari Sabang sampai ke Merauke! Perjuangan untuk merebut kemerdekaan ini
dijalankan oleh semua bangsa Indonesia.
Alat perekat batin yang utama bagi bangsa
Indonesia adalah Pancasila. Ingat, kita ini bukan dari satu suku bangsa, bukan
dari satu suku adat istiadat. Ingat, kita bukan dari satu agama. Bhinneka
Tunggal Ika, berbeda-beda tetapi satu jua, demikianlah tertulis di lambang Negara
kita. Ingat, kita ini ‘Bhinneka’, dan untuk mempersatukan bangsa yang
berbeda-beda itu diperlukan satu ‘semen batin’ yang dapat menyemen seluruh
bangsa Indonesia yang beraneka warna itu, dari Sabang sampai Merauke, dari
Miangas sampai ke Numodale, adalah Pancasila.”
-Ir. Soekarno-
So let’s make all of differences
become a beauty and unity for our Indonesia.
May God blesses Indonesia!
MERDEKA!
