BHINEKA TUNGGAL IKA EMBRACES INDONESIA
Written By : Muhammad Risal (Mahasantri Semester VII)
The diversity is one of distinction of Indonesia, because here the freedom of Religion, the diversity of Culture, Tribes and society combine in one nation and run side by side since long time ago. every effort in provoking and harming the nation of Indonesia is always dammed by the slogan of Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in diversity).
The diversity is realized as a power to maintain the nation of this country which is undeniable. The diversity is also realized as unifying diversity, accepting the differentiation as the source of power neither as harm nor interruption. All cultures, Religions and tribes run in their own portion where all of them are united with the nationalism and the proudness as a part of Indonesia.
The diversity is a unifying pillar of this nation that must be kept as the proudness and as the reflection of compound and diversity nation which has thousands of islands and various cultures but we are still united in the name of “Bhineka Tunggal Ika”.
Bhineka Tunggal ika cannot leave as slogan of our country only but we have to take a deep meaning on it. It should be interpreted in every citizen of Indonesia that this slogan is a power to keep our nation united. Basically, the slogan of Indonesia has an important meaning which reflected in Tolerance and Unity. Tolerance makes all the diversity melted into the spirit of unity and prevents the conflict and disagreement. Unity is a thing that must be done to keep the balance in the diversity to reach the goal from the various races, tribes, cultures and religions.
The diversity is an undeniable reality which is exists to support the peace in nation life. The diversity must be reflected by all citizens through the multicultural understanding base on spiritualism spirit. The differences of ethnics, religions, or ideologies become inseparable from the history of Indonesia with Bhineka Tunggal Ika and Tolerance as main reason to unite in compound nation. This slogan is printed on the feet of Garuda as the symbol of Garuda Pancasila Nation.
Otherwise, we must keep and apply the meaning of Bhineka Tunggal Ika concretely and implemented in nation life, because all of us love Indonesia and have an obligation to keep the unity and sovereignty of our nation because we have stated that NKRI is disputed (NKRI Harga Mati).
The essential of Bhineka Tunggal Ika consist of the values of unity to reach the nation’s goal to protect, improve the welfare, educate the citizen and take a part in keeping the world peaceful.
In daily life, especially in politics era since the early of 2018, The slogan of Bhineka Tunggal Ika become a positive energy in facing the process of diversity. The philosophy of Bhineka Tunggal Ika is a result of contemplation, feeling and thought of founding father of Indonesia, which appointed in a system to face the limitless of globalization era. If there is no a sturdy base, it will make the process of acculturation in Globalization era, could fade the self-esteem of Indonesia.
The improvement of technology of information and communication has affected the identity of citizens which proven by decreasing of the spirit of Gotongroyong become individualism, selfish and materialistic side. The dignity of human is measured by wealth, even the polling of the election is directly proportional as the money received by voter (Money politics). The value of honesty is getting rare, instant habits, become a bad manner with no punish. Transactional crime has become a common things for example Drugs, Money Laundry, terrorism, it’s horrible.
Therefore, to maintain and develop the national integrity is needed to show the unity of nation. it is appropriate that Bhineka Tunggal Ika become medium to construct this nation. Still there is a hope for the unity of the nation which holds by citizen who keeps the care of unity of nation, citizen and region. For instance, In Aceh’s Tsunami disaster (2004), Yogyakarta Earthquake (2006), Padang Earthquake (2009), Merapi Eruption (2010), Sukhoi Crash (2012), and some list of national disaster happened. Spontaneously Indonesian applies the Pancasila without commando to show their empathy and sympathy. The volunteers, generous spontaneously raise the charity with helping-hand, needed Stuff and thought with no burden sincerely to enlighten the victim’s suffering. They give their hands without limit of religions, tribes, races, language, culture, political views. All come for one reason to give a hand to serve the victims in the name of humanity, gotongroyong spirit and kinship.
The unity in Indonesia can be likened as rainbow on the sky. The rainbow shows their shining bright color itself, red, Violet, Yellow, Green, Blue, Orange and Purple, after the rain. Each color show their own color never been blended and harm others. The composition of rainbow’s color happened because each color takes their own place and never get pass out of their line. Each color never try to dominate or paly Superior or Inferior role. In that case what makes rainbow amazing, beautiful, and good-looking.
All looks beautiful because of differentiation, what if all looks same, so it will be so bored. If there is any differentiation how to solve it harmonically without accentuate the diversity and egoism. Listen to other opinion wisely by showing the empathy is more respectable than attacking harshly. The diversity is beautiful as rainbow that spread the positive nuance to construct this nation.
Indonesia could take a big part of creating the peaceful of the world by promoting the values that consist in slogan of Bhineka Tunggal Ika, because the shape of diversity that can blended harmonically for real in Indonesia. As spoken by the member of papal council for cross religion discussion, Romo Markus Solo Kewuta. “What is our contribution for world peaceful? Bhineka Tunggal Ika is one of Indonesian Brand for this” he stated in Diaspora congress, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Markus said that he had an eager to find out about Indonesian’s Tolerance for cross religion community, after attended the ceremony of the opening of Malaysian’s Ambassador Office in Vatican, on May. The Tolerance slogan of Indonesia uses Sansekerta language, Markus stated, which also learned by Vatican as the highest institution in Catholic. As the 10 years ago when he sworn as member of papal advisor, Vatican official discussed about Bhineka Tunggal Ika with him. Markus said, Vatican officers gives Indonesian’s map and praised that Indonesia is beautiful because of their successful in maintain the peaceful among the diversity of their citizen. “They interested on Indonesia because of the contribution of the citizen to keep the Diversity live side by side and prosperous.
Moslem figure from Indonesia who lives in New York, Shamsi Ali, encourage the religion leader to take big portion in maintaining the unity among the citizen. One of the key is, the religion leader is not allowed to stop to elaborate the understanding of Holy Books as the current development. The understanding which is irrelevant to Indonesia must be filtered, and it does not make sense that Indonesia is banged from outsider. The one who can do filtering is Ulama. “It can be real when Ulama teach themselves”, he said. Shamsi is known as Imam in Moderat Mosque that has influence in New York. In 2013 he wrote a book Son Of Abraham : A Candid Conversation About The Issue That Divide And Unite Jews And Muslim together with Jew priest named Marc Schneider, “The religion leader must upgrade the knowledge in their mind. The information in past 10 years can be so relevant to the current time. The things that never changes is Holy book, while the understanding on Holy book commonly changed” Shamsiam stated. The values of Bhineka Tunggal Ika in Indonesians can be revealed integrally with the co-working of all components in society. Not only by Government as the state organizer, but also by every citizen in Indonesia. Socialization of actual understanding of Bhineka Tunggal Ika’s value must be done by real action in our daily life by all citizens in order to strengthen the national integration, due to the diversity of Religion, races, tribes, language, geographical condition, social strata that hold by Indonesian. Indonesia, as a compound country, under the national system of leadership, including the government, must synergize without accentuate the diversity of culture, religion, language, ethnic, or even social strata to actualize the Country’s dream as the commitment that stated in Bhineka Tunggal Ika in Pancasila. The sign of compound citizen of Indonesia which integrated nationally is really important as the distinction and potency that can be elaborated and as reference in communicating the National dignity.
As Santri has wide opportunity to be part of generation who will understand and protect Bhineka Tunggal Ika, as we know, how Santri struggled in achieving and keeping the independent of Indonesia. Santri can maintain the values of moderate Islam that reflected Islam as a peaceful religion, keep the harmony with all citizens, show up the calmness, polite, and bring peace to anyone around them. Because in every Santri there is a big spirit to protect the nation, obey the leader, and raise up the value of kindness that been taught in Islam. So, the term of Islam as Rahmatan Lil Alamin religion can be felt by all parties.