There was something different in the latest ceremony commemorating Indonesia\'s Independence Day. The President and Vice President wore traditional attire during the ceremony.
Not only did the President and Vice President wear traditional attire but so did the invitees and participants of the ceremony. Like those participating in the ceremony commemorating the 72nd Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, participants of Independence Day ceremonies in the regions also wore traditional attire. After the flag-hoisting ceremony at the palace, a fashion show displaying contemporary traditional clothes took place.
What we saw during Thursday\'s ceremonies commemorating Independence Day was an expression of our cultural diversity.
Indonesia is like a rainbow that is rich in cultural diversity, both in terms of art and religious ritual traditions and customs; diversity in ethnicities and languages. It was completely correct when the Founding Fathers of this Nation chose the slogan of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) as an expression of diversity and plurality of Indonesia.
Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, according to history, was the motto of a Buddhist of the Majapahit Kingdom, Empu Tantular. Its objective at that time was to encourage Hindu-Buddha followers to get along and live harmoniously. When the Founding Fathers of the Indonesian Nation chose the motto, its objective was apparently to emphasize that even though we are different in ethnicities, religions, cultures, customs, languages, and others, we remain united: one Indonesian nation. United in diversity.
With Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, Indonesia is expected to become a nation that is willing to respect and appreciate differences and encourage care to fellow citizens. Therefore, this nation has to be brave enough to act firmly against various efforts which deny differences, question diversity, disproving plurality which constitutes the identity of the Indonesian nation and state.
What has to be carried out is opening the horizon, especially for the next generation. This is an initial step to foster the unity of the nation.
If each ethnicity and each tribe struggled individually at that time, independence would possibly not be achieved. Therefore, we are obliged to be grateful that the Founding Fathers of the Nation, the fighters, realized we are one nation. We have to continuously maintain, safeguard and defend this spirit up to the last drop of our blood.
