Learning from Sports

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

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The 2018 Asian Games provides a valuable lesson on political citizenship, not only in its spectacular opening ceremony that has assured us of Indonesia\'s potential as a cultural power in the world. Nor does the issue concern our medal achievements, so we do not lose face as a great nation; nor is it limited to our athletes’ sweat and pain that reflects their awareness of fighting for the country. What is more important is the spirit of inclusive citizenship that has merged all our differences within the shared struggle for the national pride and achievements.

Let us look to the various team sports, such as women’s volleyball. In that event, veiled athletes play shoulder-to-shoulder with their teammates wearing cross necklaces without any psychological barrier. All identities are equal as they embrace each other, voice the same cheer, as they fall and hold back the onslaught while launching attacks. Watching moments like these can make us cry from joy and pride. It is a fact that the medals we have won are the contributions of athletes with diverse backgrounds. The spirit of inclusive, equal citizenship has merged differences into the harmonious unity that has led this nation to victory.

Such examples from sports inspire us to strengthen social cohesion amid national polarization and fragmentation. That transformation into national integration requires strengthening in the "five awarenesses": national awareness, state consciousness, governance awareness, social awareness and awareness in defending the country.

The realization of these five types of awareness is reflected in the spirit of national unity and independence, an inclusive citizenship, individual rights and interests aligned harmoniously with community responsibility and interests, the dynamics of mutual cooperation, and a patriotism that is willing to make sacrifices.

The road leading to that direction requires the establishment of equal citizenship through the elimination of a discriminatory feudalistic and colonialist-capitalistic social structure, to be replaced by the egalitarian structure and culture of a Pancasila society that possesses a spirit of national unity that can overcome both individual and group interests.

In order to realize this, the economic foundation and the cultural mentality superstructure must be overhauled. In business, equality can be nurtured through encouraging a culture of mutual cooperation and assistance. All business entities (state-owned enterprises, cooperatives and private companies) must embody the character of "giving and receiving help" (kinship). Internally, every business must develop “Pancasila industrial relations” that benefits all stakeholders. Externally, the three business entities must implement a division and interdependence among roles in controlling and exploiting economic sectors from the upstream to the downstream. Control over the upstream-downstream sectors must be prevented from falling into the hands of a monopolistic and oligopolistic individual.

Strengthening equality in the economic structure requires a state that is free to determine its own fate. The nation-state must develop a mindset and capability towards self-sufficiency by buying domestic products (as much as possible). The Indonesian nation should not cultivate extravagant economic behavior, biting off more than it can chew, which could be an entry point for a foreign power to dictate our planning and policy for the national economy.

The transformation into a Pancasila society also requires a change in cultural mentality. The change must head towards dismantling the feudalistic-colonialist-hedonistic and slave mentality by eliminating the bad, old values, preserving good values and striving to create new and improved values that are better aligned to the values of Pancasila. Cultural efforts should be directed primarily towards developing a mindset that is based on equality, independence, mutual cooperation, trust and public service to enhance the quality of humanity, civilization and unity.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Yudi Latif

Cultural imperialism must be prevented through protecting and safeguarding the development of national culture by integrating local brilliance with a global vision for development. It is necessary to strengthen the archipelagic mentality through a greater focus on the maritime vision to expand the cultural horizon beyond a land-based perspective. Development must be anchored in cultural capital through promoting literacy, research and creative innovation among the public.

Only through developing a structure and culture of equality will social inclusion be inherent in national plurality. As in sports, social inclusion prevents differences from causing disputes and conflicts, but instead aligns differences in complementing and strengthening each other towards national achievements and progress.

Yudi Latif, Lecturer at the State University of Yogyakarta