The Power of Solidarity

The spirit of mutual cooperation and independence is an antibody against various national crises, including the massive spread of the coronavirus. This virus must be confronted simultaneously by everyone.

KUM

J Kristiadi

The elder of the siblings, that are like Siamese twins, is called Covid-19, the youngest is named social disintegration. They are two evil "creatures" that threaten the existence of humanity. The elder one is able to paralyze the country\'s economy, which causes an increase in unemployment, poverty and social inequality as well as the loss of hope.

Various social pathologies are fertile ground for the development of negative solidarity. Its contagion will be more deadly if it is accompanied by jealousy and hatred based on God-given nature: origin, race, ethnicity or belief. This kind of community disease can very easily trigger social unrest.

If it is too late to handle, Covid-19 and social disintegration will expand quickly. They will rampage blindly and massively so that it can tear apart the fabric of society. They can threaten human lives and humanity. Proper policies are needed to ward off their tantrums. It should be at least in two policy levels.

If it is too late to handle, Covid-19 and social disintegration will expand quickly.

First, the policy at the "macrocosmic" level in order to prevent mass unrest. Choosing the right policy option is not easy given the complexity of the problem so that almost all choices are always a dilemma.

Ultimately, after collecting various public opinions, President Jokowi issued a policy decision in the form of large-scale social restrictions and health emergency status. This is expected to be a guideline for government officials at all levels.

Also read : Coronavirus and Politics

DOK. SETPRES

President Joko Widodo gave a press statement by teleconference at Bogor Palace, West Java, Tuesday (31/3/2020).

The National Police play an important role in encouraging residents to stay at home, except for those who really need it. The Indonesian Military (TNI), as a supporting force, must always be ready if needed, including mobilizing personal and transportation vehicles.

Second, a policy at the "microcosmic" level, which is a policy to detect the initial symptoms of citizens infected with the coronavirus. This is not simple because the threat is invisible. In the world of leather puppets, ngelmu, a weapon that can be used to fight invisible enemies such as ghosts or demons, is possessed by Arjuna. The weapon is called Jayeng Katon oil, which when rubbed in the eyelids, reveals various invisible creatures.

Also read : Pandemic, Recession, and Mitigation

In facing the current crisis, the figure of "Arjuna" is the doctor. They spearhead the fight against the coronavirus. Therefore, the government is obliged to guarantee that the vanguard against this malignant disease will remain in prime health.

The people actually need not be anxious, pessimistic and afraid to face this threat. Indonesia\'s political history since independence so far has proven, this nation is very resilient in facing various crises. In the journey toward establishing nationhood and statehood, various difficulties -- from ideological crises during the discussion to compose the philosophy of the nation and the constitution until after the reforms, especially the social anarchy in the 2017 Jakarta Election and the 2019 Presidential Election -- can all be overcome thanks to the noble values laid out by the founding father.

KOMPAS/ANDY RIZA HIDAYAT

A worker disinfects a resident’s house on Wednesday (25/3/2020) in Curug village, Bojongsari district, Depok. Local residents initiated the independent disinfection program in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

This noble consensus, in people\'s daily lives, is often called the spirit of mutual cooperation and independence. However, this noble spirit has not been fully absorbed in designing the management of state power and governance politics because it is tempted by liberalism, individualism and free competition as the ideology of the struggle for wealth. As a result, a nation that does not yet have strong antibodies cannot yet withstand a wave of ideology full of the lure of physical pleasure.

Fortunately, the antibody is an authentic culture of the nation and has become part of the nation\'s "DNA" so that this nation still has the durability that is primed to face various crises. However, because the immunity is still limited, the toughness often recedes right when the crisis subsides. The experience of facing various crises, including the coronavirus outbreak, must become a lesson so that people\'s solidarity is continuously preserved because it is an antibody that is strong enough to face the various national crises.

Igniting the spirit of mutual cooperation is very urgent because the coronavirus outbreak threatens everyone. Therefore, the fight must be carried out simultaneously by everyone. Social solidarity must be carried out without limits. It is impossible and unfair to let the government fight against the coronavirus alone. Everyone must be ready and willing to help other people indiscriminately.

The power of limitless solidarity is the ultimate weapon to conquer the coronavirus that produces social pathology. The fight against coronavirus can start from the smallest unit in society; the family, then to the neighborhood (RT), community (RW), subdistrict, to the national level. Those who live well, especially those who are wealthy, are obliged to help others.