Is Multiculturalism important? Oh Indonesia

Is Multiculturalism Important? Oh Indonesia

By: Didimus Estanto T/

Universitas Sanata Dharma

Indonesia Raya is an exclamation of the  spirit of freedom which sang by our founding fathers. It was a dream, a purpose and the ultimate goal of Nederlandsh Indie’s colonization. Becoming a colonize nation, Nederlandsh Indie (old name of Indonesia) feel the very long pain of being a slave. Indonesia Raya was fought by some many different cultures pursuing the freedom. Some many cultures make Indonesia ruled by some invisible intension of each culture which raise the people up. People know culture first, live in culture and know nation after, feel nation after (Pragiwaksoso, 2012:34). It is simply said that multiculturalism makes Indonesia have no pure Nationalism.

What is multiculturalism in Indonesia? The history of multiculturalism in Indonesia had begun in era of Nederlandsh Indie’s colonialism, the time of Kingdom of Holland rule the area called Nusantara. This area they named as Nederlandsh Indie which means the area around India which belong to them. The first categorization began in 1925 with the  Volkenkaart van Nederlandsh Indie paper (Sutjipto, 1975:82). The paper classified people with the certain area by their certain commodity. The ruler appoint a person to be a leader for making them easy to coordinate. It grew into culture and society until now. In general, the idea of multiculturalism is related to the idea of equality. It is the concept of a same right. Indonesian people believe that multiculturalism is the equality of diversity (Budiman, 2007:21). In Indonesia, multiculturalism means live together with people which is different one to another. Staying in the same nation with the same right with some many culture is the real meaning of multiculturalism in Indonesia.

The multiculturalism in Indonesia is elusive. Multiculturalism is just a concept of society which applied with no argue. It is like everybody just accept it as what it is. Since it just a concept, it means that it is just an idea and it is not real. Multiculturalism is the way to face the diversity. Diversity is the real form of multiculturalism which we face, but multiculturalism is just one concept to face the diversity. The power of multiculturalism is the same right (Hefner, 2011:43). The same right which we have to accept, honor and respect others right. Since there is no standard of accepting, honoring and respecting others, the multiculturalism is elusive.  There might happen the chaos in society when they have the different concept to face the society. One thing that people have to remember that Indonesia is differ one to another. Multiculturalism, the diversity of culture make people have different intent related to their own culture. Basically, people are afraid for being different.

Multiculturalism in Indonesia is a gift or a disaster. Starting with the same feeling, same pain and same nation as a colonized nation, Indonesian people come to decision to fight back again the colonizer. It was the beginning of the bond Sumatra (men from Sumatra), bond java (men from Java), bond Kalimantan (men from Borneo) and there are lots of men from many places from Nederlandsh Indie gathering together to get their freedom back. History record that there are three reasons why Indonesia is form. There are the same feeling of the pain of 350 years colonization, the need of being free as a free human and the condition that they cannot fight partially against the colonizer (Sutjipto, 1975:178).  Reflecting on those facts, Indonesia was built by some many cultures. Indonesia is designed by some many different people which have different intension patterned by their culture also. Since Indonesia is no longer colonized nation, it easy to say that Indonesia is no longer need Indonesia Raya because the three reason why Indonesia Raya existed are no longer available. It is impossible to rule the nation with some many cultural intensions because Indonesia is basically different and the purpose is also will be different. So it does not really clear that multiculturalism in Indonesia is a gift or disaster. Is it a good thing or bad thing?

Indonesia had been different since the beginning and it will exist that way. Nationalism is an absolute requirement to build a nation and to keep it alive. Multiculturalism might be elusive but it is real by accepting, honoring and respecting it as its ancient way. Multiculturalism is a gift not a disaster because that is one of the reasons why Indonesia exist. People do not have to argue about it since multiculturalism is Indonesia itself. Indonesia is different, Indonesia is multiculturalism, people have to accept it that way. Our founding fathers have already chosen this way to live the Indonesia. The purpose of Indonesia Raya is still ongoing process placed on us, the next generation. Multiculturalism is still needed to bring Indonesia to be Indonesia Raya.

References

Budiman, Hikmat. Hak Minoritas: Dilema Multikulturalisme di Indonesia. Jakarta: The Interseksi Foundation, 2007.

Hefner, Robert W. Politik Multukulturalisme: Menggugat Realitas Kebangsaan. Yogyakarta: Kanisius, 2011.

Pragiwaksoso, Pandji. Nasionalisme: Kenali Indonesiamu, Temukan Passionmu, Berkaryalah untuk Masa Depan Bangsamu. Yogyakarta: Bentang, 2012.

Sutjipto, F. A. Sejarah Nasional Indonesia IV: Indonesia Abad 18 dan 19. Yogyakarta: Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 1975.

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