Independence

Come the country’s Independence Day there is often cynicism about the word. We say, the country was colonised by the Dutch for over three hundred years, then the Japanese for three years. And, for the last 66 years oppressed by our own fellow citizens through oppression and corruption. Indonesia might be a free country, but we are not free from the shackles that prevent us from truly enjoying our freedom: poverty, inequality and lack of education.

We also say that the long legacy of our colonial past has instilled in us a mental condition that renders us too timorous to raise our banner of freedom and claim our place in the sun along with other free nations. A condition known as inferiority complex, characterized by a feeling of general inadequacy even when unmerited on the one hand, with a display of petulant pride on the other, as if by way of compensation.

Moreover, the shenanigans and perfidy constantly exhibited by our freely elected government and representatives, and followed with microscopic attention by our media, creating a sorry backdrop to our everyday life and collective consciousness, only reinforce the notion that, left to our selves, we cannot even be trusted to elect leaders that are not self-serving or incompetent. Leaders who, despite the complexities of the country, has an understanding of where to steer the people and never lose sight of the destination.
Our friends from other countries often wonder at our seeming pessimism and self-flagellation, especially with the world going the way it is at the moment. After all, when it comes to counting our blessings, we do have a lot to be thankful for. Look at all the natural resources, the fertile land and the bountiful seas, the rain forests, the incredible biodiversity, the pluralism of the people, the diverse cultures, the enviable demographics, the economic growth and so on. There is no place elsewhere on earth quite like this string of emeralds spanning this side of the planet where there’s abundant sunshine all year round.

But we say, what a shame it’s mismanaged. What a pity things are not run the way they are supposed to. What is the point of being rich, free and democratic when we can’t even educate our children or feed them properly; when we can’t create enough jobs or make sure our farmers don’t feel the need to sell their land to real estates for cash; when begging is a legitimate way of making a living as is stealing from the public and getting an income for no work done other than stand in the way of others who do.

Even as the world around us changes and our country has evolved by leaps and bounds, politically, socially, technologically, and inched her way upwards economically; even as our country has managed to steer her way out of the more turbulent waters into calmer seas, still, this sense of dissatisfaction, this feeling of inadequacy and inferiority continue to dog us, like a bad song that is stuck in our head.

And Independence Day becomes the moment to remind ourselves not of how far we have gone, but how degenerate we have turned out as a nation: how far removed we are from the dreams of our founding fathers, how narrow our perspectives and how shortsighted our outlook. We harp on about the shallow quality of our nationalism and at the same time complain about our increasing loss of identity. We decry the lack of heroes and the dearth of worthy role models for our youth as we wax nostalgic about the gallery of personalities that took arms to fight off our oppressors and lose their lives to free the motherland.

We no longer feel worthy of the red and white colours of our flag. Red is for courage and the blood shed in sacrifice. White is for the purity of our hearts and the sanctity of our intention. We fly them every year in the hope to recapture the spirit, remember our bloody history and honour the struggle of our forefathers in ceremonies held across the land and at every school yard. But these days, they have become just that, ceremonies held under the burning sun, as the courage and purity that symbolises the moment become words bereft of meaning.

Perhaps this is a sign that the country is growing up. Independence after all is not only the euphoria of a teenager leaving home for the first time, but the growing realisation that with it comes heavy responsibility. Standing on one’s own two feet and being accountable for one’s actions has a sobering effect. After the joy of freedom is obtained, there is the question of what to do with it. After democracy is achieved, the question of what to build with it.

Our founding fathers have put the ship out to sail and told us the destination we must reach. It is up to us to work out the route and to make sure the ship does not crash into rocks, lose its way or founder along the way. To do this requires careful thought, good planning, deep reflection and a full understanding of the direction of where we’re going.

No longer does it demand noisy patriotism, the raising of fists while shouting out ‘freedom!’ nor the romance of bloody struggle and dramatic heroism. It requires long, dreary hard work, the slog of constant learning and catching up, the patience of getting things done and the commitment to doing things properly.

I suppose complaining about it is our way of acknowledging that ultimately, we know what we need to do. And we are in the middle of doing it. We just don’t like it, that’s all.