http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/editorials/indonesia-has-yet-to-find-true-freedom/391325
Indonesia Has Yet to Find True Freedom August 15, 2010 Across the archipelago, the Indonesian flag will be raised high this week as we celebrate 65 years of independence. It has been a journey of great joy and great sacrifice, of rising up to face the world and falling to great depths of despair. But above all, it has been a journey of courage and of forging a sense of togetherness. An idea that emerged in the dying days of World War II is now a nation on the rise. Not only does Indonesia stretch more than 5,000 kilometers west to east, it incorporates more than 10,000 different ethnic groups and 615 different languages. Yet, more than ever, the nation speaks with one voice and is united under one flag. More than a decade after Suharto's fall, Indonesia is on the rise economically, politically and culturally. It is Southeast Asia's biggest economy and a member of the Group of 20 leading economic powers. As a modern democracy it plays an increasingly important role in shaping the new Asian century. Domestically, the economy continues to grow impressively. This year, it should post a 6 percent growth in gross domestic product. Inflation is at an all-time low, the local stock market has been a star performer globally and foreign direct investment is beginning to pick up. The nation has much to celebrate, even if it continues to battle underdevelopment and an unacceptably high level of poverty. It also lags behind many other Asian nations in human resource development and the quality of its education system. On Tuesday, Indonesians celebrate their independence and freedom, but what does true freedom mean and what does it entail? A decade after the country took its first steps down the road to democracy, freedom is interpreted as being able to do whatever one wants, even if it is not in the best interests of the country and the people. This, however, is not what true freedom means. True freedom means achieving our true potential as a country and as a people. It means being empowered to reach for the top no matter which rung of the ladder you start from. For the nation to achieve true freedom, the government must do its part by investing in both hard and soft infrastructure. The political elite must be responsible to those who elected them and set the right moral and ethical standards. They must instill a culture in which the man on the street is inspired to strive harder. For the common people, true freedom means responding to challenges ahead with fortitude and courage. All Indonesians must be willing to work hard and endure hardship for a better tomorrow. Most of all, we must not abuse the spirit of democracy. So often we see that those in the majority feel they have the right to impose their will on the rest of the population, no matter how selfish their intentions. This common concept of democracy needs revisiting if we are to attain true freedom. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
