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By the way: Being Indonesian and proud of it
Sun, 03/29/2009 11:14 AM | Headlines
Another head scratching moment for me and for people who assist me — as an Indonesian passport holder I always face the same issue every time I need or plan to go to other countries outside ASEAN. Applying for entry visas, with stacks of documents and tedious preparations required. At the end I always feel overwhelmed filling in the forms and preparing necessary documents.
One has suggested to me to change nationality to make it easier for me whenever I need to travel overseas. You know, for citizens of some countries, they have visa waivers so they can just jump up and go overseas anytime they want.
As a spontaneous person I feel this visa issue burdening me a lot. When I am in the mood for travel I need to check entry requirement first, then have to start applying for visas. Depending on the country and my luck (and so far I have been lucky), I will get a visa approved in 1-2 weeks. But, hey, the anticipation may not be there anymore. But what can I do? Nothing. Just try to keep my name clear so every time I apply for a visa or when I enter any country the immigration officer’s computer will flash “Clear” or “Not in the dangerous list” or whatever.
Back to the suggestion of changing nationality, I suddenly remember one story of an Indonesian singer who already went international. She has been living outside Indonesia for many years and had established her reputation as a reputable international singer in Europe. She changed her Indonesian nationality to another nationality. She told the papers that as an international artist she had difficulties and often has a headache applying for and getting entry visas to perform or do overseas tours and the Indonesian embassy people did not help her much too. Exchanging nationality for ease of travel?
It is true that being Indonesian we often have to line up outside the embassy applying for visas that may or may not be approved, with stacks of documents and financial proofs that should be prepared, and we have to wait for at least 1 week or, it could be worst, 1 month to get it. In the process, our passports will be kept with them. Honestly I hate this waiting time. I am hopeless without my green passport.
Now come to think of it, why do people, in this case governments, always make things so complicated? Is it their nature not to trust anybody? So is it that we are guilty before proven innocent?
Maybe changing nationality is worth doing it. But, my blood is Indonesian. Although, like many Indonesians, I swear a lot about the country, but, it is my country, and I belong to it. I was, am and always will be Indonesian. No matter what.
I never knew that I loved my country until I realized it one day. I still remember vividly that day. I was about to move to Canada. It was late November. I was at Cengkareng airport in Jakarta, waiting for my flight. It was not a time when the national anthem was normally played publicly, but, suddenly I heard the Indonesian national anthem. I was dumb struck and started crying quietly. I missed Indonesia already. I promised myself that being Indonesian overseas meant that I had to represent Indonesia, make the country proud of me, and that I would be proud of the country and defend it.
Despite any troubling things that have been happening in Indonesia, I am never ashamed of being Indonesian. I am sometimes sad and disappointed with what’s happening in the country but am never ashamed of the country. If any bad news about Indonesia reaches the shores where I live, I will always take it as my responsibility to help the country to explain — especially to non-Indonesian people or people who are not familiar with Indonesia — what exactly is happening.
I always believe it is our duty to learn the best things wherever we live overseas and bring them back to Indonesia someday, perhaps to help build a better Indonesia in the future.
Well, in the end, with my discovering my true love of my country, Indonesia, it is really worth going through the headaches and bother of applying for entry visas rather than exchanging my identity. I am Indonesian. I will always be Indonesian. And I am proud of it.
What's On
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Ksatria_idaman (not verified) — Mon, 03/30/2009 - 9:13am
Iam very agree with this article! so far, there are not many Indonesian who is proud of their citizenship. our nationalism have been eroded. we have a duty to maintain our indentity, our traditional food, clothes, and so forth. if we are on the another country, we have to be an ambassador of our country! so..be careful to bring ourselves!
Luxsen Purba (not verified) — Mon, 03/30/2009 - 7:56am
Indonesian' yes' we all proud to be Indonesian there are many reasons to be proud of. I am agreed, being 'indonesian" it is harder some times to obtain visa for some reasons. I think the government need to review immigration law and put more effort to improved services . my concern is why do we have to change our nationality can't we just have Multi National instead , to make our life easier like some other countries do. "Come on Indonesian wake up!!!!!!".
Robert Robert (not verified) — Mon, 03/30/2009 - 3:49am
I have enjoyed reading this article. I'm Hungarian (although I have been living abroad for almost 10 years by now) and these times are particularly difficult for my country. I think one can be proud of his country without being proud of its political regime or economic development.
As for the visas and the long queues that I had to wait for getting residence permits, I used to hate them. They are humiliating in most cases, since one can see his freedom depending entirely on somebody else's decision. Fortunately I didn't have problems and could enjoy many trips after the rather unpleasant experience of applying for the visa.
Jojox (not verified) — Mon, 03/30/2009 - 3:31am
Only indonesian being proud of their country is a byproduct of false left wing patriotism. The fact is, green passport never ALWAYS love them back at the international ports of entry or even frickin domestics like Cengkareng. They dont mean a fcukin thing. Holders of these passports are continously being treated like shites. There's always a clear inferiority while they were being asked in English or Bahasa. Indonesians are nevertheless too shy to express complaints while seemingly often sustain lots of gratitude with their heads down kissing up white man arsches. That is SO Indo.
The true pride being indonesian is getting truer, in any frickin case, everyday. He or she may have been abroad for some reason, but can never disgrace such original indo food. Citizenship then has nothing to do with national pride and symbols. FOOD makes them Indo, not Garuda Passports. Fcuk that.
Eugene Kohar (not verified) — Mon, 03/30/2009 - 2:32am
I would like to believe the positive attitude, but I think we would all agree that Indonesia needs solid results more than kind intentions & most definitely just inspirational words. Immigration restrictions are certainly unpleasant, but really just a slight inconvenience compared to the perpetual poverty & poor literacy of the majority. I just hope that this fact is not forgotten.
Lani Ayala (not verified) — Mon, 03/30/2009 - 2:09am
I used to work with Iene and she's always bright opinionated woman. I agree with Iene in expressing her nationalism however being Indonesian does not represent being who you are. I spent 31+ years of my life living in beautiful Indonesia and I am still proud of being called Indonesian although I have since become a proud US Citizen too. I am fortunate to be able to live in the country that value freedom of all and that's all that matter after all. Now, I am proud of being both Indonesian and American too. Changing citizenship does not necessarily mean they don't love their country origin it is just because they want to have better life (including getting visa, renewing passports etc) in a different country that they are serving as a good citizen.
Pram_gwpa — Sun, 03/29/2009 - 11:45pm
I am definetly agree with mrs. lene's opinion.
But, unfortunately, nowadays, many of Indonesian are being proud because of their relegion rather than their 'nationalsm'
Rona Van Luchene (not verified) — Sun, 03/29/2009 - 9:49pm
Good article. I agree 100% for what this article said. I live in USA for 10 years, I'm married to American & move here. Every 2 years I have to renew my passport, which is hassle & sometimes I was wondering why I keep doing this. Isn't that better if I just changing my nationality to become US citizen? But, I am what I am, I am Indonesian & I'm proud of it.
Its just when I renew my passport this year, the Consulate General RI in Los Angeles gave me the SPLP instead of the real passport. The fee that I paid was to get new passport & not SPLP. Sometimes I was wondering about the system, our system. Is our government try to make difficulties to their citizens who live in the foreign country? Are they suppose to helping us? But what happen if you can't trust your government because of something that they did. They didn't tell me that they'll give me SPLP. I feel so betrayed. I'm going back every year to Jkt. I know that I'm going have to pay for another new passport, eventhough my SPLP won't be expire until September 2010. I almost give up my citizenship because of this.
Good article. Hopefully lots of Indonesian read it & realize that being Indonesian isn't that bad.
Jack Edwards (not verified) — Sun, 03/29/2009 - 6:58pm
I am always so glad to hear Indonesians being proud to be Indonesian. I lived there many years and it has a very special place in my heart. What we need are more Indonesian people who love being Indonesian and want to see Indonesia shine and spend less time defending outmoded ways and ideals under the mantle of "nationalism." There are things to be fixed, but that is the case everywhere; no one has it all figured out.
Demy (not verified) — Sun, 03/29/2009 - 6:02pm
Being Indonesians sometimes bothering right!? as Mrs. Ieana muliati said, especially when being faced with abroad community and/or policy. But wait up, to some people who’s born and have Indonesian blood flows all over their veins, they can’t just weeping silently when they heard national anthem also they’ll realize that their song is being played, that their ‘Motherland’ is calling. I had felt the same feeling when I was abroad and had to represent our beloved Indonesia as a part of international community, absurdly happenend, my nationalistic sense was boosted up, that time I’d promised that no matter happen, I will certainly be Indonesian and always be there everytime my ‘Motherland’ is calling for my devotion. glory Indonesia!