I

read with special interest Joty Ter Kulve’s letter about Aug. 15, 1945 because I, too, remember that day!

I spent my childhood in camps: Grogol, Kramat and when the doors of Tjideng opened, we rushed out and for the first time I heard the word “freedom”.

My father had died in a camp in Sumatra. My mother remarried and we lived in Banjuwangi. My sister was born in Bali.

My US passport states that I was born in Indonesia and belatedly I want to say: “Happy Independence Day!”

In his article “Is this independence?” (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 16), HS Dillon wrote, “Character is at the core of national development.”

Well, this is not only for Indonesia but for all countries on this globe! And national cultural identity is difficult to achieve in a pluralistic society.

The US is a melting pot and the “cultural identity” is associated with Mickey Mouse and Disneyland, Lady Liberty and New York City and, of course, blue jeans and hamburgers or McDonald’s.

So, what would an Indonesian — within their diverse backgrounds —consider to be the national cultural identity?

I am curious to find out.

Olga Pitcairn
Pennsylvania, US