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strong>Dec. 11, p3

The Defense Ministry is proposing to make patriotism a subject in schools in a bid to revive nationalism among students.

Calling the subject Bela Negara (Defending the State), the ministry'€™s defense potential director general, Timbul Siahaan, said that patriotism values should be included in the national curriculum.

Your comments:

It is another department that wants to change an already sad curriculum. Keep the patriotism for the military, scouts and other governmental services.  

Patriotism should be taught by teachers on a daily basis, specifically during the Monday morning flag-raising ceremonies.  Kids stand around, moving, not saluting and goofing off, yet teachers take no action to correct the disrespect of the Indonesian flag.

There is a fine line between patriotism and indoctrination. Who in Indonesia knows what it means to be patriotic anyway?  Serve your country, take care of your family and contribute to the well-being of others and you are '€œpatriotic'€.  Being proud of one'€™s country comes from living and working in a country that is fair and without corruption.  Let'€™s work on instilling pride in our country by making it better.

Willo