I

t is the duty of every citizen to contribute to this nation, including in the defense of Ibu Pertiwi (the motherland). That contribution can take many shapes and forms. It can be the creativity of work, innovation of products, offering a helping hand to others, a commitment to public service or even the simplest honesty of a decent life.

The concept of strength in the 21st century is no longer measured by the simple might of marching armies or the roar of canons. Creative minds, economic sustainability, social unity and entrepreneurship are soft-power arsenals that are equal, if not greater, advantages for a nation to have than 100,000 trained men ready to shoot or march in synchronicity.

Our own struggle for independence taught us that might does not equate to victory.

Haji Agus Salim, Mohammad Hatta, Mohammad Roem, Soepomo and Ali Sastroamidjojo, for example, never once fired a weapon in anger during that revolutionary periods which saw their rise among our greatest statesmen. Nevertheless, their contribution to Indonesia'€™s independence were no less great than any fallen warrior of the independence struggle.

It is thus somewhat bewildering that we should seek to train civilians in a national defense regime that is almost in disconnection with the concept of modern defense.

Last week Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu and his subordinates explained that his proposal of civilians being trained in state defense was not the same as earlier proposals of compulsory military service. His proposal of bela negara (defending the state) would be a civilian forces program with 100 million civilians being trained within the next 10 years, which would not only comprise physical military training such as introducing civilians to '€œonly the basics of handling a firearm'€, as one official said, but also highly needed values such as patriotism.

The process from the proposal announced last December, to only insert patriotic values into the crowded school curriculum '€” which already contains civic education '€” to mass training of 100 million citizens, is not entirely clear. Nor are the policy considerations, including the cost and funding of the program, the scrutiny of the plan under the Indonesian Military Law, among others, and the details of the proposal. However, Zulkifli Hasan, speaker of the People'€™s Consultative Assembly, was quoted on Friday as saying he supported the program.

Nevertheless, Indonesia is under no threat of invasion. Nor is it seeking war. Moreover, as an archipelagic state, threats would come from the sea or the air, not land. Priority is toward security, not defense. And the former is within the civilian authority of the police, not the military.

We are also somewhat concerned about training young men with military discipline. Have the possible repercussions of unemployed or frustrated young men with such capacity been considered? Roving mercenaries is one scenario we do not wish to ponder.

Militarism is not an option. And military discipline and mindsets should be restricted to the barracks or at least the most educated and critical minds.