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Diversity made Indonesia; intolerance may end it
The past two months have seen our pluralist society in great peril with three separate incidents that seem to designed to undermine our diversity.
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Unity in diversity: Open University students from across Indonesia attend the opening ceremony of the Academic Discussions and Sports and Arts Week (Disporseni) on Thursday in South Tangerang, Banten. (JP/Arief Suhardiman)
Diversity is the fabric of Indonesian society. In fact, the country was founded with the indomitable spirit of diversity.
Our founding fathers came from various religions and ethnicities. They were aware of the diversity that prevailed in the early days when the country was built. They were cognizant of the fact that this diversity could transform the nation into a strong, unique nation. They were also aware that failure to safeguard its diversity would serve as a recipe for the demise of the country that we know today.
Then they agreed on one thing: To build this nation with diversity as its basic foundation. They decided that the country should not be based on one single religion only. They decided that this nation does not belong to certain ethnicities only.
Even 17 years before the proclamation of our independence, several brave youths from various regions across the country gathered and made a pledge to be united in one motherland, one nation, and with one language. The country’s diversity is also reinforced and enshrined in the national motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”, meaning unity in diversity.
Nonetheless, Indonesia’s diversity has always been put to the test ever since the country was founded. History shows that past incidents occurring in the country were racially motivated, threatening the country’s diversity from time to time. Inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts broke out in the past in a number of regions across the archipelago, serving as examples that the country’s diversity has not always been without challenge. In fact, at times it has almost been on a precipice.
The past two months have also seen our pluralist society in great peril with three separate incidents that seem designed to undermine our diversity.
The first unfolded when a man was caught on video footage tossing and kicking baskets of offerings that were placed on Mount Semeru in East Java. Local Hindu tradition believes that the offerings, known as sesajen, help appease spirits and ward off misfortune from the recently erupted volcano. A short clip then went viral showing the man who took issue with the sesajen as he claimed they were not compatible with his Islamic faith.
