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Jakarta Post

We are anything but Pancasila

More and more people hate or even kill others in the name of religion. Instead of being kind, people have weaponized religion to force their wishes on other people.

Fayola Isabelle Hartanto (The Jakarta Post)
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Surabaya
Mon, May 31, 2021

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When I studied civics in school I was told that Pancasila as an ideology was perfect and had no weaknesses, unlike all the others.

Pancasila was said to be the one and only ideology that suited a country as unique as Indonesia, given its diverse cultures, religions and ethnicities.

I grew up believing that Pancasila was simply a concept. For a concept as perfect as Pancasila, every Indonesian citizen needed to believe and embrace it in their daily life.

A theory is in the end only a theory. Without implementation it will remain as it is.

Looking at the situation of the country we live in today, really, we are anything but Pancasila.

In 1956, founding president Sukarno spoke in a speech in English about the five principles of Pancasila, which can be simplified as the belief in God, humanity, nationalism, democracy and social justice.

The first principle, belief in God, has a deep meaning. Indonesia is a religious nation. In fact there are six official religions that all teach about peace and kindness.

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  • Palmerat Barat No. 142-143
  • Central Jakarta
  • DKI Jakarta
  • Indonesia
  • 10270
  • +6283816779933
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