foto: thejakartapost.com

There has been extensive media coverage in recent days about violent incidents having a background in religious differences. In Pandeglang, Banten, on Sunday, 6 February 2011, residents of different faiths had a conflict. Similar events took place two days later, on Tuesday 8 February 2011, in Temanggung.

These events claimed lives and resulted in the destruction of religious facilities and personal property. These harrowing events are seemingly interconnected. Just as they occurred in one place, they were followed by a similar incident at another location.

Through this blog, as a citizen I want to voice my concern. I am concerned because our main foundation as a people, namely Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or Unity in Diversity, has begun to shake. This national motto, which has always resulted in tolerance and the unity of all of the different elements of society, has now begun to falter.

As all Indonesians and even the world know, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is the foundation which was inherited from the nation’s founders, one which made the Indonesians a great people. With it, we have lived in harmony despite having differences of ethnicity and religion. If this foundation shakes, then the people will shake as well.

I don’t want to get into who was right and who was wrong, or that group A or B was right, or that belief A or B is the correct one. I only wish to appeal to my fellow citizens to restrain themselves and control their emotions. Remember the national identity. Realize what foundation this nation was built upon.

Let us continue to preserve our national foundation of Unity in Diversity. The richness of this people is found in these very differences. Do not allow this precious national heirloom be damaged by those would intentionally shatter it. This country still has a long way to go. There are many domestic issues which we need to work on to advance the economy, education, health, and so on. If there is no appreciation of this foundation of Bhineka Tunggal Ika, no unity of the people, then it will be impossible for the country to get through all of this.

Let us preserve our Unity in Diversity. Through this blog of mine, I also would like to hear your response to this posting. Do you agree with me?

Please give your opinions, as well as what solutions and measures need to be taken in order to ensure that this Bhinneka Tunggal Ika pillar of ours remains firm. Thank you.