INDONESIA INDEPENDENCE DAY

This week will be special for me and for Indonesian. At 17 August 2008, Indonesia will celebrate its Independence Day. 63 years ago, Indonesian was officially proclaimed its independence at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, August 17 August 1945. Finally Indonesia reached their freedom after more than 3.5 centuries under colonial domination. They came to colonize Indonesia. They stole our natural resources, created battle field, killed many people, and made us lived in suffering in centuries. Here I don't need to tell who has created suffering. I hope all the countries who had colonized us still remember what had they done in the past. We had kicked off them, and please never ever come back. We'll really mad and fight to drive out YOU!

Preparations for the patriotic celebrations begin weeks before the 17th of August. We usually have started the preparation, even at the end of July. Skyscraper office buildings around town sprout large banners or lighted designs, fences around the presidential palace and many government offices are draped in red and white bunting, malls decorate in red and white, housing complexes, villages repaint their main gate decorated with independence themes. All people hoist their red-white flags in front of their house, building, etc. The big board with sentences, "Indonesia Merdeka, Dirgahayu Indonesia, 63 Tahun Indonesia Merdeka, Merdeka atau Mati, etc" can be seen in everywhere.

Political observers, social scientists, bloggers, celebrities and those with opinions write 'Insights' in the newspapers, magazines, blog and speak out on the country's progress since independence and challenges for the future as well as discussions on what the founding fathers would think of various conditions in society today. They compete to show up their nationalism.

Neighborhood associations (RT, RW, Kelurahan, Kecamatan) often coordinate special activities for the neighborhood and may request donations from homeowners to sponsor games and prizes. They also organize to clean up of the area. Sometimes they also held Art performance. Schools also coordinate special activities, as holding games and races amongst classes beside flag hoisting solemnize.

TV shows commemorating the struggle for independence are aired for weeks before and after independence day. As Metro TV which has prepared some good TV programmes, Live event, Music Concert, News, History of Independence day on Metro Files, and many more.

Live event of Metro TV and all TV channel will cover The President statements of the Nation Address to the members of the House of Representatives, diplomatic corps and honored guests on the day before Independence Day. Flag hoisting and flag striking at the National Palace, the most solemn ceremony which invites the cabinet, military brass, family members of the current and preceding president, diplomatic corps and honored guests.

After the most solemn ceremonies have taken place, neighborhoods gear up for fun and games for the people and kids. They usually conducted some popular games, as Panjat Pinang (climbing the oily betel trunk) , Balap karung (run race with gunny sack), Makan Kerupuk (Eating crackers), and Tangkap belut (catching the eels and run).

Do you know that all popular games have meaning? Herewith I'll give you my opinions about the meaning of games :

• Panjat pinang, a team consists of some people. They work together to reach all prizes at the top of oily betel trunk. They have to climb the oily betel trunk. It has meaning to get our dream (liberty) we had to work hard together, althought it was so difficult but finally we did it.

• Balap karung, all participants wear the gunny sack. Then they compete to reach the finish line. It has meaning, before we got our liberty. People were in poor, even they didn't have properly material to cover their body. They used gunny sack for cloths. But with all of shortage they strived to survive and reach ther freedom.

• Makan kerupuk, committee prepares crackers (chips) and ropes. They hang the crackers and participants will compete to eat crackers without using their hands. It has meaning, before we proclaimed our Independence on 17August 1945. We had difficult to eat. Colonial domination took our opportunity to get enough food. People were in starving. But they kept trying hard to reach their freedom.

• Tangkap belut, all participants compete to catch the eels then run fast and fill the empty box with eels. It means, although colonialist so slick to be caught but we were never given up to kick off them from Indonesia.

Well, interesting. So, lets celebrate Independence day! But don't forget we should fill this freedom with positive things. Celebration is nothing without real action. Who knows colonialist will come back with different ways. Lets hand in hand together to resist colonisation. Long live INDONESIA! Merdeka....Merdeka..Merdeka!

Free Template Blogger collection template Hot Deals SEO