Pancasila's values for our nation's unity

Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.

Good morning/afternoon honorable juries,

Good morning/afternoon ladies and gentleman

In this very special occasion, I would like to deliver a speech entitled  “Pancasila’s values for our nation’s unity”

Ladies and gentlemen,

As we all know, Pancasila is the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state. Pancasila consists of two Old Javanese words, "pañca" meaning five, and "sīla" meaning principles. It comprises five principles held to be inseparable and interrelated:

1. Belief in the one and only God, (in Indonesian, Ketuhanan Yang Maha Esa).
2. Just and civilized humanity, (in Indonesian, Kemanusiaan Yang Adil dan Beradab).
3. The unity of Indonesia, (in Indonesian, Persatuan Indonesia).
4. Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives (in Indonesian, Kerakyatan Yang Dipimpin oleh Hikmat Kebijaksanaan, Dalam Permusyawaratan dan Perwakilan)
5. Social justice for all of the people of Indonesia (in Indonesian, Keadilan Sosial bagi seluruh Rakyat Indonesia)

Pancasila, as Indonesian way of life, is used as daily guide of life. It means that our  step, behaviour or act should reflect all values of Pancasila. Pancasila also acts as fundamental norm so that it functions as the ideology of the nation and Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, the values of Pancasila should always be maintained to be achieved or carried out by every Indonesian in order to realize those ideas.

In the future with the dynamic and the development of the world, Indonesia will face a lot of challenges which are even harder than what Indonesia is facing now. The challenges that Indonesia will face may derive from the field of economical, political, law, religional or other views which have possibilities to affect Indonesian unity. Moreover, Indonesia is a country which varies in cultures, races, religions, tribes, ethnic and etc which may influence the characteristics of the people. It means the challenges that Indonesia will face are more difficult than those confronted by other countries which have less varieties.

As a matter of fact, with the challenges, Indonesian people start to forget the values of Pancasila. Let’s see some of simple examples in the way people start to ignore Pancasila; a lot of students forget many of National Songs and do not know how to behave based on Pancasila; many of our cultures are abandoned, even many people forget the contents of pancasila and certain groups of people start to exclude themselves. As the result, Indonesia has lost some of its area and its cultures . They were taken over by other country. For example,  Batik, Reog Ponorogo Dance, song entitled ‘ Rasa Sayange’ are claimed by other country. Meanwhile, the Indonesian people themselves are busy to think about themselves and their group. The main point  here that the unity of Indonesia start to lose.

Indonesia is a rich country. It is the land where we were born. In the future if we still want to have Indonesia as our country, let’s try to reconcile and reunite as Indonesian men who have same view and also as what Indonesian youth pledged in 1928 to have one country, one nation and one language. How? We have what so called Pancasila as our ideology of life and also way of life. Let’s try to look back to the values of Pancasila, especially the third principles that is the Unity of Indonesia. This principle embodies the concept of nationalism, of love for one nation and motherland. It emphasizes the need to always foster national unity and integrity. Avoiding the separation based on the ethical ground, religion views, race, ancestry and even the colour of skin. Beside that, Indonesia also has symbol of ‘Bhineka Tunggal Ika’ which means ‘unity in diversity’. Social differences in daily life should never affect national unity and integrity.

That’s all my speech. Thanks for your attention.

Wassalamu’alaikum wr. wb.