The Meaning of Nationalism

 By  Akhmad Zamroni

Source: www.jawapos.com

The life of a community can run well if it is supported by a spirit of togetherness and kinship. Community life always takes place in various dynamics and ups and downs of interests. The spirit of togetherness and kinship plays a role in accommodating the interests of individuals and groups so that they can be fought for in a corridor that does not violate norms.

The spirit of togetherness and kinship is also needed in the life of a community called nation and state. However, to accommodate the interests of individuals and groups in the life of the nation and state, the spirit of togetherness and kinship alone is considered insufficient. In order to maintain the existence and sustainability of the nation and state and to achieve progress and glory in the present and future, another higher level spirit is needed, namely the spirit of nationalism and patriotism.

Nationalism and patriotism do not just reflect togetherness and kinship. Nationalism and patriotism also include a sense of love and belonging and a strong willingness to defend what is loved and owned at the expense of body and soul. Thus, nationalism and patriotism are essential for every nation and state that wishes to remain intact, strong, victorious, and able to achieve its goals.

What is the true spirit of nationalism or nationalism? What is the urgency or importance in the life of society, nation and state? What is the function and role in the effort to create a strong, whole, advanced and prosperous nation and state?

In terms of language, the national spirit has the same meaning as nationalism. In Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia  (2002: 775–776), nationalism is defined as the 'spirit of nationality'. Also explain that nationalism has two interrelated meanings, namely (a) understanding (teachings) to love the nation and the state itself; (b) awareness of membership in a nation that can potentially or actually achieve, maintain and perpetuate the identity, integrity, prosperity and strength of the nation.

In terms of etymology or the origin of the word, 'nationalism' itself actually comes from the word nation, which means 'nation'. The word nation (from English) was adapted to 'nasion' (Indonesian). Then, to show the spirit or ethos in the framework of national life, the nation was further adapted to become 'nationalism' - which is defined as the spirit of nationalism.

In the realm of state and nationality, nationalism is given a variety of meanings, but the basic meaning is relatively the same. In the British Encyclopedia, nationalism is defined as the state of the soul of every individual who feels that in a secular world, everyone has the highest loyalty to the national state. According to Hans Kohn (1976: 12), nationalism is a notion that considers the highest loyalty of each individual to be addressed to the nation state. Another definition states that nationalism is the mental attitude and behavior of individuals or communities that show loyalty and high dedication to their own nation and state, which is based on a determination to live as one nation in the same country regardless of ethnic, religious, and class differences. .

From the various meanings that have emerged, one common thread can be drawn that nationalism is centered on and has the core of love, loyalty and devotion to one's own nation. This shows that nationalism binds and bonds the relationship between citizens or people and the nation and state. Nationalism also serves as the glue of relations between citizens because it contains the willingness to live in one nation and one country regardless of various differences.

The Important Value of Nationalism and Patriotism

 By  Akhmad Zamroni

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Can a nation and state maintain its survival without being supported by the nationalism and patriotism of its people? What will the fate of a nation and state be if the nationalism and patriotism of the people is thin or weak? It can be said that a nation and a state whose people have little or no nationalism and patriotism, sooner or later, will be neglected and may eventually disband. In certain cases, for example in the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, even neglect and dissolution occurred without attack by other nations and countries, aka it happened by itself.

This shows that nationalism and patriotism are absolutely necessary in maintaining the survival of the nation and state (nation-state). Citizens or people of a country and nation are obliged to have nationalism and patriotism if they want the existence and survival of the nation and state to be maintained. For future needs, nationalism and patriotism not only function as guardians of integrity and survival, but also as driving force for the creation of a strong, advanced and prosperous nation and state.

It has become like a natural law and applies universally to all nations and countries - including us, Indonesia. Gradually, nationalism and patriotism will graph the development of a nation and a country which has increased from time to time to reach a high degree. This can be seen in the case of several countries, for example Germany and Japan. These two nations and countries are known to have strong and high nationalism and patriotism so that even after losing the war and being destroyed (post-World War II) they were able to rise and achieve significant strength and progress.

In the early stages, nationalism and patriotism will make the nation and state safe and intact. Nations and countries where all components of their citizens have high nationalism and patriotism, will be relatively able to defend themselves from divisions and undermines (including attacks from outside and within). Guaranteed security and integrity, making nationalism and patriotism able to foster an ethos of self-improvement and self-development and mobilizing initiatives to take real action to achieve progress and prosperity in life.

One thing should be noted that nationalism and patriotism must be embedded in a measured and proportional manner; in a sense, it is not excessive to result in a chauvinistic attitude (to love one's own nation and state excessively). Excessive nationalism and patriotism can lead to a narrow attitude that does not care and respect other nations and countries. This attitude will backfire dangerous because other nations and countries are partners in cooperation that can be a determining factor in achieving peace and progress in life.

Nationalism and patriotism must also be applied in the right direction. Nationalism and patriotism must be aimed at the nation and the state as a whole, not only at the government which is currently in power. The government is only one element (within the nation and state), which is entrusted with the mandate to manage the life of the nation and state.

The correct placement of nationalism and patriotism in relation to the government's position is to be cooperative and critical of the government. We fully support the government in carrying out state programs as long as government behavior and policies do not conflict with the constitution and laws and regulations. On the other hand, we demand law enforcement, replacement, and improvement if government behavior and policies are contrary to the constitution and laws and regulations.

Expressing Nationalism and Patriotism

 By  Akhmad Zamroni

Source: http://www.etalase.jakartafamilia.com

Nationalism and patriotism are not situational and conditional; that is, it can only be applied or implemented in certain circumstances, for example during the colonial period and war. Nationalism and patriotism apply to all ages and can be applied in all circumstances. Both can also be applied in all places and environments.

Nationalism and patriotism apply to all citizens. All members of society are responsible for having and implementing nationalism and patriotism. With their respective positions and roles, every citizen is required to apply nationalism and patriotism in accordance with the situations and conditions faced so that the existence, integrity and survival of our nation and state are maintained and progress and welfare can be achieved together.

We are obliged to emulate the leaders of freedom fighters and founders of the nation and state who have clearly shown great nationalism and patriotism in order to create and uphold the Indonesian nation and state which is independent, sovereign, dignified, just and advanced. With their nationalism and patriotism, they succeeded in gaining independence and establishing the Indonesian nation and state. They leave the nation and state to us to maintain their existence, integrity and survival and seek justice, progress and prosperity.

We, as the next generation, have never felt firsthand the weight of the struggle for independence and founding the nation and state. Right now we just live to enjoy the beauty and comfort of independence. We just need to run a series of development programs to achieve progress in various fields of life.

How can we ensure that development can proceed well and produce the progress we dream of? Nationalism and patriotism are the keys. During this development period, the spirit of nationalism as well as love and willingness to sacrifice for the country can be manifested in various forms of behavior and actions. In our position and in our respective environment, we can express nationalism and patriotism in various ways.

Students and youth, as future successors and leaders of the nation and state, are the people who must be active and creative in implementing nationalism and patriotism. The neglect of students and youth from the responsibility to implement nationalism and patriotism in the development process will backfire which is very unfavorable for themselves. If development fails due to the lack or absence of nationalism and patriotism, they themselves will be the ones who will bear the heaviest consequences because they are the ones who will live a long life for the future.

The opportunity to express nationalism and patriotism is wide open before us. Various areas of life and the environment in which we live call us to passionately express nationalism and patriotism. We no longer live in a period of colonialism and war. Expressions of nationalism and patriotism can be manifested through various attitudes and actions in daily routine life at home, school, office, neighborhood, and so on. Following are some examples of attitudes and actions in implementing nationalism and patriotism.

v     The real “battle” event for students is the world of education and teaching. Successful students are students who excel in their field of study at school. The high achievement of students in education will later deliver and place them in an important position in development to achieve various advances. Thus, as a form of expression of nationalism and patriotism, students are required to be diligent in studying and practicing subjects in school, reading and writing a lot, diligently following developments in science and technology, being honest, and being polite and respectful.

v    In the vicinity of where we live, various community activities are commonly carried out, including youth activities through the youth organization. Most of the activities carried out are generally useful activities, such as night patrols to maintain environmental security, community service cleaning the roads, social services, helping residents who are having a celebration, and RT and RW meetings to plan joint activities. In fact, such village activities are part of development (in small and limited units). So, people and youth who have nationalism and patriotism will actively participate in activities carried out by the community in their village.

v    To finance development, the government needs a lot of funds. Apart from exploiting natural resources, development funds are obtained from tax collection. Citizens who claim to be nationalist and patriotic will continue to pay taxes regularly without having to be chased or threatened.

v     To carry out development smoothly, we need conducive situations and conditions. Security, order and stability must always be guaranteed. Citizens who have nationalism and patriotism will take an active part in the efforts to maintain environmental security and order and comply with the rules and regulations in force. In a state of emergency or danger due to threats from within or from outside (attacks from other countries), every citizen must be ready to participate in efforts to defend the state.

v    In international forums, there are often competitions between countries in various fields, such as sports competitions, arts festivals, and subject Olympics (especially mathematics and science). To realize the love for the nation and state, we can try to become one of the participants who represent the country. If we are elected as representatives of the country to participate in the competition, we must appear fair and sporty and try our best to become winners and champions.

v    Indonesia is rich in various types of arts and culture, such as folk music and songs, regional dances, traditional fine arts, traditional ceremonies, and traditional houses and clothing. Most of the arts and culture typical of the region have high value, which many even admire and imitate and some other nations claim as their own (for example, batik, reog, and pendet dance which is claimed by one of the neighboring countries as their own). As citizens, we must care and participate actively in state programs aimed at saving and preserving the nation's cultural arts.

v To meet the various needs of the community, various kinds of consumer goods have been produced domestically. Meanwhile, due to the introduction of free trade, our domestic market has also begun to be flooded with goods produced by foreign countries. To reflect the attitudes of nationalism and patriotism, we should prefer and use domestically produced goods in an effort to meet various needs.