Day 31 - Day of Independence

(Hi, today's post will be kind of bilingual, but no worries, translations are provided!)

The world needs more faith. Faith is enough, more than enough, to solve any kinds of problems, always. Around eight months back, I received the lesson of the importance of faith from my guide. "Setelah menghadapi dua ratus tahun penjajahan, Indonesia bisa merdeka dengan memegang satu keyakinan. Satu keyakinan yang dirangkum dalam tiga kata, tetapi kekuatannya menyatukan dua ratus lima puluh juta manusia di nusantara. Keyakinan itu adalah 'Merdeka atau Mati.' Merdeka atau Mati."*

Today commemorates Indonesia's 67 years of Independence from the hands of the Netherlands. When I updated my Facebook status, I mentioned that Indonesia has been independent from our conquerors, but she is hardly sovereign over poverty and corruption. What does it take to develop a nation? The answer, is again, faith. The faith manifests itself as a strength, to never give up, to never yield, and always strive forward: realizing what has actually been there all along, and taking back what she rightfully owns. That is the Indonesian Spirit.

This faith, stronger than the unity of even the world's most intimate couples, are ingrained in every Indonesian's blood. It defies logic, how despite we are treated as second-class citizens, how we feel increasingly frustrated by the pollution and traffic congestion, how we feel threatened by internal security and the stability of the country, we still take pride in the fact that we are Indonesians. Is it the soil, the sovereign land, where we feel that we belong to? Is it the air we breathe, or is it the water we drink, that made hundreds of thousands of youths willing to shed their blood a few decades ago?

Again, above all, it is the faith. 'Merdeka atau Mati.' The phrase truly reflects our desire for freedom beyond freedom. Lack thereof is worse than death. Now I pray to the Sovereign, so that I shall study ever harder, so that I shall possess ever more power, so that someday I can grow and give back to the country I love the most, and the country I am the most indebted towards. Even though I couldn't be part of the warfare to liberate you from the hands of the Hollands, I would be very honored to liberate you from the hands of corruption and poverty someday. Happy birthday Indonesia. Shall love you always.

"Tidak ada hal apapun yang bisa kulakukan, tiada siapapun yang akan bisa lakukan, yang bisa mengubah fakta bahwa aku dilahirkan sebagai orang Indonesia, di tanah airku tercinta ini. Dari nafas pertama sampai ke liang kubur, akan selalu merah darahku, putih tulangku. Untukmu, Indonesia." **

Truly Indonesia's Finest.

*After facing two hundred years of colonization, Indonesia achieved her freedom by holding one faith. That one faith is coined in a merely three-word long phrase, but its strength united two hundred and fifty million across the Indonesian archipelago. The faith is, 'Independence or Death.' 'Freedom or Annihilation.'

**There is nothing I nor anyone can do to do to ever change the truth that I am born Indonesian, here in my beloved homeland. From the first breath to the moment I enter my casket, forever shall my blood be red, my bones, white. For thee, Indonesia.