A few days ago, I got a new book. My colleague from Jakarta sent it. Actually, we had have planning to publish our ideas on imaginary of this country through a book. The plan has run since last year. We want to launch this book to coincide on Youth Oath Day (Hari Sumpah Pemuda). We will have hoped that The President Joko Widodo would be opening the ceremony.
Yet, sometimes the plan could be missed. This book just published in this April. It would be scheduled for launching in Jakarta in early May. I have been invited to present at the day to be one of the speakers. It would be nice to meet again my colleagues from various provinces; the friend who have committed to support Joko Widodo as a new president in 2014. We have efforted to push him to encourage himself declaring as a candidate. We have perfectly known that the chairman of political party, PDIP, Mrs. Megawati iniatialy didn't support him to move forward. In deep of her heart, she wanted to push Soekarno's decent to step forward as a candidate of president, whether she herself should go or her daughter, Puan Maharani.
However, the history had been crafted. Jokowi has won the Presidential Election in 2014 and possibly he'll move again. But the purpose of this publishing is not related to the presidential contestation in 2019. We want to contribute as long as can for this country. We have imagination to enhance the progress of nation better than past decade.
The title of book is Anak Muda dan Masa Depan Indonesia (The Young People and The Future of Indonesia). My article in this book is titled "Nasionalisme di Tengah Luka dan Kontradiksi" ("The Wounded Nationalism and Its Contradictions"). This book was published by Mizan Publisher, one of prominent national publisher.
Through this article I want to illustrate how the concept of nationalism has undergone a shift in this millennial era. The people now especially the youth do not think as like the founding fathers'. They think about the challenge of the global world. They involved in the global circuit such as media knowledge, technology, global challenges, interfaith global dialogue, enviromentalism issues, ect. They may not know about the past of their nation, but they know very well about their future and people. They are the heirs of this country.
The book that was published this time has fulfilled about twenty-five of my books that have been published since 1999. It also fulfilled my articles which have been published as many as 800 articles. These works are none other than the effort to educate the nation and society to be better. There is no progress of nation such as thinking and publishing. Not enough to just talk and give a lecture, we have to perpetuate our ideas in articles, journals, and books. At least I educate myself to stay on the path of thought and not to ruin it with anything such as power and money. It cannot change my mind, and I keep standing by its.
If you are interested in this book, please contact Mizan Publishing in person.
Carpe diem!
28 April 2018
