ALREADY It is commonly understood that in every commemoration of the Youth Pledge which was declared on 28 October 1928 until now, the basic meaning stated is the rise of the young generation to embrace the values of unity and unity of the Indonesian nation. This shows that the younger generation is not just silent. According to Ganesha Education University Academician, Prof. Dr. I Wayan Lasmawan, several things must be done to make the Indonesian nation an honorable and respected nation in a very dynamic global society. What are those?
Lasmawan’s view begins with an emphasis on commemorating Youth Pledge Day. Two basic meanings are always reflected namely youth and nationality. In this context, five fundamental meanings must always be remembered and reminded by all as a nation, especially the youth, namely: (1) the importance of realizing that the young generation is a very strategic asset of the nation because it is in their hands that the future of this nation is at stake, (2) the importance of national unity and unity, because with a deep national awareness everything can be achieved and happen, (3) the importance of providing space, time and funding for the younger generation to create their creativity, feelings, and intentions as optimally as possible, (4) the importance awareness of diversity among the young generation as humans who live and will continue to live in a very multicultural archipelago, and (5) the importance of education for the young generation to become individuals who are literate about themselves, their nation and the challenges of the world of the future. “Based on the five basic meanings of the youth oath, the national knot will remain maintained and we believe it will lead this great nation to become a nation that is respected and able to play an important role in the global social constellation,” he stressed.
For this reason, according to him, it is appropriate that national education development be directed at the younger generation, the nation’s millennials who will become the main pillars of the portrait of the Indonesian nation in the future. “Because the urgency of educating the nation’s children is directly proportional to the existence of this beloved nation and republic,” he said.
For the younger generation, according to this academic from Kintamani, Bangli, six things can be done to interpret the Youth Pledge, namely: (1) Continue to learn and create achievements, (2) Love yourself and be proud as an Indonesian, (3) Behave 4 C, creative, critical, communicative, control yourself, (4) Maintain and use Indonesian, (5) Become social and technology engineering for the progress of the nation, and (6) Paradigmunity in diversity in all areas of life. “These six things are very possible and have become something that cannot be negotiated by the younger generation if we want to bring this beloved republic to become an honorable and respected nation in a very dynamic global society,” he said.
It was further stated that the “strength” of the younger generation is one of the determinants of the progress and existence of a nation. The momentum of commemorating the Youth Pledge must be used as a momentum and stepping stone to reflect on one’s self as a person, nation, and citizen of the world to reposition and create everything that has not been optimal to become optimal, so that it is in line with the meaning and desires of the originators and declarants of the Youth Pledge at 28 October 1928. “So I hope that the younger generation can continue to rise to make this republic of higher quality,” concluded Lasmawan. (rls)
