Maintaining Indonesian Cultures in Globalized-Era

This speech was talked to join in Walisongo Language Festival on June 21st, 2014 by Miss Anis Sukmawati - Composed by Mr. Tomy Widiyanto as the English teacher at Islamic Boarding House Vocational High School of Assyafiiyah Kendal 

The honourable adjudicators of this speech contest

Honourable all teachers

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning,

Assalamu’alaikum wr. Wb.

May I tell you first of all, how pleased I am standing here in the wonderful occasion in Walisongo Language Festival.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen,

            Over the past two decades, our society has witnessed unprecedented changes on the overwhelming trend of globalization. From many cultures that this awesome country; Indonesia has to be not seemed anymore. You know, in the past about ten years ago, there were many children played traditional games. Such as, hide and seek, Dakonan, Gobak Sodor, Segar Manggar, Jitungan, etc, but nowdays we can not look such those games anymore. They are difficult to find now. In spite of still existing, some of them are played by children who live in the village. It is the opposite of the past, all around in Indonesia, children are familiar and good in playing those games.

            You know, technology has lost such those traditional things. Nowdays, children prefer to play video games, getting games online and too much enjoy in some social networks. It proves that there are many games using technology that usually used by children even without knowing the time. In addition, we can also find many games using technology in many department stores. So, ladies and gentlemen, is it about a timid thing? Are traditional things not cool anymore? Or will we always be a follower country?

Not really. consider that we must be able to handle this current situation wisely.

            The introduction of Western ideology is having an increasing impact on the traditional Indonesia values. From my point of view, globalization is both a challenge and an opportunity. Many traditional virtues are being challenged. As I emphesized in the beginning of my speech, children are more discovered to prefer many games using technology and youngsters are fond of devoting time and energy to Valentine’s day, from the family centered cultures to the more independent living styles. They are not really Indonesian virtues, are they?

            For instance, we are different family ties, different attitude toward love and marriage, and different educational conceptions between Indonesia and other countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

            Now, we are living in a so-called “globalized era” and along with this era, we are faced by the significantly progression of technology. It will ease foreign cultures to come and influence our national identity. In this case, culture becomes the one of national identity. Every country in this era must be able to defend their own culture heritage including Indonesia. I’m going to direct you on the real experience of Globalized era. Just demanding a good standardized education curriculum, in curriculum of education in 2013 that the subject of Javanese language and other traditional language is omitted. Whereas, a Javanese Culture Observer and an activist of Javanology Sebelas Maret University (UNS), Arif Hartata said “Javanese language is very rich if it is searched there are stages of ancient Javanese language, the middle of Javanese language, to the contemporary Javanese language. There are Kromo Inggil, Ngoko, it showed that there are some ways to speak politely in Javanese language in the term of decency.

            If Javanese language is omitted in the curriculum of 2013, students will lose their identity as Javanese. Now, in formal education, there are many students who can not write or implement Javanese script.  moreover, they are disable how to sing Javanese song anymore, like Campursari and Mocopat. Here, let me sing a Javanese song, Mocopat Gambuh. It will remind us when we were taught by our own Javanese teacher. This song extremely can build our passion and soul as Javanese to be stronger.

Ora liwat tuturku

Marang siro kan sregep sinau

Tak kandani rungokno kang pakerti

Sokor bage kowe manut

Yen atimu kroso cocok

Ladies and gentlemen, the song tells us about parents encourage their child to study hard,  the child will succed if he or she obey the parents. As a Javanese, we could get the truly success as Javanese if we could preserve our culture so that we do not  need to look out side of Indonesia to be a great country. We just need to hold tightly our culture heritage.

Ladies and gentlemen, cultural preservation is a joint obligation both of the community and the government.  Building a character to love culture from early age by introducing the traditional language and culture in formal education is the best solution. In the school, students are also enable to wear Batik in certain days. They will be given a chance to develop traditional arts such as traditional dances in the more modern style. Of course, students will be prefer and more enjoy it.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen,

May I remind you some of the main points, I have emphesized that globalization is not only a challenge but also an opportunity. It is an opportunity to make improvements on our culture heritage, it is an opportunity to play along with progressed countries and it is an opportunity to present the whole world the merits of our cultures. So all about traditional things in this beautiful country will be exist from time to time.

Well, ladies and gentlemen.

            That is all I have to say about maintaining our culture heritage in the globalization era. I apologize to you if I have many mistakes. Thank you for the nice attention.

Wasslamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.