We do have something that unify us as an Indonesian. That is Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge). Sumpah Pemuda was created at 28 October 1928 in Jakarta. It was originally created to unify all the youth organization in Indonesia. There are representative from youth organization from all over Indonesia attending the congress such as Jong Java, Jong Celebes, Jong Batak, etc. There are even representative from chinese descendants organization coming.
This is the original entry of Sumpah Pemuda:
Pertama:
Kami poetra dan poetri Indonesia, mengakoe bertoempah darah jang satoe, tanah Indonesia.
Kedoea:
Kami poetra dan poetri Indonesia mengakoe berbangsa jang satoe, bangsa Indonesia.
Ketiga:
Kami poetra dan poetri Indonesia mendjoendjoeng bahasa persatoean, bahasa Indonesia.
The translation is like this:
First
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one motherland, Indonesia.
Second
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one nation, Indonesian nation.
Third
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, uphold the language of unity, Bahasa Indonesia.
So it doesn’t matter what’s your race, where you come from, or where you live right now. If you have the spirit of Sumpah Pemuda in yourself, you can proudly call yourself an Indonesian.
