The Elite Motion
Illustration: Handining
Allow me, once again, to question, and also to answer by myself, that which we seem to have believed with certainty to its positive effectiveness: Has Pancasila really become our state ideology, has it become the basis or reference for not only the way we live, but also the way we live in the state?
By decree (which we believe to be consensus), up to the threats of harsh punishment (to be "clobbered"), Pancasila is non-negotiation, a “dead price,” maybe the overwhelming majority of us will affirm or answer positively the above question. I say the opposite: No! The answer lies in the historical data and facts we have and understand so far.
First, the current condition shows how our behavior as a nation and also as citizens of a country does not give strong evidence of the implementation and praxis of Pancasila as the foundation of the state. We can see for ourselves how the behavior of the elites, which fill the main pages of all mass media, give real examples of how Pancasila is not only not carried out, but even denied and humiliated. Political and economic power are no longer the means for the noble objectives of its existence, but like a trophy of life which is competed for, pursued, and seized by all social elements (not only by political and economic practitioners), in whatever ways, which are haram (forbidden by Islamic law) and criminal.
Such a condition is pervasive, as our reality is, sadly, defined by paternalistic patron-client relations, from the middle class to the masses, from crooked small-and-medium enterprise (SME) owners, who ride the corruption of big businesspeople, to the slaughter of traditional businesses by modern forms. Tens to possibly hundreds of thousands of traffic violations occur and are left without attention daily throughout Indonesia, and the screams and threats as well as vengeful physical violence, harsh sentences and lies, fatalism and also fanaticism occur among hundreds to millions of our people.
Second, we have data that shows how, ever since its beginning, the republic has been filled with turmoil in politics, law, economy, religion, and others, which, among other things, have been caused by the lust and libido of certain groups or by foreign intervention, with the weapons of information, technology, funds, armaments and diplomacy. To this day, we are still submerged in various state and government systems, which have not been able to accommodate the great potential of the nation properly.
Third, to this day there has never been any authority, which can elaborate what the real praxis of Pancasila is, or even merely, the significance of its abstract meanings. Therefore, there is no party in this nation, which has a reference to measure and assess the level of adoption of Pancasila, leading each group (even individuals) to feel their interpretation and adoption of Pancasila is valid. This is the emptiness, which has haunted Pancasila, in name and principle, since it was reached by consensus by the founders of the nation. When President Soeharto attempted to fill this emptiness through BP7 and its P-4 program, calling on us to feel more idealistic, smarter and more historical, more "Pancasilaists," the sense of emptiness persisted.
Non-ideological selves
Finally, the fourth is the rhetoric question for ourselves, "Has Pancasila become a commandment for our daily lives?" In our dishonesty, cowardice and shame, the majority of us possibly will answer with a nod because the verbal answer "Yes" is painful to our deepest conscience. Amid the pain caused mentally, intellectually and spiritually, the nod is artificial.
Why? Because, of course, our daily lives are actually no longer based on the meaning of our "ideological" principles. We live by our own measurements, which are pragmatic, even opportunistic. If we have a reference, it comes more from the standards (more precisely the style) of modern life, which is penetrated by what we call the global culture and without which we seem not entitled to receive our ID cards as (post-modern) citizens of the world. We feel ashamed.
And, again, if you insist on answering, "Yes," based on what is the affirmation. Through what precedence has the ideology ever lived in the heart of ourselves and our nation?
I say the above not with pessimism, let alone, with a losers\' mentality in the face of a challenging time. No! I simply say that we (our nation) are facing a constitutive moment, a moment, which will determine whether we remain a state, a nation, as imagined in the minds of the founding fathers of the nation. This moment was built on a process, which has ripened the involution of the people of this modern country because of its viciousness, slander and humiliation of the foundations of its own nation.
What we hear, see, feel, and internalize lately is the maturation of "state" decay. Not only from notable groups, but also by ourselves, who violate busway tracks, litter indiscriminately, pollute lakes and rivers, corrupt office time and facilities, cheat business partners, allow the "nation and state" to crumble in the souls of our children by letting them sink into the gadgetry of the virtual world, and even let the clarity of our minds be incited and carried away by false thoughts, fake news and wrong teachings.
Absence of the mental bridge
The above phenomena are caused by our absent, or diminished, comprehension of reality in the world today. A fact, which some time ago was still "simple,” becomes so complicated and complex due to the latest technological advancements in information and communication. If previously our brains were sharp enough to discern thousands of bytes of information per day, from newspapers, radio, free-of-charge television and social encounters, now we stand stupefied in the face of millions, even billions, of bytes of data only in one unit of time.
It is shown, among others, by the arrogance of us, who are supposedly learned, who assume with our knowledge, to able to compress and comprehend all problems in the country. Listen to and read the comments of legal, political and economic experts, even the religious as well.
A vacuum is caused by the incapability or the absence of a "mental bridge," which can connect our conscious mind, which is filled with Continental/European logocentrism, with practical behavior, which is still controlled by a kind of primordial psychologism. Therefore, it may be that you are a doctor or professor, but that does not guarantee that your behavior will be in line with or be a realization of your intellectual quality. This is a fact, which we see, not only in the mass media, but also in our daily lives. We, as human beings and as a nation, are split personalities. It may be that we honor the sophistication of science, solemnly go to the houses of worship or go home to burn incense and rub agates, all the while with the intention to steal people\'s money or search for a love affair.
Elite motion
The arrogance of our academic/sectarian elites, is still strongly practiced. Our superiority in specializations makes us reluctant to understand, let alone learn from "other" worlds. The sociologist sneers at the political expert or practitioner, and vice versa, and so on. I also have to say with sincerity of heart and mind, the field or "other area," most frequently evaded, not understood, not studied (even in many cases facing ridicule from elites) is culture.
The arrogance and absence of the "mental bridge" is the task of our common culture and civilization, which may require the determination and effort of several generations. This constitutive moment must be answered immediately, or it will be lost with the wind of time, left unfulfilled.
Practically, the solution to this complex problem is to immediately take a stance and act. First, we should stop propaganda or programs disseminating the phrase "four pillars are the dead price" because it tend to sacralize, which may even kill the four pillars themselves. It may be that the "dead price" means the state pillars are non-negotiable. However, they must remain alive as their significance lies in a time, which continues changing.
Maybe the paradoxical phrase "the dead price which is alive," is more appropriate. However, this is no problem because life and destiny are built, and dynamism created, through paradoxes, which should not always be positioned in binary, let alone in opposition.
In these living pillars we together give meaning to Pancasila in a noble or idealistic (not ideological) way to guide our daily lives. It is no problem to be different, as long as we are convinced the efforts are noble and glorify us (our humanity). Time will usually aggregate all of them to become a kind of natural (not scientific) consensus so that it will naturally and concretely guide us.
Pancasila will fail if it is solely a product of mind, philosophically, let alone ideologically. Pancasila must be a praxis that grows and develops in practice, thereby making it like a life tree. In the symbol of the tree, the elite should become precedence or example of ideal praxis of the state and nation. The elite must become an inspiration and trigger for members of their groups so the praxis spreads throughout the meadow.
The elite at the top of the tree, which are the first leaves to receive the suns rays, can enable fertile growth from the stem to the fruit to the roots. If there is resistance, it will be no problem if one or two leaves fall, they will immediately be replaced by younger shoots. However, it will be dangerous if the elite do not move, as it will be the grass, which takes action.
Part of the tapestry of the earth, the grass is a place to stand and be stepped on. Grass does not complain when it is being spit on, urinated on, or even contaminated by chemicals. It continues to grow. However, if it becomes angry and takes action, there will be tremendous consequences: Not only for the state, but also for the nation and the country. The grass will be uprooted and the tree, which loses its roots will lose everything, its fruits, its stems. Our children and grandchildren watch, as witnesses.
RADHAR PANCA DAHANA
Cultural Observer
