Ethos of the Nation

Kompas

Idi Subandy Ibrahim

More than two decades ago, Bernard Lewis, a historian who has studied the interactions of Western and Islamic cultures, once said: “When people realize that something has gone wrong, there are two questions they can ask. One: \'What have we done wrong?\' Another: \'Who do it to us?\' The second question leads to conspiracy theories and paranoia. The first question leads to another thought: ‘How do we get it right?’" (Foreign Affairs, 1997).

Lewis is one of the prominent figures in relating the development of Islam to cultural factors. He saw that the closing of the "door to ijtihad" (independent thought) by Islamic scholars between the 9th and 11th centuries had paralyzed the Islamic cultural ethos. This has resulted in suppressing the courage to step in with experimentation and originality, and reinforcing the fatalistic world view. In short, for Lewis, the causes are internal (cultural), rather than external (Western influence).

In The Wealth and Poverty of Nations, David Landes (1998) used Lewis\' "glasses" to compare how Latin America (in half of the 20th century) and Japan (in half of the 19th century) solved the fundamental problems of their nations. According to Landes, Latin America preferred conspiracy theories and paranoia; seeing the causes from the external and failing to make progress. Meanwhile, Japan asked questions to itself, looking for the causes from within and emerging as a developed nation (Harrison & Huntington, 2000).

Discussion about the ethos of the nation brings our thoughts to civilizations that have experienced glory. All nations reach the pinnacle of achievement and excellence because they are imbued with a prominent ethos. Ethos can mean habits, customs, morals, character, feelings, attitudes or ways of thinking (Bertens, 1993).

Historian Sartono Kartodirdjo since the 1980s had often called Japan as one of the nations most prepared to develop a culture of science and technology. Japan has a bushido (samurai) ethos which demands expertise in warfare. Today\'s generation of Japan is shifting that ethos. They remain highly motivated and eager to learn and work, while trying to "be number one".

By examining the core of the problem of its own nation, Japan carried out restoration, getting out of a crisis and pioneering modernization by developing the cultural ethics of its nation. Learning from past mistakes and never wasting learning opportunities, it realized its weaknesses and understood the nation’s advantages.

The Japanese people promoted work ethic and self-discipline, as well as a sense of pride in national identity. They valued achievement by working hard and still living modestly. Therefore, they were able to recognize other people’s strengths.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Workers complete the construction of a house in a subsidized housing complex in Gatak Hamlet, Mojosongo Village, Mojosongo District, Boyolali, Central Java, Saturday (1/2/2020).

Apart from the ethos of the Japanese people, Sartono also liked to mention the name of painter and sculptor Michael Angelo, who was dedicated to painting the ceiling of the Chapel of St. Peter\'s Basilica of Italy on his back for 17 years. This at the same time reflects the achievements and ethos of excellence of the European nation, especially central Italy.

Asceticism

During his lifetime, scholar Nurcholish Madjid (Cak Nur) often cited an expression that in order to progress, Indonesia\'s young generation must promote what is known as a culture of "delayed gratification" to face the domination of "instant gratification" culture. Isn\'t the expression Berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian (suffering is necessary in order to achieve something great) a form of cultural ethos too?

Apparently for Sartono and Cak Nur, the ethos of the nation can only develop in the light of asceticism. For them, intellectual asceticism is an attitude of life that is needed to enter a culture of science and technology. This is in line with the German saying, "There can be no civilization without asceticism".

This is becoming increasingly true when intellectual integrity and honesty as a call to conscience to maintain a critical attitude are increasingly rare. A hedonistic lifestyle continues to dismiss intellectual asceticism.

The interests of a handful of people and groups are increasingly undermining public interests.

Calculative considerations increasingly get rid of moral calls in work, which deals with the lives of many people. The interests of a handful of people and groups are increasingly undermining public interests. State issues seem to become only a matter for several families.

Sartono (1989) reminded that the ethos of the nation as a totality of habits that is manifested in all human attitudes and behavior needs to be directed towards the realization of the existence of the Indonesian nation. In this way, the nation\'s ethos will not only increase the standard of living, but also enhance the quality of life and dignity of the Indonesian people.

This has actually been demonstrated by the founding fathers and mothers of this nation during the war of independence where the ethos of nationalism has lived, namely the spirit of selfless sacrifice. Unfortunately, the ethos of the nation is not always alive and well maintained in the practice of the nation and state in the era of independence.

If Lewis\' "glasses" are used, the problems of the state and nation that we face in various fields should be returned to our own nation. Haven’t we agreed to the Pancasila values as the nation\'s ethos? If the values of Pancasila have been rooted into all aspects of national life, it can be said that our collective cultural ethos is Pancasila.

The process of instilling the nation\'s ethos is not only limited to cognitive aspects, but also includes affective and conative aspects. Because, at the end goal, there is a responsibility to bring the ideal ideas of Pancasila into real action.

Unfortunately, society tends to be upwardly oriented. In fact, at the elite level, it is difficult for us to find role models that can actually be used as a reference for the current generation in pursuing action. Therefore, for the sake of building the character of the Indonesian nation in the future, the function of civic education to instill the ethos of this nation is urgently needed.

ARSIP AZIS M

Idi Subandy Ibrahim

Efforts to instill the nation\'s ethos must be directed as a process of disseminating and popularizing values that foster dedication and pride in national identity. By doing so, the nation\'s ethos is expected to be institutionalized in the individual personality and collective life of the citizens.

Idi Subandy Ibrahim, researcher of culture, media and communication