Is It True That the Nation's Heroes Have Fallen?

Indonesia is one of the countries in the world that has gained independence. However, Indonesia's journey to independence was not as easy as turning over a hand. From colonisation until today's era of reform, it has never been separate from the hands of the nation's heroes: great people who played a major part in building this nation.

The K2KRS Directorate of the Ministry of Social Affairs recorded that, as of 2019, 185 people had been designated national heroes, 15 of them women. That number is nothing compared with the Indonesian people who fell on the battlefield. All Indonesians became heroes when they fought the colonisers, until Indonesia became independent. Their hard struggle was matched by what they achieved. Now Indonesia can stand without being beneath any other country.

These times are developing ever further. Many cultures have been created across the world. This has brought positive and negative impacts for the nation's successors. The positive impact of globalisation as proof of the progress of the times can be seen in the digitalisation developing in society. It can be used as a tool to document history and the stories of our heroes' struggles.

However, it cannot be denied that the negative impact of this progress is very detrimental to the nation's successors. The influence of foreign cultures that do not suit the nation's character deserves to be addressed. Today many of the nation's successors, the young people, do not understand the meaning of a national hero. The existence of heroes is increasingly questioned. Are there no more heroes in the land of Kartini?

Heroes are not only about the battlefield and firearms. Today, we are fighting an enemy that is even more frightening. An enemy that is invisible yet plays a large part in the battle. That enemy is ourselves. Our own nation. All the elements of society that play a role can be defeated by the ever faster pace of technology.

Sadly, nowadays many of the nation's successors, the younger generation, forget the history of independence. They do not know how great the struggle of this nation's heroes was. This goes hand in hand with their patriotic spirit, which is beginning to disappear. This is a problem that must be resolved wisely.

As students, the vanguard of the movement, we must think of the right way to face this problem. We are expected to be active in everything we do, especially in the spirit of patriotism and nationalism in building a bright future for the Indonesian nation. The spirit of mutual cooperation (gotong royong), unity and solidarity is the main key to realising our ideals and those of this nation itself.

Character building and an understanding of history are also needed in the development of the nation's successors. It is hoped that the nation's successors, the young generation, can grow into successors with a strong character like the heroes who have fallen before us, striving as hard as possible for whatever we can fight for on behalf of this country.

In this era of globalisation with its digital technology, we as the Millennial generation cannot simply forget the services of the heroes. On the contrary, as the times develop we can become the successors of the heroes who came before. Of course, through the digital developments that exist. In this way the existence of heroes continues and does not die because of the progress of the times. The use of digital media in telling the stories of heroes must be put forward.

Fighting the tide of globalisation takes a great deal of preparation, especially our inner readiness. Character building in the national spirit, with a spirit of patriotism, must be instilled in the nation's successors as provisions for the struggle to build an Indonesia more advanced than today. From early on, from early childhood education until the very end. For example, through the subject of Civic Education and the Pancasila course. This can build the national character of the young generation as heroes from the millennial generation.

The heroes of independence have indeed fallen. But the heroes of the nation will never fall. We are striving to build the bridge to the future, including the struggle as heroes of the nation. When the future is bright, the nation will follow. From this moment, we must prepare a strong resolve, inner self and body. To weave the nation's future by fighting within the arena of globalisation.

For that reason it is important to instil a patriotic spirit in our struggle for the future as the nation's successors. Let us unite together with the tide of digital globalisation in order to realise an Indonesia that grows ever more advanced. With the spirit and attitude of heroes. Happy Heroes' Day; keep striving and always remember the struggle of the heroes who fell before us. This is the time for us to go through the process and fight in order to realise the ideals of the Indonesian nation.