Page 358 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

EPILOGUE

Taufik Abdullah

Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is the official National Motto of Indonesia. It means “Unity in
Diversity”. Since the declaration of Independence, both the ruling government and
the people of Indonesia have given their efforts to keep and to prove the unity of the
nations. Initially, there are many ethnically distinct groups with their own unique identity
and different social and cultural tendencies in Indonesia. Many historical episodes have
happened to the people of Indonesia; they have faced and have been able to overcome
various kinds of obstacles so that Indonesia as a nation became strong as it is now.
Indonesian citizens celebrate the country’s unity through various kinds of events. In fact,
the people of Indonesia have been used to carry out many efforts to minimize differences
as cultural strategies to promote the unity of the nation.
While struggling to stand up for the unity of Indonesia, the diversities of the nation
which are essential points of the national unity are somehow neglected. Fundamentally,
without disregarding the main purpose to create lasting unity, the academic knowledge
of the origin of different nations and a deep understanding about cultural differences are
seriously needed. By having a profound understanding about differences and knowing
the origins that may have connections, the strategy of strengthening the foundation of
national unity will also be clearer.
Suddenly the history is here, and we will understand more about the meaning of
being up-to-date, about various dynamics, and experiences. Unexpectedly we are giving
attention to what and how the culture of Melanesia is; it means that we are approaching
not only the existing world that we are living in now, but also the past which may be more
important and part of the reality of the nation. Isn’t it the fact that the word race has been
used in the history of mankind and the changing of the world?
When the origins of people have started to be discussed, we have started to enter the
journey of mankind’s history that started thousands of years ago. At this time, groups of
immigrants started to inhabit the Indonesian islands, although some islands had begun
to experience the changing process. Those new settlers came and expanded, and they or
their descendants started their journeys. At the beginning, they had their journey to the

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