Indonesian Independence Day

Picture this: you are an American, it is 1844, and just 68 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed by those brave founding Fathers. The was the act that united a hugely varied group of cultures, languages and religions. Your dad and probably granddad fought in the Revolution against an oppressive foreign power. The oppressors have left and are now alleys and friends and you live in a peaceful united independent country.

This is Indonesia today, today is Independence Day! On this day in 1945, just a few days after the Japanese surrendered, the Declaration of Independence was read at 10 AM, and secretly broadcast over a hidden radio station:

Kami, bangsa Indonesia, dengan ini menjatakan kemerdekaan Indonesia.

Hal-hal jang mengenai pemindahan kekoeasaan d.l.l., diselenggarakan dengan tjara saksama dan dalam tempo jang sesingkat-singkatnja.

Djakarta, hari 17 boelan 8 tahoen 05

Atas nama bangsa Indonesia,

Soekarno/Hatta.

PROCLAMATION

WE THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA HEREBY DECLARE THE INDEPENDENCE OF

INDONESIA. MATTERS WHICH CONCERN THE TRANSFER OF POWER AND

OTHER THINGS WILL BE EXECUTED BY CAREFUL MEANS AND IN THE

SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.

DJAKARTA, 17 AUGUST 1945

IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF INDONESIA

SOEKARNO—HATTA

After years of tyrannical colonization by the Dutch and other European powers and being invaded and occupied by the Japanese, the scattered people of this land of thousands of islands saw a path to Independence. The unification of this land of many cultures, languages and religions is a modern marvel. They even introduced a new language to unite the people. Bahasa is now the language of Indonesia.

So today I partook in every celebration I could find, starting at 9 am at the freshly cleaned up wharf where i was the only foreigner and warmly welcomed. It is with a lump in my throat that I congratulate these wonderful people for what they have done and who they are, simply amazing.