When South Korean football team came to Jakarta for 1962 Asian Game they were amazed to see how great Indonesia’s football stadium was, Stadion Utama Gelora Bung Karno. It was one of the best football stadiums in the world, and probably was the best in Asia.

But, in 2002 it was Indonesians who couldn’t believe what they saw on TV, South Korea and Japan were hosting the World Cup and they did it amazingly. Sophisticated and expensive stadiums had been built by Koreans themselves proving to the world that they were indeed a great nation who could compete even against the Western countries. In the 1960’s South Korea was about as poor as Indonesia but Indonesia was probably better since we were considered as one of the most important countries in world’s politics, thanks to our president Soekarno for that reputation.

But now, it is unfair to compare Indonesia and South Korea. While Indonesia is still a second-class nation South Korea has transformed itself into one of the greatest economic powers in the world. At this moment, South Korea is the 3rd largest economy in Asia and the 11th largest economy in the world. Entering the 21st century South Korea gained a status of developed or advanced country and it is now defined as a high-income nation after being one of the Four Asian Tigers and a newly-industrialized country in the 1990’s. South Korea is one of the world’s most technological and scientifically advanced countries, it is the fourth country in the world with the most broadband internet users. South Korea is a leading manufacturer of electronics, digital displays, semiconductor devices, and mobile phones. South Korea has the world’s 3rd biggest steel producer, it is proud to be the 5th biggest-car-manufacturing nation, and the world’s largest ship builder.

That is a brief information of a country who less than 40 years ago was no better than Indonesia. But, look at them now, they are not just great, they are achieving greatness. We should be ashamed of ourselves as a nation. Indonesia that was freed from the imperialism with blood and tears was supposed to be a great nation feared and respected by others. That is exactly what our founders wanted our country to be. But look at ourselves, we are nothing but a bunch of losers. We have created a dream land for corruptors and hypocrites. We are among the worst corrupt countries in the world, we keep on passing the tradition of corruption from generation to generation as if it was just part of our culture. We have no shame in becoming one of the worst environmental destroyers in the world.

Do we deserve this condition? Of course we do. This is a country where its people don’t respect their flag, their national anthem, their history, and their national heroes. We are a nation without identity, a nation who isn’t proud with its values and principles. Our beloved Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika are nothing but a rethorical-lip service orchestrated by corrupt politicians.

We are nothing but a bunch of losers.

Do you think this is the kind of country Ismail Marzuki would have thought it would be when he wrote this song below?

Indonesia Tanah Air Beta

Indonesia tanah air beta
Pusaka abadi nan jaya
Indonesia sejak dulu kala
Slalu dipuja puja bangsa

Di sana tempat lahir beta
Dibuai dibesarkan bunda
Tempat berlindung di hari tua
Sampai akhir menutup mata

The Youtube video is taken from Widhibrata