WESTERN CULTURE AND OUR YOUNGSTERS NOWADAYS

Mika  - CGO Yunior.

Caping Gunung - Globalization has opened up the gates of modern era. When we come to this era, we will see the world without any limits or borders. Every day, we meet with a lot of information, from inside or outside this country. One thing that has also come to our country is the western culture. This culture has influenced every part of our life, for example, food, transportation, technologies, or even lifestyle. We can see our youngsters nowadays, they’re so easily get interacted with the western culture, and the question is, what is the effect of western cultures for our youngster? Do we adsorb entirely everything that that is coming from the western?

Culture is born because of the habit, and the habit is born because there is behavior. So, whether it is good or bad behavior, it will influence the culture it’s self. Western culture is just like a knife that has two sides; the good and the bad one. In a positive aspect, western culture has influenced us to modern technologies, internet, it has introduced us to the fashion, food, news or even a new lifestyle. The question is, doo we really need the western culture? The answer is yes, we do. We need the western culture; we have to open up our eyes, our mind, and our heart to the world windows. Don’t be like indigenous people who are so close minded, not accepting things coming from the outside.

These positive aspects, should be taken in our culture, we combine with our own. This combination will make us to be smart people. We become people who are not left behind with the world-updates. We become smart to know something outside our home, our country but we still love and remember to where we come from.  Through the western culture, our youngsters today have opened up their eyes to the world windows; they’re up to date with the information, fashion, food, etc.  It indicates that western culture has a role to improve our youngsters’ achievement. Our first president said; just give ten youngsters to shake up the world! So, that’s why we have to defend these positive aspects, this development, be smart people, don’t be left behind, but remember to where you come from.

Western culture also has the negative shadow, this shadow has directed our youngsters to the gloom, and the gloom will bring this country to the destruction. We can see our youngsters today, are so uncontrolled. They do what they want without thinking their surroundings. Almost crimes in this country are done by the youngsters, but why? This is because they just adsorb entirely from the western culture, they don’t filter it! They forget with their land. They just think that they’re like the western. The bad cultures from the western have changed their mind and their behavior. We have to change their mind, why? Because the future of this country is on their shoulders, youngsters are the next generation. But look at our youngsters today! Look at them. Wild racing is common in their ears. Crimes, robberies and pregnancy before marriage become something usual in their eyes.

350 years, 350 years our country had been colonized. Forty years ago, the holders of this 7country struggled hard; they gave their blood, wealth, and their soul for the rise of our education. But, where are the youngsters now? Where are the youngsters who give the blood and wealth for the religion and this country? Where are they? We should express our gratitude to God, God has given us a gift until now, so that we have an education and get achievement. But our youngsters today waste this opportunity, why? Because they don’t aware that they are the next generation, the future will be carried on their shoulders! They just take all the western culture instead of their own culture, their ancestors had struggled hard to make it, but they ruin it! They don’t want to maintain traditional dances, food, and their own behavior as Indonesian people. So, the big question, what is the solution? Our government should change the system of our education. Give our youngsters, give us a direction how we can build up our country, teach us to be good people, good youngsters who can carry the future of our country in our shoulders.

So, we have to choose and filter the culture that comes outside us, even though we have known the western cultures, we have known western fashion, food, and lifestyle, we may not forget to where we come from. For the last, for all the youngsters, we are next generation that will lead this country, we will bring a big, a very big responsibility, our future, the future of this country is on our shoulders, reach our big dream, and I’m sure we’re the best, and yes we can!