B. Reading Activity

President Sukarno of Indonesia:
Speech at the Opening of the Bandung Conference, Aprll 18, 1955

    This twentieth century has been a period of terrific dynamism. Perhaps the last fifty years have seen more developments and more material progress than the previous five hundred years. Man has learned to control many of the scourges, which once threatened him. He has learned to consume distance. He has learned to project his voice and his picture across oceans and continents. He has learned how to make the desert bloom and the plants of the earth increase their bounty. He has learned how to release the immense forces locked in the smallest particles of matter.
    But has man's political skill marched hand-in-hand with his technical and scientific skill? The answer is No! The political skill of man has been far outstripped by technical skill. The result of this is fear. And man gasps for safety and morality.
    Perhaps now, more than at any other moment in the history of the world, society, government and statesmanship need to be based upon the highest code of morality and ethics. And in political terms, what is the highest code of morality? It is the subordination of everything to the well-being of mankind. But today, we are faced with a situation where the well being of mankind is not always the primary consideration. Many who are in places of high power think, rather, of controlling the world.
    Yes, we are living in a world of fear. The life of man today is corroded and made bitter by fear. Fear of the future, fear of hydrogen bomb, fear of ideologies. Perhaps this fear is a greater danger than the danger itself, because it is fear which drives men to act foolishly, to act thoughtlessly, to act dangerously.
    All of us, I am certain, are united by more important things than those which superficially divide us. We are united, for instance, by a common detestation of colonialism in whatever form it appears. We are united by a common detestation of racialism. And we are united by a common determination to preserve and stabilize peace in the world.
    We are often told, "Colonialism is dead." Let us not be deceived or even soothed by that. I say to you, colonialism is not yet dead. How can we say it is dead, so long as vast areas of Asia and Africa are unfree.
    And, I beg of you do not think of colonialism only in the classic form, which we of Indonesia, and our brothers in different parts of Asia and Africa, knew. Colonialism has also its modern dress, in the form of economic control, intellectual control, and actual physical control by a small but alien community within a nation. It is a skillful and determined enemy, and it appears in many guises. It does not give up its loot easily. Wherever, whenever and however it appears, colonialism is an evil thing, and one which must be eradicated from the earth ....

Source: (Excerpt taken from Africa-Asia Speaks from Bandong, (Djakarta Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1955, 19-29)

C. Post-Reading Activity

Discussion Questions

Read the questions carefully. Note down your opinions and reactions to the questions. During the discussion with your teacher and classmates, offer your personal reaction and understanding of the text.

Do you think politics has changed much since the time of President Sukarno?