The Faculty of Social Sciences of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) successfully conducted a public lecture with the theme of Developing Pancasila and National Defense Character for the Progress of Indonesia on Thursday (2/6).
The public lecture was opened by the UNNES Rector, represented by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Zaenuri, SE, MSi. He emphasized the importance of Pancasila not only being memorized and spoken but also deeply ingrained in the soul and practiced.
Subsequently, the main content of the public lecture was delivered by the Jawa Tengah Police Chief, represented by the Head of Subdivision for Public Relations and Community Development of Central Java Regional Police, Mr. AKBP Maulud, S.Ag, and moderated by Mr. Noorachmat Isdariyanto, M.Si.
Public lectures often discuss the role of Pancasila in the present time. Globalization cannot be avoided, but we must strive to ensure that this globalization does not undermine Pancasila and our ideology. Challenges in this era include intolerance, mass actions, terrorism, and separatism. These four challenges often manifest in various forms of phenomena.
For example, intolerance has infiltrated society, where people cannot respect individuals with different beliefs. The spread of hoax news in society further exacerbates the situation. Hoax news is challenging to control due to the massive development of social media.
While there used to be a saying, “A careless tongue can be more dangerous than a sword,” now it has changed to “Careless fingers can be more dangerous than a sword,” which can lead you to prison.
To maintain Pancasila, it is essential to understand and practice its principles in our daily lives.
Pancasila teaches us ethics and proper behavior in national, governmental, and societal interactions. Understanding these principles allows us to navigate globalization without abandoning Pancasila within ourselves.
We should remain calm, study, and verify information before sharing it. If we find a piece of news untrue, we should communicate its inaccuracy along with the actual facts.
Participating in national defense activities is one way to implement Pancasila values and strengthen unity. The fundamental values of national defense include love for the homeland, awareness of our nation and state, belief in Pancasila as the state ideology, willingness to sacrifice, and possessing the necessary skills for national defense (both physical and non-physical).
The current threats we face are not only attacks from other countries but also radicalism, extremism, terrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime, arms smuggling, and drug-related crimes. Therefore, the president calls upon all Indonesian citizens to be motivated to carry out our national duties and responsibilities in defending our country.
Wherever we are, regardless of our education or profession, everyone has rights and obligations, and everyone has an equal opportunity to defend the nation.
