August 17, 1945 is the beginning of an incomplete history. Every year we are reminded of the conflict leading up to the reading of Indonesia’s proclamation of independence that took place in Jalan Pegangsaan, Jakarta that day. Every year we realize that the nation and republic were not truly a consensus-even though, miraculously or not, today the Indonesia of one nation, one native land, is 72 years old.

We are grateful, even though we can ask