On August 27, 2013, we had our second We Discuss event at Kinokuniya Plaza Senayan. This month’s theme is national identity, which is a big part of who we are and aren’t (or believe to be or not be), whether we realize it or not. A majority of the participants who voiced their opinions have experienced living outside their home countries, and can therefore compare and contrast different ways of life.

Despite the nomadic tendencies of the current generation, and how migration – both in the physical sense and that achieved through the Internet – has made national identity more fluid, the values of one particular city, region or country still prove to be more dominant than others in a person’s life. While travelling and relocating can indeed expand one’s point of view, there is still one main reference point that is used as the basis of processing new information and experiences.

Below are some of the points that were mentioned throughout the discussion:

– It is almost impossible to come to the conclusion that there is only one single sense of national identity. As one participant noted, everyone has multiple layers of identity – citizenship, ethnicity, and worldview. All aspects need to be analyzed if one seeks to have a deeper understanding of one’s own national identity.
– Another participant highlighted the difference between the state and the nation, and how one typically has a strong relationship with only one of the two.
– There were also repetitive comments on the flaws of Indonesia, as well as how they can or cannot be fixed. Here, the big question was whether we should look at more advanced nations as an example to simply emulate or use as references that we adapt to our own context.
– Following the previous point, it also becomes apparent that comparing ourselves to our past selves as opposed to the current state of others will be more useful if we aspire to improve and develop.
– In the international setting, Indonesia is still regarded as a “third world nation” despite signs of modernity across the country (particularly in the big cities). Participants argued on how to cope with that label. Have we come to accept that label by simply ignoring it, or does it serve as an incentive to show what we are capable of? Is it even necessary to prove others wrong? Would it benefit us?
– History, and the relationship that we have with the history of our nation, was also one of the popular topics in last night’s discussion. Do we need to understand the past in order to strengthen our sense of belonging?

Since the discussion’s participants were mostly Indonesian citizens, most of the topics were heavily focused on Indonesia. However, it is clear that with the Internet, those who had never lived abroad are also exposed to foreign culture, politics, ideas, public figures, etc. – even if the depth of their involvement may vary.

The combination of physical and cyber migration has brought us to the idea of “world citizenship.” Perhaps this generation is more connected with the world compared to those of previous eras, but what if the connection remains at a philosophical level? If, one day in the future, everyone were given the opportunity to become a world citizenship, would we go for it? Would a legitimate document enforcing that sense of connectedness with the world change the way we make sense of our existence? Would it make us want to become members of smaller groups, even if it is not based on nations (e.g. interests and ideologies)?

When the Greek philosopher, Diogenes announced, “I am a citizen of the world,” was he just being philosophical or did he have something more practical in mind?

If you would like to share your thoughts on any of the above points or respond to the questions, please feel free to tweet us @wjournal #WeDiscuss. Or send us an e-mail to contact@whiteboardjournal.com with the subject title “We Discuss #2.”

The Whiteboard Journal team would like to thank those who joined the second We Discuss meeting. We hope to see you again in future discussions. Next month’s theme is: fashion. Stay tuned for the specific topics!