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“Knowledge
as a Pillar of Vigilance and Patience in Navigating Social Dynamics”
By: Prof. Dr. Capt. Eddy Sumartono, DBA., Ph.D.
Expert in Management, Maritime
Affairs, and National Leadership Ethics
Brunei Darussalam
– In the midst of the bustling modern life and the relentless torrent of
information, the people of Indonesia are currently facing a challenging era.
Every day, we are presented with a flood of news—ranging from economic,
political, to social issues. A significant portion of this information tends to
corner the government, steering public opinion toward distrust and even social
tension.
This phenomenon underscores a crucial
point: that our society needs more than just access to information. More
fundamentally, we require knowledge—knowledge that enlightens our way of
thinking, shapes our attitudes, and guides our actions as wise and responsible
citizens. In this context, knowledge is not merely a collection of theories and
data, but a moral-intellectual foundation that enables us to remain vigilant
and patient in responding to whatever happens around us.
Interpreting
Reality through Knowledge
In social life, not everything visible
on the surface represents the actual truth. What is loud is not always right,
and what is popular is not always fair. Here lies the significance of
knowledge—it becomes the most effective tool to distinguish reality from
perceptions that may have been deliberately constructed.
Knowledge equips individuals to avoid
rushing to conclusions. It trains the mind to verify, weigh cause and effect,
and understand context thoroughly. In a world saturated with opinions and
perceptions, only those who have developed scientific depth of thought can
stand calmly amidst the storm of information.
Vigilance arises from the awareness
that not all presented information is complete truth. There may be framing,
interests at play, and even manipulation. Vigilance is not baseless
suspicion—it is an intellectual braking system that prevents us from being
consumed by emotion or propaganda.
Patience
as a Fruit of Scientific Understanding
Patience is often misunderstood as a
passive virtue. However, in the world of knowledge, patience is an active
process rooted in an understanding of complexity. People who comprehend how
public policies are formulated, how legal processes work, or how geopolitical
dynamics unfold, will realize that no major change happens instantly.
Patience also comes from the
understanding that a nation is composed of many interrelated elements—from the
central government, regional administrations, legal institutions, to civil
society. Each plays a role, faces its own challenges, and has its own limitations.
Thus, when a policy is less than ideal, we can respond proportionally rather
than reactively.
Knowledge teaches us patience—not as a
form of resignation, but as an awareness that all processes require time,
collaboration, and continuous improvement. In many instances, knowledge reveals
that hasty reactions without proper understanding only worsen the situation,
rather than solve it.
Fortifying
Ourselves Amidst Waves of Opinion
In recent months, we have witnessed an
increase in news that tends to discredit the government. Some are based on
incomplete data, others steer public opinion without offering solutions. This
condition leads to an unhealthy crisis of trust.
Yet, we must realize that democracy
cannot exist without criticism, and the government is not a perfect entity. The
real issue arises when criticism is delivered without a scientific
framework—without valid data, without examining multiple perspectives, and
without offering constructive alternatives.
Such conditions should not be met with
anger or panic, but with wisdom born of knowledge. We need to ask: Is the
information we read truly valid? Do the narratives we hear have context? And
more importantly, what are the hidden motives behind the way the information is
presented?
Being a smart society means not
believing everything that goes viral. We must cultivate the habit of
cross-checking, reading from multiple sources, and reflecting before drawing
conclusions. This is what vigilance born of knowledge truly looks like—not fear,
but awareness.
Education
and Knowledge as the Nation’s Foundation
A great nation is not only measured by
its natural resources or military power, but by the intellectual capacity of
its people. A thinking nation is one that is difficult to provoke, not easily
divided, and capable of maintaining stability in the midst of change.
Therefore, education and knowledge
must be placed as top priorities—not only within classrooms and universities
but also in everyday life. Every individual, regardless of background, must
have the access and willingness to learn, to read, and to engage in open-minded
dialogue.
Knowledge shapes integrity. It
encourages us to think honestly, judge fairly, and act wisely. In the context
of governance, a knowledgeable society will not be easily swayed by sectarian
issues, identity politics, or cheap provocations.
They understand that safeguarding the
country is not solely the government’s responsibility, but a shared duty of all
citizens. And to fulfill that duty, we need knowledge as our primary weapon.
Wise
Attitudes: Between Critique and Empathy
Knowledge does not suppress criticism.
On the contrary, it provides the foundation and direction for constructive
criticism. In the realm of development, public policy, and social services,
well-grounded criticism is necessary. But criticism based purely on emotion
only leads to unproductive horizontal conflict.
Scientific attitudes teach us to ask
not only, “What is wrong?” but also “Why did it go wrong?” and “What can be
improved?” Through this way of thinking, we avoid falling into a mindset of
blame without resolution. Instead, we become part of the solution, not the
problem.
Furthermore, knowledge fosters
empathy. When we understand how complex it is to run a government for hundreds
of millions of people, we begin to appreciate every attempt at improvement,
even if it is imperfect. This is not blind loyalty, but a comprehensive and
fair perspective.
Becoming
a Pillar of Social Peace
In a plural and diverse society like
Indonesia, knowledge functions as a unifying force. It transcends ethnic,
religious, economic, and political divisions. People of knowledge tend to have
a wide horizon of thought and generous hearts.
When the world is marked by differing
opinions, conflicting interests, and economic pressures, knowledgeable
individuals act as stabilizers. They do not incite chaos, but offer calm. They
do not create confusion, but bring clarity.
This is the true essence of knowledge.
It is not merely a tool for debate or social status, but a spiritual force that
guides us to the path of common sense, justice, and compassion for others.
A
Call for a Thinking Nation
From my reflection as an academic and
practitioner in various strategic fields, I firmly believe that the future of
our nation depends heavily on the quality of knowledge possessed by its people.
Not only in the realms of technology and economics, but in the development of
character and social awareness.
When we are confronted with narratives
that aim to discredit the government, do not immediately believe them. Use
knowledge to examine. Use reason to understand. Use the heart to be patient.
Let us cultivate a culture of thinking before acting, researching before
judging, and discussing before voicing opinions.
Knowledge never fails to guide
humanity toward goodness—so long as we are willing to learn and remain humble
enough to accept that truth is not always visible on the surface.
Let us build this nation with common
sense, with calmness, and with a sense of responsibility. For Indonesia does
not belong to one group, but to all of us—and it can only be safeguarded with
knowledge, not with anger.
Author:
Prof. Dr. Capt. Eddy Sumartono, DBA., Ph.D.
Expert in Management, Maritime Affairs, and National
Leadership Ethics
(Writer, Lecturer, and Senior Practitioner in Strategic
Fields)
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Press Release,.