MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: BETWEEN FREEDOM AND TOLERANCE Aim Abdulkarim, Neiny Ratmaningsih, Ratna Fitria, Dina Logaya
Fakultas Pendidikan Ilmu Pengetahuan Sosial
UNIVERSITAS PENDIDIKAN INDONESIA
Abstract
In principle, the Indonesian nation is considered as a plural nation which consists of different ethnicity, races, languages, religions, customs, and cultures. The plurality of this nation can be seen either as a blessing or a great challenge for the Indonesian nation in its efforts to grow a tolerance attitude. As a matter of fact, the intolerance attitude of Indonesian nation is increasing from year to year. Obviously, it can be seen from the various conflicts that have been continuously arising, such as the conflicts between Dayak ethnic (indigenous people) and Madurese ethnic (transmigrants), the poso conflict which involved the security forces, community and terrorism, and the Ambon conflicts on religious issues (Islam-Christian) and the others. Therefore, the existence of the tolerance attitude is essentially in demand in order to improve social relations among citizens, to create the advancement of pluralism, and to respect the differences. In addition, the multicultural learning is expected to be able to give birth to an insightful and knowledgeable generation, especially in terms of multiculturalism, to take part wisely as a multicultural society, to have decision-making skills, and to provide alternatives towards the multicultural issues in maintaining the integration and harmony.
