Speech at the Opening of the Bandun

Speech at the Opening of the Bandung Conference, April 18 1955

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This twentieth century has been a period of terrific dynamism. Perhaps the last fifty years have seen more developments and more material progress than the previous five hundred years. Man has learned to control many of the scourges which once threatened him. He has learned to consume distance. He has learned to project his voice and his picture across oceans and continents. lie has probed deep into the secrets of nature and learned how to make the desert bloom and the plants of the earth increase their bounty. He has learned how to release the immense forces locked in the smallest particles of matter.

But has man's political skill marched hand-in-hand with his technical and scientific skill? Man can chain lightning to his command-can be control the society in which be lives? The answer is No! The political skill of man has been far outstripped by technical skill, and what lie has made he cannot be sure of controlling.

The result of this is fear. And man gasps for safety and morality.

Perhaps now more than at any other moment in the history of the world, society, government and statesmanship need to be based upon the highest code of morality and ethics. And in political terms, what is the highest code of morality? It is the subordination of everything to the well-being of mankind. But today we are faced with a situation where the well-being of mankind is not always the primary consideration. Many who are in places of high power think, rather, of controlling the world.

Yes, we are living in a world of fear. The life of man today is corroded and made bitter by fear. Fear of the future, fear of the hydrogen bomb, fear of ideologies. Perhaps this fear is a greater danger than the danger itself, because it is fear which drives men to act foolishly, to act thoughtlessly, to act dangerously. . . .

All of us, I am certain, are united by more important things than those which superficially divide us. We are united, for instance, by a common detestation of colonialism in whatever form it appears. We are united by a common detestation of racialism. And we are united by a common determination to preserve and stabilise peace in the world. . . .

We are often told "Colonialism is dead." Let us not be deceived or even soothed by that. 1 say to you, colonialism is not yet dead. How can we say it is dead, so long as vast areas of Asia and Africa are unfree.

And, I beg of you do not think of colonialism only in the classic form which we of Indonesia, and our brothers in different parts of Asia and Africa, knew. Colonialism has also its modern dress, in the form of economic control, intellectual control, actual physical control by a small but alien community within a nation. It is a skilful and determined enemy, and it appears in many guises. It does not give up its loot easily. Wherever, whenever and however it appears, colonialism is an evil thing, and one which must be eradicated from the earth. . .

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Pidato pada pembukaan Konferensi Bandung, 18 April 1955[]Abad ke duapuluh telah periode hebat dinamisme. Mungkin lima puluh tahun terakhir telah melihat lebih banyak perkembangan dan kemajuan materi lebih daripada lima ratus tahun sebelumnya. Orang telah belajar untuk mengontrol banyak scourges yang dulu terancam kepadanya. Dia telah belajar untuk mengkonsumsi jarak. Dia telah belajar untuk proyek suara dan gambar di seberang lautan dan benua. kebohongan telah diselidiki jauh ke dalam rahasia alam dan belajar bagaimana untuk membuat mekar gurun dan tanaman bumi meningkatkan karunia mereka. Dia telah belajar untuk melepaskan kekuatan besar terkunci dalam partikel terkecil materi.Tetapi memiliki keterampilan politik orang berbaris di-tangan dengan keterampilan teknis dan ilmiah nya? Laki-laki dapat rantai petir untuk nya perintah-bisa menjadi kontrol masyarakat di mana menjadi hidup? Jawabannya adalah tidak! Keterampilan politik manusia telah jauh melampaui oleh keterampilan teknis, dan kebohongan apa telah membuat dia tidak dapat memastikan pengendalian.Hasil ini adalah ketakutan. Dan terengah-engah manusia untuk keselamatan dan moralitas.Mungkin sekarang lebih dari setiap saat lainnya dalam sejarah dunia, masyarakat, pemerintah, dan statesmanship perlu untuk berdasarkan kode tertinggi moral dan etika. Dan secara politik, apa kode tertinggi moralitas? Ini adalah subordinasi segalanya untuk kesejahteraan umat manusia. Tapi hari ini kita dihadapkan dengan situasi di mana kesejahteraan manusia tidak selalu pertimbangan utama. Banyak orang yang di tempat-tempat tinggi daya pikir, sebaliknya, mengendalikan dunia.Yes, we are living in a world of fear. The life of man today is corroded and made bitter by fear. Fear of the future, fear of the hydrogen bomb, fear of ideologies. Perhaps this fear is a greater danger than the danger itself, because it is fear which drives men to act foolishly, to act thoughtlessly, to act dangerously. . . .All of us, I am certain, are united by more important things than those which superficially divide us. We are united, for instance, by a common detestation of colonialism in whatever form it appears. We are united by a common detestation of racialism. And we are united by a common determination to preserve and stabilise peace in the world. . . .We are often told "Colonialism is dead." Let us not be deceived or even soothed by that. 1 say to you, colonialism is not yet dead. How can we say it is dead, so long as vast areas of Asia and Africa are unfree.And, I beg of you do not think of colonialism only in the classic form which we of Indonesia, and our brothers in different parts of Asia and Africa, knew. Colonialism has also its modern dress, in the form of economic control, intellectual control, actual physical control by a small but alien community within a nation. It is a skilful and determined enemy, and it appears in many guises. It does not give up its loot easily. Wherever, whenever and however it appears, colonialism is an evil thing, and one which must be eradicated from the earth. . .