Bendera itu berkibar dilangit kawasan kumuh Petamburan. Berdiri tegak diantara rumah yang megapit rel kereta tanah abang. Jika kereta melintas, sang saka*) makin berkibar. Gagahnya.... ! jes..gejes...gejes...tut...tutttt
Ketika kereta tak lagi datang, keheningan tercipta. Tak ada lagi suara jes..gejes...gejes...tut...tutttt. Hei...ada apa ini? Tiba-tiba berdera tak lagi berkibar. Kini ia diam lesu dan membisu.
Kucari jawabannya. Kutengtok langit. Mulai dari timur hingga ke selatan. Hingga angin dari selatan menerpa wajahku. Lihat ! dia kembali berkibar. Tapi, ada yang lain dari bendera itu. Kibarannya kali ini, tidak se heroik ketika kereta melintas. Rupanya, angin yang membuatnya berkibar, baru saja singgah dari atap apartemen mewah di kawasan elit Sudirman. Nama jalan yang diambil dari Pahlawan besar kita. Bendera oh bendera...
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*) The National Flag
The Indonesian national flag is called "Sang Saka Merah Putih". As provided for in Article 35 of he 1945 Constitution, the flag is made up of two colors, red on top of white. Its width is two-thirds of its length, or two metres by three meters. It is hoisted in front of the presidential palace, of government buldings and Indonesian missions abroad. The first flag was courageously flown admidst Japanese occupation forces on the Indonesia’s independence was proclaimed. Since then it has been hoisted at independence day commemorations in front of the presidential palace n the capital city of Jakarta. This historical flag, or "bendera pusaka", was flown for the last time on August 17, 1968. Since then it has been preserved and replaced by a replica woven of pure Indonesian silk.
