Assalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.
Honorable
the headmaster of SD/SMP/SMA…
Honorable
my teachers
Dear my friends…
Brothers and Sisters…
First of all, let’s pray and thank unto
Allah SWT, for His gift and His guidance are given for us until we can do our
obligation as moslem.
Secondly, let’s pray for our prophet
Muhammad SAW, because of him, we can get the moslem to respect another person,
asspecially to the parents.
Thirdly, I will not forget
to say thank you very much for my friend as support me speaking here. Standing
in front of you all, I would like to present my speech under the title “Kartini Day and Women’s Emancipation”.
Brothers and Sisters…
We all know… every year, on 21st April (on the twenty first of April), Indonesian people always celebrate Kartini Day. This celebration is
to appreciate the contribution of R.A.Kartini in improving the life of
Indonesian women. Kartini Day also reminds us that Indonesian women should get
equality in education, achievement and social life. Kartini has inspired us in
supporting the wowen’s emancipation.
Brothers and Sisters…
In the past, Indonesian women had a very low
social status. They could not attend school to get education. Indonesian women
were not able to reach good position in social life. They did not have the same
rights as men obtained.
This condition made R.A. Kartini concerned. She
tried to change it. She wanted Indonesian women to have higher education and
better social status. Kartini expressed her ideas and opinion in letters and
then sent them to her close friend, Rosa Abendanon. Kartini’s letters were
mainly about her views on the condition of native Indonesian women. Another way
of Kartini’s struggle was she established free school for women. She thought
that to improve the women’s life, they might have a higher education.
My teachers…
My friends…
The letters from RA Kartini to Rosa Abendanon were
compiled and published into a book entitled : “Door
Duisternis tot Licht” or known as “Out of
Dark Comes Light”. In Indonesian, we call it as Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang.
Kartini’s letters indicated that she struggled to
change the low status of women. She inspired Indonesian women to get education
and a better life. In other words, she supported women’s emancipation. That is
why, to appreciate Kartini’s ideas for the women’s movement, in 1964, President
Sukarno declared Kartini's birth date, 21st April, as 'Kartini Day'
- an Indonesian National Holiday which we celebrate it each year until now.
Brothers and Sisters…
We always celebrate Kartini Day every year. The
question is, what should we do in celebrating it?
In my opinion, celebrating Kartini Day does not
only mean we must wear traditional clothes. The most important thing is we are
reminded about her struggle against discrimination towards women. Kartini Day
also means that we cannot take for granted the idea of men and women equality.
There are, however, natural differences between women and men. Kartini’s ideas
should become the inspiration for women to get equal rights as men obtained, in
education, achievement and social status.
Nowdays, we can find many successful women in our
country. There are many Indonesian women who have amazing achievements in the
field of business, economics, education, government officials, and other
professions. We can also find Indonesian women who have become regency chiefs,
governors, ministers, even president of Indonesia. It indicates that Indonesian
women have reached better social status and they have participated in women’s
emancipation.
My teachers…
Brothers, Sisters and all the Audiences…
I think that’s all my speech. I hope it will be
useful for us, and I apologize if there are mistakes in my speech.
Finally, I would like to say: “Happy Kartini
Day…! Long Live Indonesia, Long Live Indonesian Women…!!”
Hopefully Indonesian women will always be
successful in education, achievement and social life.
Thank your very much for your attention.
Wassalamu’alaikum Wr. Wb.
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