To be cool as Indonesian
6 November 2008
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November 4, 2008 was a historical moment for the United States. I watched every step of its progress until Barack Obama was announce President-elect by the media. I was there watching the people I follow on my Twitter where they “broadcast” every details sometime better than the mainstream media.
When I watched this video for a number I lost count already, I then understand why I was even care:
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Financial slash economic disaster,
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children’s education,
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literacy,
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global warming,
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terrorism,
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drugs,
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health care,
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women right,
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civil right,
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minimum wage,
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oil and gas,
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prices, etc… , etc..
Those issues are not exclusively belonging to the Americans. We, Indonesians, also have those issues on our own soils. We have an election coming next year; will we have anybody we could vote for when we want to have our voices on those things we concern about? I’m totally confused. I’m concern about those issues and I really wish I could vote somebody who I believe would do something for the better of those issues. But honestly, people, I see nobody. I could not vote anybody like what the Americans did the other day. And I still think I’m afraid next year I will not be able to post something like “Suddenly, it may be cool to be Indonesian again“
Yes, I feel a tiny bitty envy crawling in chest. Especially when I watched Fox News this morning; Declare Yourself was reporting that 24 million 18-29 year olds vote in that historical 2008 presidential election. The 66% of those were also the force behind the victory of Obama, the highest level of youth support for a presidential candidate since tracking began in the 1970s. Declare Yourself was the national nonpartisan, nonprofits youth voter initiative, responsible for the video up there. I also heard in the news that over 50% of those young voters were voting because they concern about the cost of living and the job market.
I guess I will choose not to address our existing politicians who are recently learning the power of media to support their campaigns. I will not discuss their twisted words because many other experts know better whether it was actually twisted or even worst.
I rather clinging on to the youth who are now hardly understand the meaning of politic for their lives. I rather join force with other parents who voted for his boy who now has every reason to believe he, too, can grow up to be anything he wants…even President.
I will pass the lesson of 2008 US presidential election to my children so they too can grow up to be anything they want despite their multi races or background. They just have to stand in what they believe and tell the whole world from their heart. That democracy has not yet died, they will have to make sure one day Indonesia will actually breathe it too.
So, adults, what’s next? As my friend Nindya questioned in her post. What’s next for us? Are we just spectators to this whole wonderful drama? Make it merely a temporary replacement for the not-so-educating sinetrons? I surely believe you do not expect Obama to make the changes directly for our country, right? The issues are listed up there and they are just a little part. Because my friends, waiting will not get us anywhere. So does cursing our corrupted politicians. If the Americans can do it, we surely can!
Do you believe change can happen? Have you started it?
Pictures are take from: Design For Obama
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Change can happen and we have to start it. I understand the negative sentiment of many young generations in Indonesia that being skeptical to our government thus created some, if not, majority abstaint voices. But then, this question occured: If we are being abstaint, if we are being quiet and staying in our current position, how do we expect ourselves to go forward?
Is it fair for this nation when we’re screaming, cursing, yelling, insulting and insisting the government for better condition while actually we are doing nothing? I know and I understand that most of the people in the government are such scumbags, but there are some real pure souls there, working their ass off for the better condition. Without our support, they could not do more.
I have this conversation with my best friend about voting rights. I asked him, “if voting is considered as right, how if people got this thought of not doing their rights? You know, voting?” Then my friend answered, “the right to vote becoming obligations when it needed by the nation.” And yes, our nation needs us. One vote counts. Sounds ridiculous to realize how I quote this from a movie, but Disney always got the best stuffs. The Emperor at ‘Mulan’ movie said this, “a single grain of rice affects the whole scale. A single man defines the winning and losing of China.” Damn I got my tears at that time.
It’s sickening me up to my blood to see many people yelling that they love Indonesia while they choose to be abstaint during the Elections. Don’t just yell that we love Indonesia during August 17. Prove it, for God sake.
If, IF, our leader of hope couldn’t fulfill the duty as he/she promised and expected (well, God forbids) it will back to us again to be patient and forgiving. My Dad once told me this, “trust in yourself. You have to be able to take decision. Yes or No. Don’t worry if the result going wrong. You would say, “okay, my fault. I’m sorry. I will take the responsibility.” In the end, the thing that matters most is that you have taken a decision. You are a man for your own word.”
It’s not about mere decision making or not. It’s about taking responsibility.
So yeah. Yes we can. If United States of America could do it, why couldn’t we?
6 November 2008 at 5:49 pm