70 Years of Independence

I'm nowhere near 70. Nor do I understand the history of my country perfectly. Nevertheless, I still think I love this place, as rigged and broken as it may seems. 

70 years have gone by since the last heroes battled with colonialism and declared our independence. In human age, you're considered an elderly, but for a country, being 70 means you're still very young. 

This nation hasn't grown that much over the past few decades. We also haven't achieved anything our founding fathers wished for when they first lead the country. If anything, we have more and more problems to face. 

While trying to keep our 'eastern norms and cultures' intact, we're swept away in hypocrisy and religious fanaticism. The majority grows more and more narrow-minded, while the minorities remain unheard of. Some are trying to make a difference, but are always silenced by the powerful ones. The younger generation lacks pride and a sense of belonging. They're dictated since early childhood to learn about religion, instead of learning how to accept differences and live among diversity. Many aren't ready to face competitions, thinking it's easier to put the blame on others, while waiting to be saved without having to work for it. For some, leaving the country for good become the better choice. They go and never look back, leaving their identities as Indonesians behind, never wanting to pick them up. What's worse, for a lot of people, they live in poverty and are left with false hopes from the leaders who don't seem to truly care.

There's hope, however, coming also from the younger generation. Though leaving the country, some are still taking their national identity with them, changing the face of the nation from the outside world. Some are working hard in the country to make changes, boldly building businesses and enterprises that soon grow and help boost the economy. Others are busy restoring humanity, become the voice of the voiceless, and able to actually move others to start doing the same. Some are ready to change, physically and mentally, and refuse to sit still. They refuse to be torn apart from the inside, refuse to admit defeats. They're the ones who I believe will help the nation to move forward to a better direction. 

I want to be a part of that change. Be a citizen who refuses to give in. Be the one who helps mobilise the nation. I want to believe that a drop of water could create a ripple, and changes that I'm working on will somehow help the country I was born in. If everyone has the same positive drive, I know that Indonesia could also be as big as other nations. We have the resources, we have the people. What we're lacking, maybe, are critical mentality, working mentality, the mentality that we should've had since a long time ago, when we were still lulled with false images of a prosperous country we thought we were. 

I feel the need of this country to come back to its roots, realising our national identity, that we are not of one, but of many. We have not only one religion, but many. Not one kind of person, but a lot different kind. Realising that what we need is to not become more blinded by religions which limit our thoughts, but become more globally aware of things around us and how we all can't not change, while holding to the values of Pancasila, which contains more than enough positive values we should look into. We have a long way to go, but if others can do it, why can't we? 

Dirgahayu Indonesiaku. Salam Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.