Look forward, Indonesia. What do you see?

Photo by wd toro 🇲🇨 on Unsplash

In looking back, we found a plethora of reasons to be proud and cause for celebrations. Now, can we say the same when we’re looking forward?

And so another Independence Day has gone for our beloved nation, Indonesia. No doubt a momentous occasion, perhaps one of the most important day for Indonesians, a day that is celebrated by all; no matter their background, belief, ethnicity or political affiliation.

True to our tradition, this year our Independence day was once again celebrated festively. We celebrated our Independence, we thanked all the brave men and women who fought for our freedom, many whom faced their death without receiving a medal for their bravery, we cheered for all of the heroes that rallied everyone to believe in the cause that must have seemed impossible at the time, we joyfully sang our songs.

As if with something to prove to those who weren’t entirely convinced of all the joy the day had to offer, all TV stations broadcasted crowds merrily gathered in the thousands, witnessing parades, enjoying festivals, and marveled at what must have been millions of red and white flag standing proud in every street and every corner. It’s evident that barely any effort was spared in constructing this air of festivity.

In looking back, we found a plethora of reasons to be proud and cause for celebrations. Now, can we say the same when we’re looking forward?

If one is willing to look past the festivities, a slight, unmistakable, taste of exasperation can be found looming in the background. If you were part of the thousands gathering to celebrate, you probably saw smiles everywhere you looked; but probably with a hint of uncertainty and irony behind it. If you close your eyes and listen carefully, there were sighs that seemed to accompany every cheers.

While it is true that there hasn’t been a single governing body that was not met with contempt, dissent, or even a full opposition (after all, one of our responsibilities as citizens is to play the devil’s advocate to our own government, ensuring that the powers its citizen bestowed upon them do not go unchecked and unchallenged), something felt different this past one year.

Is this an accurate representation of our collective feelings?

Looking closely to the past one year, a lot of us have become increasingly restless; one quick look at social media timeline and we’ll have an idea of the most popular complaints regarding our beloved country; lately perhaps the #KaburAjaDulu perfectly encapsulates this restlessness and hopelessness that many seems to feel. Although we have certainly overcome struggles of colossal proportion in the past (the 1998 Tragedy being a prime example), we are now faced with divisive issues at blinding speed that we are left with no moment of respite. News about controversies, scandals, social issues, or injustice keeps popping up, leaving millions of citizens, young or old, to have the same question echoing in their head: ‘what hope do we have?’

Look forward, what do you see?

Understandably, Indonesians are tired; every time a flicker of hope was lit, it was swiftly snuffed out by yet another controversy or tragedy. This is most certainly the impression one will get when looking at social media and its comment section. However, is this an accurate representation of our collective feelings?

At Hypefast, we took Independence Day as a moment to reflect, and to muster the courage to write our feelings and wishes down for our beloved nation. Contrary to the popular sentiment expressed on social media, many were still hopeful for the future of our nation. Discontentment and sometimes even resentment was expressed, many mentions of the rapidly increasing discoveries of corruption and collusion, but many was expressed with an air of hope for a better future. Beneath all of our frustration, a sliver of faith, that our nation still has what it takes to overcome the injustice and inequalities that have grown increasingly persistent. One written wish among many perfectly illustrates this fine balance between exasperation and hope:

Let this not just be a day to cheer, then turn and look away. But one to build, to dream and to dare, a kinder home, more just and more fair. I dream a nation where truth is loud, where justice walks among the crowd, where leaders serve, not just appear, and every voice finds space to steer.

-Unknown author (Hypefast Employee), but we didn't know that a poet walks among us.

It’s also worth highlighting that criticism for our government is not all that there is; there’s a palpable hope for fellow citizens to be better than they are now. Many wished for a more understanding and compassionate body of citizens, where differences are accepted with grace, kindness flows freely, and a sense of unity becomes the norm for everyone. This echoes an important message; that at the end of the day changes of all magnitude can only start with us.

As history has proven many times over before, a nation is far more than its flag and governments; a nation is built upon its people. To hope for a better nation is nothing but wishful thinking if we refuse to do our part in giving positive contributions, even at the face of adversities. It may seem futile, but one needs to remember that even the fight for our independence must have seemed like a hopeless cause to so many people at time. Yet here we are now, 80 years later, celebrating what seemed like the impossible.

With the end of this year’s Independence Day, we look forward to the next one in the coming year; perhaps with a careful hope that maybe this time we will find not only reasons to celebrate when looking back, but when we’re looking forward.