STOP BEING A BYSTANDER!! INDONESIA ISN'T DOING WELL, IT'S TIME TO SPEAK UP!

 Afaz Af'Ida Septiani (30802400002)

It has been far too long since this country was led by "Fat Cabinet", and some of us has chosen to turn a blind eye and resign ourselves to our fates behind the screens of our cell phones. As the prices of basic necessities keep rising, the rupiah weakens, job opportunities dwindle, freedoms are curtailed, and various public policies seem to benefit only a handful of elites, the response we often hear is simply "Well, Whatever, what else can we do?" it is this laid back mentality and apathetic attitude that are the nation's greatest enemies today. Indonesia is not doing well, and staying in one's comfort zone is the equal of allowing injustice to run rampant.

On the surface, narratives about economic growth and national stability are often touted with great fanfare. However, if we look deeper, the reality tells a different story. The burden of life for ordinary people is growing heavier, law enforcement is often lenient toward those in power and harsh on the common people and citizen's basic rights are disregarded in the name of project driven ambition. When social inequality is allowed to take root without firm corrective action, the chasm between those in power and the common people will only widen. To dismiss all these hardships as just the usual political drama is to deny the very suffering that people are actually experiencing in society.

Many people choose to remain silent because they feel that an individual's voice doesn't matter. In fact, apathy in the midst of a flawed situation is a form of indirect support for the status quo. When the public remains silent, those in power lose their moral authority and policies that harm the people will continue to be passed without resistance. The history of major change in this country has never emerged from a comfort zone, but rather from the courage to reject injustice.

Today's resistance can begin in critical digital spaces, in local discussions, by refusing to normalize corruption, and by demanding transparency in the use of tax revenues through mass protest. We have a moral responsibility not to pass on a broken republic to future generations simply because we are afraid or unwilling to speak out.

Protecting this country is our shared responsibility, not just the government's. It is time for us to cast aside our false sense of security and open our eyes. Indonesia needs our compassion and courage  because silence is not golden when injustice has become the law.