New Rose

Nationalism, Reason or Respond?

“Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” said President Macron in his speech during the celebrations of 100^th anniversary since the end of World War I last November 11^th, around a month before the storm of Gilets Jaunes strikes France. One leader frowned after hearing his speech was President Trump, and we can see his expression here. The French leader also said, nationalism taking away the most important thing for any country: “its moral values.”  The controversial statement was definitely getting “excited” responses from the netizens all across the world. It’s normal if we questioned this statement, as the whole world remembered how France once pioneered nationalism movement around Europe during their glorified history. 

In case we wonder what is the exactly the background of this statement, maybe it’s time for us to expand our horizon to observe the current condition of Europe mainland. Since the current two years, the Blue Continent has been overwhelmed by immigrants flood from the conflict unrest country Syria (and some other countries). At first, the President of European Council Angela Merkel tried to do the right thing in regard with her position, by offering a temporary settlement for the immigrants. But, she seemed unaware to the facts that these immigrants came from some other unknown land with different cultural behavior and ethics. Women with short skirts and tank tops walk around the street are really a new thing for them. Male immigrants got themselves horny after watching these women, and raped (in some cases they gang raped) them. More European women got themselves sexually abused by immigrants. On the other hand, these immigrants are willing to take any job, even with lowest wage. This makes less jobs for locals, as they demand higher wage than immigrant workers. These are some small issues as a result of cultural and social collision between locals and immigrants, and it’s possible that there are still and will be more.

During 2017-2018, right wing movements in several European countries seem on their rise. In Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, and Germany, right wing parties are becoming more popular as the financial crisis and immigrants crisis widen. Number of right wing parties voters are increasing, since there is a dismay over the disappearance of national identity, and immigrants behaviors is considered inappropriate according to European community decent values. In the past, nationalism is a reason to fight against oppression, but now it becomes an excuse to defend over immigrants “attacks”. The switching of nationalism value in some countries made Macron felt uncomfortable, and probably he wondered why a community known as one of the world economic pillars are becoming anxious toward the poor?

From the inside out

This so-called article will tell a short story of nationalism journey as an ideology, either on international or local stages, begins with how this view become an eternal hit to how its current transformed face. We heard how this word were mentioned to polish certain community vision and mission, as a fuel to initiate change. Are you one of them to wonder whether nationalism is succeed to drive a nation to its goals?

Lost in a war or lost over a territory are two main factors mingle within mind of a nation and as a flame to start the nationalism engine. It was remain of France after their defeat against Germany during a war in 1871. Lost everything after risked everything is a deep pain, isn’t it? It is painful to witness what once belonged to us has been taken away and fallen to other hands. But, pain often becomes an enormous source to inspire great ideas. It was the source of inspiration for some French individuals at that time to begin Revanchism movement, with a purpose of taken revenge over France defeat and reoccupied regions which fallen to the hands of Germans. The movement gained its power from patriotic thoughts which frequently emerged after significant economic and geopolitics factors. Revanchism politics depended on the identification of a nation with nation state and the mobilization of ethnic nationalism root sentiment to revive nation oneness on territorial matter based on historical dynamics. Did this viewpoint succeed in motivating people of French at that time to reoccupy their territory?

After a long twisted journey, the willpower to avenge was finally paid off, even it taken at least 47 years later. Both countries were taken by means of destiny that re-confronted them against each other in the battle of World War I, as Europe was divided into two giant blocs, Triple Entente (French, Russia, UK) vs Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy). No different with Die Mannschaft (Germany football team’s nickname) performance in the 2018 World Cup, Germany suffered humiliation as it was defeated during the WWI. Germany military forces were disarmed and diminished, thousands of its people died after famine as they depended on imported food from US and UK. In addition to 13% territorial diminution, Germany and other defeated countries must paid material damage to the won countries committee. An ex-soldier named Adolf Hitler was unhappy with the settling of WWI aftermath. He thought his country was like stabbed in the back. While served his sentences as the punishment of protesting the official government, he written “Mein Kampf”, and its main idea was about to seized Germany victory by creating a country with a single race. We all know how the story went, how gigantic Holocaust and military aggression were under his commands. Eventually, the bitterness after a downfall is also strong enough to transform human beings into monsters.

During the now era, recent trend of harmonious synergy between revanchism and nationalism is war trade between Chinese vs US. ‘Made in China’ stuff is well-known and welcomed in the market, because they’re cheaper. US claimed that Chinese’s products are lack of originality (and usually followed by lack of quality) and are results of intellectual property violation, as they seemed to crib famous brands’ product. But, no matter how its’ quality, customers tend to prefer the cheapest one. This makes US products become less popular in the global market, even in its own local market. On the other hand, the facts that many famous US brands settled their factories in China have got on US president nerve, as job opportunities in the country was lessen. As to avenge against the facts, starting from June 2018, US imposes new import tariffs over some substantial goods manufactured and sold by China (and other countries) which entered US market. China responses this policy with retaliatory increase in tariffs over American goods. Both US and China insist that they just defend their own nations pride respectively during this unarmed conflict. Even though the agreement on the trade war ceasefire have been signed by both parties, its high tense is still in the air. Along with the passage of time, nationalism is not merely about how to fight off invaders, or to defend country’s sovereignty. Nowadays, it is competition to dominate the market, or customers, which seem to inspire heroic actions under the flag of nationalism.

From the outside in

All creatures in the world able to survive not only hanging on their strengths and potentials, but also on their ability to adapt with the change of their surroundings. At first, a rejection to get out of the comfort zone is possible to emerge. But, just to survive is not the only way to continue living, it is what defines humans worthily over the entire God’s creatures. The similar logic also goes the same for nationalism. Despite massive devour inside the inmost of a nation, other cause that actuates nationalism is the peripheral external factors.

Crimea is a peninsula in the northern coast of Black Sea in Eastern Europe, adjacent to Ukraine, Russia, Romania, and Turkey. Its strategic geographical position becomes the main reason why this land is the bone of contention, major background of disputes between countries since the Middle Ages. In spite of its beautiful waters scenery, the history of Crimea Peninsula is somehow complex. In 1954, USSR then Russia, handed over the peninsula to Ukraine Republic upon a consideration that the two regions were having cultural and economic relation similarity. Did it make sense if the foundation of this decree was because both countries shared the same ideology at that time? As a matter of fact, the decree was a “betrayal” against the preceding agreement, viz., the Treaty of Paris (1856). On the agreement settled the end of Crimean War between the Russian Empire and an alliance of British Empire, Second French Empire, Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire, it was agreed that the alliance shall cast their foot off from some of Crimean harbor cities and restored them to the Russian Empire. A time journey from 1856 to 1954 was enough for Crimeans to consider their identity as a part of Russia mainland. So, it should be acceptable and understandable if they decided to choose Russia over Ukraine on the 2014 referendum. The referendum outcome itself is a reflection of Crimean aspiration, evoked by the cognition to return after compelled to leave their root for almost a century.

Going back to the roots or remembering history, as it was believed by some folks, is one of a best way to re-raise nationalism as a nation’s vision. By learning our history, we are able to learn the fundamental of a nation’s will to establish a country with all of its complexities. The thing is, back to the roots of history sentiment sometimes is just romanticism, like high school nostalgia that we could only recalled while having a coffee with friends. It’s beautiful, but never returns.

To adapt, or to adjust, doesn’t mean we are forgetting our respective nations’ visions and goals. It’s more like become flexible when encounter any sort of differences during our journey to find our dreams as a nation with high dignity. Nationalism must evolve itself to be able to survive as an ideology, or decay slowly as the world caught between the conflicts of interests. Or, it disappears from the existence, transform into something new after let itself diffuse with its “comrade(s)”.  (swastantika).

Protest and Survive

Two different human with different sexes have a lot or less possibilities to meet with each other, fall in love, and engage in a relationship. The relationship will commonly enter the next steps, which are having children, son or daughter in law, and then grandchildren. Later in life when the couple getting older and die, their alive and kicking descendants will be facing two choices. Will they keep this kinship to light, or let it out. Each of family usually has a couple of grandparents who keep teaching these values. All they want is just one day when they are gone, the descendants not forgetting to support each other whenever one of them is in suffer. They have already lived for too long to realize that somehow life is not always in peace and joy forever. Sometimes the wheel of life would turn its spin. Any family with an unlucky situation must be supported with one way or another so that they could have a motivation to reverse the wheel.

In reality, keeping a warm and loving family bond is harder than the theory. It is far more complicated than just hang out and having a dinner on a celebration. Two siblings who were once like-minded might fall into disagreement when they are having spouses and children. Moreover, a family which is consisted of several families from first, second, third, etc sons or daughters. As they don't want to create a sense of uncomfortableness among the family, one or another family members will leave behind all of disagreements. The family has chosen to wait and see, in order to find the best moment to settle the disagreement. But there are also another family members choose to escape from the disagreement, as they think that it is better not to talk about that disagreement at all. They think no family members would put away their own egos and bear the mistakes. Their steps since then will be followed by other family members, and they just disappear one by one. Slowly but sure, the once warm and loving family bond is gone forever, leaving names, memories, and their ancestors' grave.

Disagreement and its consequences

Is it possible to trick the disagreement to an agreement within minutes, with no long and endless public debate? Yes, it is. But unfortunately this cannot be lasted for good. In a particular moment and as there is a one single concern, all differences are pushed away to exterminate the common enemy. Even one didn’t mind to praise the other as high as the sky for he/she wanted to get something for free from someone he/she found abominable. In short, the goodness comes with a price. Sounds familiar? Indeed. I bet you have at least one family member with such attitude. 

Not long ago, a local media based on East Java published an article about certain parties’ suspicion against Russian President role behind the poisoning of a double agent Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. Allegedly, the poison is Novichok, a nerve poison made in Russia, then the incident should be someone-from-Russia’s idea. The British government thought so. The article sounded more sinister as Novichok poisoning also afflicted Pyotr Verzilov, who became famous after his attempt to “invade” World Cup 2018 final match between Croatia versus French. A world class football match, the very last match of biggest sport competition on Earth, is always a long-waited moment for all football lovers. So it is understandable if someone were very angry for Verzilov action. But, who the hell is this fearless invader anyway?

Pyotr Verzilov is the husband of Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, member of Russian punk band, Pussy Riot (Пусси Райот). At first, they are a collective started to act since 2011 and consist of dozens of men and women. They have their own job descriptions, some will display performance art and the others will record the performances and publish it on the internet. One of their members, Garadzha (not her real name) said, they are accepting female recruits even if they are lack of musical talent. “You don’t have to sing very well. It’s punk. You just scream a lot,” she said. Like any other anarcho punk bands on the scene, they are expressing protests against the repressive authority whom condemn freedom of expression. Pussy Riot supports LGBT rights and declare feminism as the background of their struggle. Moreover, they are known to be disrespect against Russian Orthodox Church and President Vladimir Putin.

Even the collective and Pussy Riot tend to express their ideas in the form of performance art, but their arts are considered extreme ones, even among punk scene all around the world. In their debute on 2011, the Pussy Riot members performed in Moscow subway, up above a train car while ripped feather pillows. They also performed on the roof of a detention center where two of their members were jailed on the same year. However, the most controversial performance was a series of churches invasion on 2012, including invading Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. They breached the churches, stepped in the altar, then jumped and punched the air. All these so-called performances were recorded and published on some internet channels.

In the world of anarcho punk there is one dogma applied, anyone shall be aware and must not reject the consequence of his/her action(s). The consequence itself always come in two, positive consequence and negative one. Pussy Riots gained a lot of supports and respects from various public figures and well-known organizations, from international institution like Amnesty International, celebrities (Madonna, Bjork, and Yoko Ono), politician (Hillary Clinton), and of course from their fellow punks across the US, Europe, and other countries. The other consequence was that their members in and out of prison so many times, as authority considered their actions disturbed peace of the community. Their churches invasion was condemned as abusing a religion and “mockery in front of great shrines”. The three members, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Yekaterina Samutsevich, and Maria Aloykhina were convicted to two years in a penal colony on the same year. When the three of them were sentenced by the judged, Tolokonnikova and Aloykhina already have young children. Tolokonnikova also staged a hunger strike in protest of alleged human rights violation in prison. Even the strike resulted she was placed in prison medical ward for not eating, but still Russian public views were less sympathetic toward the group’s actions.

An online petition was launched in 2013 asking the authority to release Tolokonnikova and the other members, and I signed that petition as well. I did that because I thought, there were and are very small number of woman could exist in the punk world full of masculinities. Moreover, women who are not afraid to protest and not afraid of being jailed due to their idealism. As a matter of fact, the world needs more women who brave enough to tell that something isn’t right. The thing is, are we also brave enough to pay the price of this freedom of expression?

Inequality and its solutions

By the way, anarchy is not the only credo on punk. There is also equality which stands beside it. Two well-known phrases should not be separated from one another, they should be supporting each other so that anyone who choose punk as a way of life always remember that he or she is not alone when searching the freedom. All this time the punks consider equality as an equal position of him/herself among his/her fellow punks. Nevertheless, beside his/her punk friends, there are society, government, and family. As one express his/her view or criticism against something, he/she takes one way and the other to attract everyone’s attention who put themselves lower or higher to listen his/her voice of protests. In other word, he/she forces anyone who listen to value themselves as equal. When the public hears what is exactly the meaning behind his/her expression, there is an expectation emerge that they will take action together.

If anarchy is often regarded as utopia, equality is still and will be always relevant with current condition. This is because inequality will be always found all over the Earth, in every skin colors, languages, geographical condition, and even the sizes of pants. These days, inequality is a real threat after the drum of trade war banged by two economic giants, the US and China. Each side insists to raise import tariffs to protect their own markets and to protect their own people wealth. This is a bitter example as patriotism takes over rationalities and push the two countries in the battle of tariff retaliatory. There is always costs of war, as well as in this trade war. Trade war effects extend to other countries in Asia, Africa, and Europe, to any countries who sells their products and resources to the US, as well as the so-called develop or third class countries.

We are just common people who begin to taste the spark of the trade war fire as dollar soars against local currencies. But pressing our government to raise local currency value is less rational, since trade war is not the single cause of the weakened local currency. The exact causes may be hiding inside our countries themselves. It might be triggered by a significant businesses severe view and attitude to gain more profits as much as possible in any ways. It could also triggered by our countries national debts, low employment wages, or our countries inabilities to produce, sell, and reach abroad markets, as well as our people inabilities to improve their knowledge and skill to be at the same level with our dearest friends who live in developed countries. If we are able to drive ourselves to be aware of these issues and think that we may fix things altogether, at least to find one or another solution based on each of us capability to overcome the negative impact of the dollar arising, we would be recognized as respectable countries even we may not be the winner in this trade war. Isn’t it Leo Tolstoy who once said, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time”?

Protest still remain as an unique action we may take. Surely, not to your or my local government, but to protest US government. Some punk bands have created negative sentiment compositions against the US, such as The Exploited (Fuck The) USA, The Clash (I’m so Bored with the USA), We Called It America (NOFX). Even Pussy Riot released their song Make America Great Again (to condemn Donald Trump) just before US presidential election. As the intense current situation becomes hotter, it is possible that there will be more and more songs like these. To respond and to express disagreement between family members in extreme ways are dangerous, as they could lure us to neglect other far more savage threat, which always be ready to crunch us. Somehow, we should not to be too proud as we also have a chance to shot a wrong target. (swastantika)

The Spring

Unbinding Regret

Did you ever wonder, what our face looks like when expressing an apology? A mirror will tell us everything. But it must be weird to say “sorry” while staring at your own reflection in the mirror, right? Your fellow will definitely run away, he/she might be scared of getting infected by your weirdness.

Regret, at first, is such an unpleasant feeling. In a certain condition when regret is something that we can't left unspoken, human faces two options on how the way he or she responds against the insistence of expressing regret. First, to confess it unconditionally and watch all the prides collapsing in the same time. Or, put it on as a lipstick, which is the second option. Regret is expressed words by words, but the consciousness is being bound so tight until it couldn't move itself to be aware or to remember all of its physical sphere been said. Both options are similarly horrible. First option is like slapping our own visage. A painful smite and the loudness of its sound still can be heard through the lifetime, as a bitter reminder not to make the same mistake. Second option is the worst, as someone forces himself to do something against his free-will, that is to regret his deed. However, even first and second options, both could not erase the fact that a mistake(s) burst out already. Just like a washed and dried cloth couldn't erase the reality that dirt once stuck on it.

Friedrich Engels once said that, “Alle mit Naturnotwendigkeit eintretenden Ereignissse tragen ihren Trost in sich, sie mogen noch so furchtbar sein,” or “Every matter in nature that finds solace within itself, sometimes is the most tragic pain.” An event had been a fracture within a bitter soul, so that it was destined not to be avowed neither by make a confession nor write it down in history. Would anyone out there able to pull him/herself together after a series of tremendous episode which cost hundreds thousands lives? The big wars like Crusade Wars or World Wars, both are learned by all people in different classes and times. Do we ever question about which side who achieved all the glory in the end of these wars? All of war champions' names are indeed can be found in the history book. But were these champions felt complete as all their problems swept away by victory in war? It is likely hard to answer since both X and Y sides were suffering a severe loss. Even the war winner had no time to celebrate its triumph, because it was busy to think about how to payoff its war debt. While the other side must suffer not only losses, but also an eternal stigma as an evil enemy to fight against forever.

The root of all “disorder”

Human has an amazing skill to adapt with his/her surrounding situation. But not everyone has the same pace to adapt. It is because human consciousness shaped by where he was born, lived, and raised. Moreover, natural condition is different between one part of the Earth and the other. No wonder there were various reaction shown by various group of men after a massive phenomenon. In English, that reaction is called “aftermath”, whereas “after” is a preposition to show following in time (according to Oxford Dictionary), and “math” is Mathematics. Unlike language or any other subject, Mathematics is the most honest discipline. Numbers cannot lie, cannot be bent or be deciphered with different method in unconventional point of view. How is this world going to be if one day 2 + 2 = 5? In Mathematics, a result of an action (equation) is absolute, the cause of result can also being revealed. When the numbers order were changed in a multiply or subtraction equation, the result remains the same. What makes them different is their origin, their provenance, where did 2, 3, 13, 666 come from, etc. History indeed told us about millions of thousands different occurrence worldwide, and some of those ended in the same way, tragedy and regret. It was the situations, conditions, and the surrounding dynamics of consciousness construction to blame for the dissimilarity of reactions and the way a certain group of men respond against a regret.

Water flow in the river is also never the same. Its stream scraped the river bank bit by bit and almost no one noticed it. But, deforestation happened somewhere near the river. Its headstream became thin gradually, and the river was narrower each year. Just like this world's face and a country was shaped a set of events occurred and by how its reaction. For example, economic crisis hit a certain country. There were high inflation, unemployment were everywhere in the country, industrial sector was hung up, state debts were risen excessively. It seemed like this country would came to its bankruptcy very soon. As a matter of fact, this ain't the first in the country's history. After some serious considerations, this country finally proclaimed protectionism. It was expected that such policy would be powerful enough to increase state income from goods taxes and commission paid by foreign companies who do business in the country, when it was assumed that raising citizens tax rate would only invite impeachment havoc risk which is dangerous for the respective authority. By the way, there is nothing wrong with such decision to choose. Any living being who smell a hazard nearby will do anything it can to protect itself. The reason of this behaviour can be tracked down by look into, again, history. This can be viewed as another cause beside a plan to increase state income.

I have no doubt that all fundamental basic in the whole countries don't advice their citizens to reject diversity. All nations emphasize the importance to prioritize the equality of rights and responsibilities without exceptional over gender, race, tribe and religious differences. In fact, differences are not limited to physical nor personal believes. There are also principle difference, economic or political principles included. Alas, discerning differences is easier in theory rather than engage it. When an individual or a group of people living within a neighborhood where they never found any difference compare to their personal states, their first reaction toward difference is defensive since their brain mechanism define such difference as a threat. One of this defensive manifestation is self-protection. This demeanor will be inherited to plant the same way of view against difference within next generation mind. Media is free to highly praise millenial generation and their little bros and sis as “a better new generation”. However, human consciousness is constructed by his/her surround environment. Time will tell whether successor generation will conform their elder dogma, or decide to move on and create a new point of view accordingly.

Regardless of whether option to choose, young, old, about to old, or even pre-born generation should consider that unexpressed regret likely become a mean to fuel defensive reaction against differences. Long after the source of regret happening, one or ones attempt to analyze entire facts at the time of occurrence. As later it is found that a significant differentiate factor as the source of dispute, any preventive action seems not a headline. An action just like a so-called “kill them before they grow”, a pragmatic action to lock such alien deep down under the grave. Even yet such action isn't well-off to answer one big question, why we can't be the same? We must motivate ourselves for the answer. When we are too afraid to jump into the water, we won't see its floor. Just like how we react over differences. There's still a chance to discover that such fierce crocodile doesn't exist, after we dive under the pool. I will tolerate that turns out many of us can't swim. The thing is, would you agree to learn how to swim and bring yourself to see the beauty underneath?  (swastantika).