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
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)
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)
