Snare of Freedom

Some said, humans never asked to be born, but they are born eventually. He/ she doesn’t have the privilege to decide who are their parents nor family, but they can choose the right time to come into this world. Since the beginning of their creation, humans have learned an important lesson on freedom. They learned that there are things to become real as their wish them to be, and there are things cannot. How lucky some people are, as they are granted a comfortable wealthy life since they were babies until death takes their breath away. However, humans can never know when their comfortable life reach the end of the line. And when that day finally comes, humans lose their balance and fall in ache as their life are no longer as comfortable as before. As they feel helpless before the face of change, they are screaming in protest when life goes in the opposite direction and does not come in line with their expectations. Just as law of nature speaks, a reaction will appear only after a prior action. In short, a hungry belly will be sending out its dissatisfaction. Few men seem forgetting the fact that freedom does not only belong to them. Conditions also have freedom to change the course, regardless who’s in control.  

Nevertheless, if we take some time to decipher deeper, there are some huge mass strikes these days which contrast with law of nature since they were launched to protest a plan, or something that has not went wrong yet because they were still undergoing legal basis drafting procedure to substantiate a certain decision. The so-called heroic Yellow Vest mass action carried out for weeks was an expression of protest against the French government's plan to raise fuel tax. Then there were also similar scale of mass strikes by the Hong Kongers who initially protested the Extradition Bill some time ago. Although the bill has been canceled, Hong Kongers still continues their struggle by the time of this writing. Even the initially peaceful order of action turned violent (then calmed down and on the rise again) and is reportedly supported by a number of developed Western countries demanding independence from China as the ruler of the island nation as well as the center of the Asian stock exchange. While in Indonesia, student demonstrations taking place in several cities protested against many more draft bills, starting from RKUHP (criminal law draft), KPK (anti-corruption) bill, Workers Bill, the Commercial Sex Worker Bill, and a number of other issues. Similar with two other phenomenal rallies, these rallies also ended riot and claimed lives. India has also been facing a wave of rallies triggered by a plan to pass the Citizenship Act. The rallies which is reportedly claimed lives  were also triggered by a mistake in interpreting the actual meaning of the law, so that there was an opinion that the law was anti-Muslim.

In the midst of the successful flow of identity politics in a number of countries, it turns out that differences in race, language and culture are not obstacles for the world community to trust the efficacy of strike in any kind. In contrast to previous years where the protesters tried hard to get their demands fulfilled, today's protesters who are mostly millennials try hard to attract the attention of the mass media to gather more support for their actions. Is this strategy effective? Yes, because the government they protested finally succumbed to their demands. However, it could not stop the rallies. A number of protesters still took over the streets and protested against other matters, even though the government had fulfilled protesters' demands. All humans on this Earth are indeed free to express their aspirations and take part in rallies. Until this very moment, freedom of expression is still a human right that must be guaranteed by countries throughout the world. With freedom, humans can engage change for the better. With freedom, humans can seek relief from the burden of a heart that is not satisfied with the situation. Or it is?

Collective Unconscious Desire 

When it was established on January 1, 1995, the WTO (World Trade Organization) pledged that the organization's goals were to improve living standards, create full employment, increase real incomes and demand, increase production and trade in goods and services by emphasizing the importance of sustainable development, and integration of developing countries in the world trade system. Since then, all countries are free to market their products to any country based on international trade laws set by the WTO. One of the provisions is to use the dollar (USD) as a exchange tool in trading activities between countries.

When World War I broke out in 1914, a number of European countries joined in the Allied group sold their gold reserves in exchange for paper money. Paper money is collected to pay for the purchase of weapons and other items from the supplying country, namely the United States. During World War II, the Allied countries decided to pay US' weapons with gold. Hence, the United States became the country with the largest amount of gold reserves in the world as the war ended. In Bretton Woods, USA, 1944, 44 countries agreed on a system of foreign currency exchange that (supposedly) did not harm any countries. Since then, it was determined that value of the currencies of all countries no longer depended on the amount of gold reserves owned by such country. The value of a country's currency will depend on the value of the USD (US dollar) which pegged to gold. That's the story of how US dollar became the number one currency in the world.

We do not need to be a psychology graduate to conclude that the course of history will influence the behavior, views, and future outlook of a person, a community, or an entity. As history memorizes any experience of pleasures, humans' instincts will drive them to maintain that pleasure so that it can be felt even longer. Once you feel the pleasure of being in control of the survival of other countries in financial matters, why not maintain that pleasure as opportunities arise? That determination is planted into part of a collective unconscious of a people and passed down from generation to generation through historical stories taught in educational institutions. The media also plays role in instilling a collective subconscious on delusion of greatness by spreading negative news about other parties with different point of view. This way, people will always go in line with the idea that the only way not to be oppressed by other nations, whoever it is, is to be the strongest among them by all means.

Reviewing Freedom

Mass actions often succeed in attracting the sympathy of others who are very much interested in providing support for all the issues the group is fighting for. Especially if those who provide support are some with big powers. Indeed, no one forbids it. But such a thing can be categorized as interference attempt in others' households and should not be followed or applied in any kind of social interaction, whatever the scope is, whether it's in the neighborhood or in global society. Unfortunately, groups that have the support of other countries tend to be proud and grateful, and they neglected that those supports have actually violated the sovereignty of their own countries in a subtle way. A concrete example is a group of Hong Kongers who marched to the United States Embassy in Hong Kong while carrying the banner "Thank You, America." This phenomenon is an irony, as millennials see legitimate governments as monsters and they trust outsiders more as they forgetting a very famous phrase, "there is no free lunch." Something that is easily obtained usually has unpleasant consequences in the end of the day.

In my previous article, I saw protest as a way to survive. The article was written some time ago when I had not yet found any conclusion that protest was not the only action citizens could use to voice their opinions. Over time, I discovered the fact that the dominant factor behind each protests were disappointment, and this was a form of negative emotion. Like an eclipse, negative emotion is represented by moon that moves slowly cover the sun so that for a moment the sun's rays cannot illuminate the expanse of the human mind. Destructive behavior that is almost inseparable from mass action, mass dissent, and the tendency to naively accept foreign support, is this not real evidence of a mass eclipse in the minds of each protesters? Freedom and or fight for freedom become a shield to legalize the destructive behavior of the sovereign territory.

Whether coincidental or not, the same behavior is also shown by the US government (the president, the Parliament, and its ministers) in their efforts to uphold economic freedom and overseas politics. They are not quite satisfied with the achievement of 'just' having a currency that is the benchmark for other countries in the world. Intelligent people in the country managed to find a way to produce high-quality goods in a short time. However, the abundance of production outcomes is not accompanied by a significant increased in people's consumption. The better the quality the higher the price, and not all citizens can afford it.

The goods must be sold elsewhere so they are sold and there is a cash flow in to produce and sell more. In the past, developing countries had not been skilled enough to produce goods with the same quality as goods made in the USA, so these "random" countries were the markets of US' products, ranging from agricultural commodities, electronic equipment, clothing, to popular culture. But people in these countries apparently not only buy, but also learn how the process of making these products and have ideas to make it themselves and sell it at cheaper prices. As a result, not only lost its markets, the US as the first party who had the idea to produce these goods also lost intellectual property. That's more or less of how US-China trade war began, as well as the background of other trade wars that US declared against other countries, such as Russia (and Germany in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline dispute) and France (as an act of retaliation of digital taxes imposed by France).

Cowboy attitude in the global economic arena and on the streets, this is not what we expect for a better world. Therefore, it would not be so excessive if the Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted that "liberal ideas have failed". Liberal-style freedom has failed to liberate the freedom-fighter countries from the narrowness of the mindset and the intention to enrich themselves. As citizens, we should be thankful that our countries have ideologies and perspectives that are not exactly the same as liberalism. We do not need to be too dazzled by the freedom exhibited by liberal countries. All countries need stability in order to build and prosper the people. The mission of the people is willing to work together to create stability, and this may result in our protest voices not being as loud as they used to be. Are we ready for it? (dswasti)

Keeping sanity in the era of sanctions and tariffs

Students movement is often praised as movement of change, a prove of agent of change existence, the messengers of oppressed people, and other graceful labels. The courses of history worldwide have confirmed it as well. Nevertheless, there was one grim occurrence shown that student movement can be lured easily and lead to savage hearts interest. Such interest of a later days deep remorse and becomes a burden that next generations may have to deal with years ahead. 

On May 10^th, 1933, 70 thousands of people gathered in Opernplatz Berlin, Germany.  Most of them were students who brought at least 20 thousands books by high-profile authors, such as Bertolt Bercht, Karl Marx, Ernest Hemingway, Hellen Keller, Thomas Mann, Erich Maria Remarque, etc. With a musical performance as the soundtrack, and vowed of “against the un-German spirit”, they thrown away those books into a huge bonfire.  The similar student-actions also rose up in other cities with high-profile universities, where students destroyed all authors’ works who were against racism ideology. 

Books burning was an absolute annihilation of human’s creation, sense, and will manifestation, which was viewed not in the line with a certain group’s idea. Books burning perpetrators were sure that great ideas were theirs, others’ ideas were incorrect because they were different. As if we still could heard they said, “The world belongs to us because we are right”. A not so deviated way of thinking, unfortunately, still recurring even Hitler was long gone. As OCD was the source of Hitler’s insanity (see my earlier article here), post-truth Hitler’s actions are triggered by a non-abstract matter, and it can be touched and saved. Money. 

It is not a headline news that nervousness of being through hardship due to lack of money may get one blinded and ruled out rational thinking,  as the ongoing trend is manipulating common sense to clear the path of how to earn faster and safe. Rational thinking is manipulated as a delusion that a high-class will be doomed when they are no longer high-class people. Nevertheless, wheel of fate is always turning. They who are up above may fall, eventually, pushed by continuous cause and effect process. 

Sanction is the weapon

Pride, or admiration over one’s ability, is an absolute need as a mechanism to hold on and move forward reaching the goals. However, seizing is easier than defending. Pride may collapse when counterfactual-minded is more intense than any effort to support the pride itself. One of the most current real example is “Make America Great Again” (which has been revised as “Keep America Great”). It’s hard to imagine that a human on Earth doesn’t recognize the word “America”. Popular culture diplomacy has successfully introduced the country’s music, movies, and culinary as worldwide trendsetter. Not to mention dollar domination as a required exchange instrument in international trade. Still, all of these superiorities are not enough for a Donald Trump. 

As most statesmen, he urges his country to reach highest achievement in all sectors, especially industry. Even so, the vision is hardly to evoke since American industries prefers to build their factories in China. US government is actively promoting workers welfare, but what about the welfare of business owners and their networks? Business high profiles see payroll regulation is difficult to fulfill. As to reduce production, distribution, marketing and other costs, some of business owners try to save their income as they move their factories to China. US government has tried to persuade enterprises key officers to make business establishment within the country and job openings for Americans as their main concerns.  These businessmen don’t seem listen to this call. It can’t be helped, nationalism must accept its defeat under the feet of the will to seek personal prosperity. 

Some countries find other way to declare nationalism, that is strengthened state defense system. Such effort requires innovative and effective main defense system equipment, not only to fight against threats in the form of enemies but also unpredicted phenomenon, natural disasters. If this group of objects are humans, they will be considered as conquerors. Does this view become the cause of US hard response against other countries’ initiative to modernize their defense system without its interference? 

News keep us informed about the main reason behind US sanctions on Iran and North Korea is progressive development of both countries efforts on nuclear technology and uranium enrichment. On the other hand, history has marked US as the one who dropped the atom bombs from the sky of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Does this country hide its anxiety of not able to compete in the nuclear technology race behind the excuse of the worldwide dismay over the returning to the World War II era?

The ups and downs of the trade war turmoil between US and China have drowned the facts about other trade war which just started off between US and India (and several countries). One among the cases is new tariff which imposes on Indian export goods to US, and India has retaliated the policy ever since. Just before the smaller scale of trade war began, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made his decision on Russian S-400 missile system purchasing. And India becomes the recent US tariff’s target under CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). 

Meanwhile in Indonesia, story surrounds a barter agreement of Russian SU-35 with Indonesian commodities has been looming since 2016. On the third year after the news publication, there is no clear sign yet when Republic of Indonesia government will execute the arrival of four type missiles fighter jets. As Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu confirmed to “settle the issue in the upcoming end of year”, as well as casting back claim of unpreparedness on each other between Trade Ministry and Defense Ministry, could this be a signal of fear of another sanction and or tariff? 

All countries need state income to build its citizen’s welfare. Unfortunately, not all leaders are wise enough to make their minds it’s not only his or her own country in need of cash. In order to legitimate and to protect its own economic interests, a leader may be tempted to abandon international interaction ethics and a fair business competition. Facts and laws are orchestrated to legalize acts of stopping its rivals. If such country is a super power one, is there any chance for a non super power country to take a stand? 

The best defense 

As a matter of fact, economic stability is a country’s best defense, not only for the sake of arranging attractive numbers of economic indicators which in turn increase the value of currency. Not just to avoid poverty or financial difficulty, nor for the sake of state officials’ prosperity. There are countable cases of uproar in countries around the world started by economic inequality. Under a tough circumstance, one tends to seek for support in order to release themselves from such trouble. Some of us often neglect naively that asking for help may be seen as a weakness by others plan to take benefits from our adversity, especially if the offered help is too good to be true, very convenient and not aiming to educate us to avoid making the same mistake in the future.

Globalization has tied developing countries’ currency value become dependent to certain developed countries’ currency value. It’s not as easy as flipping over the palm of hand to release our currency value from any countries’ currency value, as it is almost impossible to make through. Does this mean the fate must be accepted unconditionally for being a mediocre country until God-knows-when? Of course not, doesn’t it?

New innovations on improving economy and increasing revenue will gain positive outcome only if they are followed by determination for the desirable goal. If we are unable to impress the world to accept our view, we can always conceive ourselves to face any possibilities. We are free to react, but note that a promise is a debt. We should be proud of our government capability to pay their debts, and we also should be proud of our ability to act in line with the mutual agreement. Trust is expensive, but it’s not only if we can keep our promise. This is how we should maintain a harmonic defense system motivationally and structurally. (dswast)   

“My mouth is my tiger”

In this neoteric times, it almost doesn’t make sense if we can live our lives without buying things, or registered as a product or a service’s customer. Anyway, without acts of consuming, there is no room to grow for economy. While all countries need bigger consumption level data from time to time in order to prove that people feel safe and confident over the current government’s ability to control any extent of situation, which in turns make them feel secure to spend their money. However, people don’t have the same level in terms of money management quality to prevent bigger cost than income, as money management capability also depends on one’s competence in controlling their emotions.  

What might be the very reason that push one to consume more than their needs? Boredom is likely. All people will and used to face a specific phase when their loved ones and friends presence around them is not enough to make them feel the pleasure of life. Protected against rain and heat and can afford three times of meals per day turns out fail to offer satisfied life. Since they don’t have any clue on how to end their restlessness, humans buy things to fulfill their small yet temporary desires. Unfortunately, women are the most vulnerable ones toward consumerism. A presumption says, women are thinking with their feelings. This makes sense why emotional thrust push some women to fall into consumptive behavior.

Is frugal lifestyle able and enough to control consumptive behavior? Not really, because each person has different level when it comes to resiliency against ads seduction. And, there is no one exact applied method that can deliver the same result on everyone in terms of developing self-endurance. Since we can’t put all of our hopes to one certain mainstream fashion efficacy, the only way remains is to build self-endurance based on one’s creativity, sense of feeling, and will. It’s not so difficult to build self-endurance, as it will be awaken unexpectedly if one has found their true selves, consciousness of who they are and their life purpose. Nevertheless, some tend to assume that journey to seek true self will end as they reach particular age. They think that finding true self only belongs to the teenagers. Whilst human life journey and getting old is an evolution. In other words, as long as they live humans can change themselves and be whoever they want to be.   

Not a superhero

Indonesia Tanpa Feminis (Indonesia Without Feminists) is an Instagram group which started its activity since March 17, and puts “My body is not mine. Indonesia doesn’t need feminism” as the group’s description.  This viewpoint is reflected on one of its follower’s post reads, “They said, they agree with feminism because women need equality … On the other hand, in Islam, women don’t need to be equal because in fact women are dignified … Her father takes care of her, her brothers and her husband protect her.”  They who support this group argue, Indonesian customs and culture teach how to respect and to treasure women. Men have been taught to protect women and many women have become leaders, even presidents, so why feminism needs to exist?

These days, we rarely find women with low-level of education or illiterate. There are women who have finally found their self-potentials, reach their highest self-actualization, and become the “numero uno” among their kind, and also among their opposite. But, whatever happens to the “average” ones? (not in physical meaning, though). The “average” ones are many, abundance of numbers. I wonder to imagine, what is occurred inside the mind of these “average” women when they are watching celebrities gossips show, or when they are reading about PM Theresa May’s struggle during the Brexit drama (which sadly she lost the battle). Will these stories inspire them to move, absorbing the spirit of these female top figures and making it as part of their ordinary life? Or, they feel cornered, inferior, and assure that they are not so special kinds indeed?

Basically, all humans are born with potentials. It is rarely to never got sharpen perspective over one’s self that becomes the very reason why we can’t see any distinction inside ourselves. The truth is, we don’t even need to be a superhero in order to be proud of our existence. Introversion as a process of one’s interest shifting to inner flush, this is not a difficult thing to do. Anyone can do this by practicing how to withdraw for a while from the worldly frenzied, just to observing carefully turbulence that may occur in mind and heart. Only needs some minutes to see, not being carried away, and not resist. Just be quiet and look inside. A reminder is turned on just to tell us when the idle time is up. As the alarm rang, it is a sign for us to return to reality and showing where our potential is. The potential that makes us feel valuable, even without imitating the behavior of female celebrities, even though we don't have luxury stuff, even though we are only a group of soccer-mommies. By exercising awareness of self-potential, it is hoped that there will also appear an 

enlightenment about who belongs to the body of a woman.

Compromise with lust

On October 2017, a million hashtag of #MeToo movement was launched as sort of online action against sexual abuse and harassment over women in workplace. This movement technical implementation is, women across the world were extensively participating to post their stories of abuse back then. This action managed to open the eyes of the public about the injustices experienced by some women, also managed to drag a number of male figures with big names. Politicians, sportsmen, singers, actors, film producers, script writers, bankers, scientists, to porn stars are among them. Massive responses from all over the world made some valued MeToo movement as the fourth wave of feminism noteworthy in history. I did not underestimate the feelings of humiliation and trauma experienced by the victims. I strongly agree that the perpetrators must get their sentences. Violence and sexual harassment have taken something forcibly from the victims, and it will never return. But as we are being ruthless judging and humiliating the perpetrators, what has happened cannot be undone.

According to MeToo's narrative, the workplace can be a dangerous place for women. Is that so? In fact, public space has a greater potential for danger because most of the time people are not aware that acts of sexual abuse are happening under their noses. The MeToo movement has not fully succeeded in formulating an answer or solution to a crucial problem, how should women behave so that they will not get into a situation where they are being objects of humiliation by the opposite sex, both physically and verbally? Awareness of "whose is this body?" is challenged when women try to actualized themselves out of their comfort zone. Such awareness will also make women question things that are storming the mind such as: "do I have the life I want?", "What is the meaning of my life?", and many more. To unravel this tangled thread, let us roll the awareness into each of us.

Basically, libido is something that cannot be separated from the human body. An understanding of the body itself and the body of others make life more meaningful. Humans no longer live lonely because they can and may have a partner, unless they take the path of serving God and putting aside worldliness. However, there are some people, who are either less educated or do not know how to attract the opposite sex's attention, forcing their passions on the opposite sex they are targeting. Such background may end a woman's steps, when she does not dare to do something that she’s capable of as she is worried about being an object. We cannot consider this merely anxiety or excessive nervousness, since MeToo (with its pluses and minuses) has revealed many bitter stories. Besides being a father, husband, lover, relative, or child, men can actually be the women best of friend. He can be a respectful partner and can be relied on to work together to complete a common mission. By intensifying the practice of living in a society, women can make skill of reading the situations. A skill which is needed to keep steady the step of reaching goals and to maintain women’s honor at once. 

In the course of actualized , anyone will experience a situation where they have different views from the people around them. According to what I learned during college, being different is unrestrained and is allowed as long as we can formulate the concept of why we choose to be or think differently. Anyone, male and female, has the same right to express opinions from their hearts and minds. However, there are still many of us who are prefer to be reactive against any comments addressed to us and we stall this attitude as freedom of expression. Just so you know, we also have the right to enrich our knowledge on how to elaborate opinions or ideas. Everyone has the right to be mature in attitude and speech. In socialized living, there are boundaries that need to be taken care of to lower small fires. We strengthen that boundaries not only by preserving a specific physical appearance in order to not violate applicable rules and accepted by society in general. Keeping the tongue is also very important, so that we can hone the ability to appreciate our own words, before expecting others to appreciate our existence. With regard to sharpening the prowess of a woman (and a man) to doubtlessly say, "My mouth my tiger". (swast)

Long Winding Road to Perspective Changing

Negative and positive are the most inevitable things in this life. They fill each other, like man and woman, earth and sky, land and ocean, up and down, sell and buy, angel and demon. In addition to an epitome which defines the true self, positive and negative also emerge as elements with the ability to define its opponent existence. Positive will be an entity's definition because of there is also negative standing there, and this also goes contrarily. Many philosophers had tried to untangle the real significance of both. Nevertheless, two of them are as of existence, which cannot be denied even on the righteous grounds, morally either worthiness. 

In other words, the perception over negative and positive has been forcibly planted within the mind of man by one’s family, people, and educational institution during a very young age. After a while, perception grown as memories. As a human gets older and leaves their childhood playground, he/she will take a look at anything surround their new neighborhood with certain perception from their early days. If a matter seems different from the early perception, it will be a reason to start a dialog inside their minds about why “Y” exists in the case where “X” should be in such place instead. 

Any final decision comes from the mind is a lead of way of thinking development. Education and learning goals are finally succeed, as humans make attempt to analyze any kind of differences they meet. But analyzing needs means and effort, aka analyzing is tiring and need a lot of energy. In this fast-paced age when fast food becomes family meal, any tiring things are mistakes as if it doesn’t bring any financial outcome. It’s not a breaking news to find a number of indolent people over analyzing the causes and how to negotiate with differences.  The idleness might have come from the inside that restrain will to drain its energy to respond an occurrence. In one hand, some people who disposed on analyzing differences must obey the propulsion of society of not to violate stability.

Perception shifting

Humans are devotees of stability right to the core: stable family, stable income, stable prices, stable kids .. When a dismay in life is unavoidable, they will try as hard as they can to retrieve the situation as it was before. However, there’s no such thing as immortality, even a stable-like North Magnetic Pole is drifting its original site away since last decades. It’s not a crime to yearn for stability, since it is likely impossible to live happily as a family or building the country without stability. Still and all, our existence, our families, our people, and our countries, are not the only entity to struggle to exist and to survive in the universe. As journey to reach for the stability is underway, an entity will face some either several collision against other entities who also in their attempt to fight for their own. And, such collision will always come up with negative connotation, as any of it is always uncomfortable. Such condition can’t be pushed aside, no matter how protective we are to keep our parts away from any collision and meet stability seamlessly. It is almost certain enough that an intention to avoid collusion is sort of defense mechanism after presumption that a crash is painful, without question.

Either playing safe or standing against the impact, an entity has their right to choose. There are a lot reasons to influence final decision - a mixture of socio-cultural, education, economy, idealism backgrounds, also vision and mission about the future. As an entity decide where their steps would lead to, they calculate chances of collision altogether. Along this journey they realize (and if only they are willing to admit) that everything that they have been believing for so long taught by their ancestors and old wise men, not every of them are reliable enough to be practiced in the age of constant changing.  However, we should not accuse our ancestors for created things that cannot be compatible eternally, because we and they stand and stood in our respective timelines. When our nation’s heroes fought for freedom, it’s likely they never predicted that wars will be lasting with their new names, such as trade war, proxy war, and (PC and laptop) keyboard war.  Every generations have their own hopes and dreams. Whatever our founding fathers fought for, it can still be our fight even if we choose a different strategy to win the battle, and as soon as we decide to give up the fight will be the time of our betrayal.  

We all know that our motherland is never lack of intelligent persons with brightest ideas on how to meet prosperity. But what is an intelligence for, if it doesn’t come over with a balance between its intelligence dynamism?  I am not saying that we are an intelligence-doomed nation. Human will adapt themselves with any challenges around them to survive, that’s what humans been doing since their existence as cavemen. But for some people, change is like a pain in the ass as it violates stability, even when they are aware that change happens for greater good. Such anxiety might arose when they foresee change as a big, massive, chaotic, and viral phenomenon. As a matter of fact, we can start change with one single step and hectic is unnecessary. Here’s how we do it: change our viewpoint, our perspective.

Lesson from Far Away Land  

Several weeks earlier, an ex-government official expressed his disappointment through a writing on a local newspaper, criticized Indonesian government for not took over a gold opportunity. He wrote about Saudi Arabia’s attempt to build new oil axis, as the country leads escalating partnerships with China, India, and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia with its oil company, Saudi Aramco, has taken a potential crude oil source in Tuban, East Java, on its radar. Instead of answered Saudi Aramco’s offer positively, Indonesian government (Pertamina) turned its back away and started a partnership with Russian Rosneft to explore the region. “What’s the drama behind this?” he wrote. No drama, just data. Pertamina has decided to choose Rosneft as a partner, because the company offered exclusive data to hasten Tuban Grass Root Refinery (GRR) project development. Rosneft also offered exclusive rights to cooperate in Russian upstream oil sector. 

Similar to Pertamina, Rosneft is a state enterprise. The company was established in 1933 as the heir of  Soviet Union’s Ministry of Oil and Gas, several years after the country’s collapse in early 90’s. Today, Rosneft is in the 24^th of world top oil companies. The company gains such achievement after its struggle through challenges and setbacks, including financial difficulty during 1998 Russian economic crisis. The crisis was a result of two external onsets, the oil price decline and South East Asian economy crisis (which also happened in Indonesia) during 1997. History has told us about free market economy consequences. A country is free in terms of start to trade with any country, but it is not free from economic distress in some other countries. Russian Federation Government and the Central Bank announced a solution as trying to stabilize national economy. On August 17^th, 1998, they decided to enforce technical default on government securities and devaluated rubel exchange rate several times. The immediate impact of this decision was a lowering foreign community and investors trust for Russian banks and government. Several small size companies and banks soon announced their bankruptcy. Bankrupt banks customers lost all of their savings, while others must faced painful effect that their savings had fallen off, living standards deteriorated, and unemployment soared. Many seen this decision was hard and inefficient, but the gloomy days did not last forever, eventually.

Currency rate is almost having no value in the international market as soon as devaluation policy becomes effective. But in the same time, local products or export commodities will be cheaper for importer countries. This impact may boost buyers’ demands, and the types of export commodities are varied which provides more options for foreign customers to choose. This was applied in Russia and resulted positive impact, as export volume increased and piled up foreign funds reserve inside the country. In 1999, Russian Federation budget deficit was 2.5% of GDP, better than in 1998 when the deficit was 4.7% of GDP. Proposed for a bail out or loan to cover state deficit was considered as less efficacious to prevent inflation and might led to economy instability instead. So, how did they handle such lack of state budget situation? An effective measured undertaken by Russian government was to rectify investors’ interest to invest in real sector of the economy to contribute to production growth.

And how about ideology? There are hardly any countries succeed in transforming their old ideology to a new one. We all know what Soviet Union once had. In fact, its successor generations are cautious over communism dark side. They decided to change state’s ideology for the better, mainly for the sake of its citizens well-being. Democracy is Russia Federation ideology, and there is a strong urge to evade bitter memories from happening once again. We have witnessed how US and its allies are haunted by communism. The horror has created a “unique” relationship between US and Russia, despite the fact that hammer and sickle no longer grow in Red Bear country. And such horror might be a result of PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, sort of mental disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying effect.  

In conclusion, something is not always exactly the same with how it seems. It is a challenge that turns the life becomes more interesting to live, as the beauty of life is a unification between positive, negative, and everything in between both of them. Negative and positive are walking side by side, aren’t they? Even all land on Earth will extinct bit by bit as humans population higher, the world is still a tremendous space for new ideas and new perspectives. There are uncountable opportunities and achievements await if we don’t hold ourselves back from opening the door and start a sweet relationship with other countries. We would never be going anywhere if we keep pushing our version becomes the single operation procedure of a partnership. Something is called as a partnership when there are two sides explicating their own ideas and goals, opening each of themselves up later on to search for potentials and working hard to incarnate their visions. Together is better than alone, don’t you think so? (swastantika).