Thursday Study Log

The silence of this night's air rather soothing my mind;

It eases my brain, just like a lullaby does to 2 years old;

Something about tonight, is calming,

caresses my anger and washes away my disappointment;

The drowsiness is there, still;

her wary glance in the corner of the room trying to cast a spell on me yet I ignored it;

Cause I want to be in complete utter silence for once in awhile,

since sleeping sometimes invited dreams I'm trying to avoid;

Am I not allowed to feel peaceful after a long tired fight with my ownself?

𝙰𝚞𝚐𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝟷𝟸𝚝𝚑 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺

Books in 2024

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

I need everyone to go to bookstore and grab this book ASAP.

This book wrecked me in a very great way.

In Indonesian, they say: Terima kasih untuk 4 tahunnya, selamat berpisah.

In poetry, I say:

"Lika liku Menteng yang sudah aku hafal di luar nalarku, tak bakal terbuang sia-sia karena tiap sudutnya akan aku lantunkan doa paling tulus pada Maha Kuasa, yaitu Dia yang pernah kita temui rutin bersama di bawah langit-langit gereja. Biarlah suka duka senang sedih yang bertumpuk jadi memori, terurai dengan sempurna dalam sanubari, beralih jadi ruh dan energi baru tuk ingatkan diri bahwa cinta tak pernah mati hanya berubah perwujudan."

Temples are built for gods. Knowing this a farmer builds a small temple to see what kind of god turns up.

Bring back my sanity. I pity myself for not even mad at their wrong-doings to Bunny

I was in dia.lo.gue Kemang when I saw this art gallery. They are a collection of "Warna-Warna Vol II: Pusparagam Seni Disabilitas Warna-Warna", an art exhibition for people with disabilities. The exhibition will be held until October 13th 2024.

Saturday's study log and reflections.

Jakarta on that Saturday was quite solemn, despite the news that has broken so many people's hearts. People—from high school students to middle- and lower-class workers, individuals to organizations and political parties—took to the streets (specifically in front of the House of Representatives at Senayan and the KPU - General Elections Commission - at Menteng) to protest recent political events that felt like violations of Indonesia's fundamental laws. The protests began on August 22, 2024, and continued on August 23 and August 24, although the last two days weren't as massive as the first.

As someone who studies Human Rights and a small portion of international law, what these masses of people did in Jakarta and other cities in Indonesia is solid evidence of how people in this country still love democracy and want it to remain the government's solemn system. The protests they voiced (and will keep voicing until their goals are accomplished) help to restore the checks and balances that the government of Indonesia seems to have forgotten, as they have become drunk with power.

Many protesters were hurt, and some even lost their eyes. It's heartbreaking that the cost of democracy is the blood of its own people who need it the most.

This massive event reflects what I've been studying these past two months in my EDX course: Human Rights, Human Wrong. I've learned how a government can be both the protector and the abuser of its own people. What happened in Indonesia is a clear example. This realization has deepened my understanding of the delicate balance required to maintain a just society and the courage needed to stand up against injustice.

I may not take part in the protest directly, but let me do my part by sharing the stories of people who came back home safely and how they cried about their friends' brutal abductions by police. Let me share the screams for justice of people who are moving en masse to regain the utmost power of democracy. Their courage and determination inspire me to use my voice to amplify their cause, ensuring that their struggles are not forgotten.

Let the government realize how easily they can gain power, and how easily it can slip away from their hands. Democracy is not just a system but a living, breathing entity that requires constant vigilance and care from both the governed and those who govern.

Study Session (August 17th)

READING DATE WITH MY BESTFRIEND