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End double standards and lies; they discourage the young
The young usually mellow out of their principles, have kids and repeat the elders’ mistakes with compromises big and small in their private and public lives.
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Hear our voice: Speaking in front of Group of 20 leaders, the representatives of Youth 20 voice the pressing matters related to youth employment. (Courtesy of Angelo Wijaya) (Courtesy of Angelo Wijaya/Courtesy of Angelo Wijaya)
Popular worries today are increasing signs of “declining democracy” or “digital authoritarianism”.
But young Indonesians cite a more real threat to their well-being than Big Brother in government or corporations sucking in our digital data. It’s us — elders looking down on them at home, at work and among idealists in this and that movement too.
“We’re told that the youth are the hope of the nation’s future,” said Coory Pakpahan, who leads Pamflet, an outfit of young human rights campaigners. But as elders restrict young people’s voices, she said, how are the youth supposed to have an impact on rapid developments such as climate change?
Even old idealists reveal biases against the “inexperienced”, and effectively cancel young aspirations and energy, Coory and other speakers told a packed audience at talks held by the Indonesia chapter of regional rights NGO the Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) in Jakarta on Aug. 28.
Beyond playing the busy bees in various event committees, “We should be involved in the substance, not just the technical side,” said Raisa of AJAR.
An exhibit of collages by young participants of an art workshop was the backdrop of the weekend event. They portrayed feelings and concerns about human rights violations, including that of the survivors of the 1965 communist purge and the “stolen children” of former East Timor.
Not everyone needs to join loud protests in the heat; “We found we could express ourselves through art,” said Amin Yunus Hamsa Roro of Poso, Central Sulawesi, the site of violent conflict from late 1998 to 2001 and once a hotbed of acts of terrorism.
