Political actions are indeed shaped by various actors and interests. However, it still requires the capacity of leaders to choose the right path. Straighten your intention, hoping that God will show you the straight path
By
Yudi Latif
·5 minutes read
KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI
Yudi Latif
“Hope is the thing with feathers; That perches in the soul; And sings the tune without the words; And never stops - at all.” So wrote Emily Dickinson. That hope sings the song of life in two kinds of notes. The major tones evoke “positive hopes,” which stimulate people\'s desire to do good. Minor tones evoke “negative hopes,” which stimulate people\'s pain of conviction to avoid evil.
This positive hope echoes from altruist souls, such as the “ants” of communities who work together to relieve the suffering of others along the major tune of sepi ing pamrih, rame ing gawe (less talk, much work). Like a philanthropist (real, not a hoax) who lives a simple life without being crazy about wealth and worship. His business abilities and accumulation of wealth are translated as a means and mandate to serve, to foster hope for those who are less able and less fortunate.
Fulfilling the view of Andrew Carnegie, who was part of the early generation of United States billionaires and pioneered the standard of honor of the rich by voluntarily developing philanthropic institutions, trust funds and various forms of social assistance. In Carnegie\'s perspective of prosperity piety: “Those who die leaving behind great wealth, without benefiting others, die in disgrace.”
Positive hope is the attitude displayed by Indonesian athletes who fight in international competitions. In sports, in the name of the nation, the spirit of "amateur"— from the Latin amtor (lover) — inspires even well-known professional athletes to fight for the love of their country. When the world of politics lacks “melodious singers”, the world of sports can give birth to idols providing the hope of national pride. The major tune sung by the athletes\' fighting ethos can transmit their positive energy to the realm of state governance.
Positive hope is like what is done by Alif Gustakhiyat, also known as Alip Ba Ta, an Indonesian fingerstyle guitarist. With all the simplicity and without many words, the magical touch of his acoustic guitar-playing hypnotizes many souls around the world. The limitations of his life as a forklift driver did not slacken his desire to teach himself how to play the guitar, realizing that his choice was both his calling and his life\'s moral purpose. Without his obsession with commercialization and over- population, he has become the best version of himself who stands apart from mainstream artist tendencies.
He appears like a "knight with a guitar" who alone, without the help of the state, became a national hero on the (virtual) world stage. His great guitar-playing and personality transmit the positive energy of national pride and stimulate the interest of netizens and world musicians to learn more about the Indonesian language and culture.
AP PHOTO/DITA ALANGKARA
Indonesia\'s Greysia Polii, right, and Apriyani Rahayu celebrate with their gold medals after defeating China\'s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan during their women\'s doubles gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Although the major tone is still heard in the community, the torrent of the hope of the nation still echoes the song with a minor tone. Under the threat of the plague, all the weaknesses of the nation-state are exposed without being able to be covered up with imagery and bribes.
"Negative hopes" become a daily chorus, hoping that state administrators will not mismanage and misbehave with a tendency to only be busy in self-interested claims (rame ing pamrih) but stay quiet in work-performance (sepi ing gawe) when the lives of millions of people are at stake.
In a moment that tests the nation\'s survival, political leaders are faced with the question Mencius claims: "Is there any difference between doing it [killing men] with a sword and doing it with the government?" No, replied the king. If so, Mencius said, make sure the royal household does not hold ceremonial parties and collect fat horses while the people are dying of hunger. When the leader of the country pays more attention to the people than himself, the people will know it and stay loyal to their leader, who makes the country strong.
With the widespread tendency of “Timocracy” (crazy for honor, prestige), state governance, even amid the threat of an epidemic, tends to prioritize the impression of greatness rather than save human lives. For this reason, experts predict that Indonesia is heading toward a pandemic trap and could be the last country to get out of the grip of COVID-19.
Despite all these, this nation has not lost hope. Only the stupidity of a donkey can fall into the same hole twice. The explosion of the major tone in society should drive state officials to be able to grow the flame of their positive hopes by seriously listening to the negative hopes. The public hopes with anxiety how the handling of this pandemic can be managed more systemically and effectively, not sporadically and patchy. How can the vaccination process move faster, involving the role of the community and the market, without complicated procedures and ceremonial fuss?
If you can\'t donate materials, at least don’t be a rent-seeker in the “pandemic business”, embezzle social assistance funds and waste people\'s money on foreign visits.
The public also hopes that if the political elite cannot take a role in eradicating the epidemic, at least they can have empathy for the suffering of the people. If you can\'t donate materials, at least don’t be a rent-seeker in the “pandemic business”, embezzle social assistance funds and waste people\'s money on foreign visits. If you can\'t play a role in expanding access to health services for the people, at least don\'t demand special isolation services for legislators. If there is not much that can be done as a public servant, at least do not show the fun of enjoying entertainment. If you can\'t produce achievements, at least don\'t lull the people with the opiate of false achievements.
Finally, it must be said that political actions are indeed shaped by various actors and interests. However, it still requires the capacity of leaders to choose the right path. Straighten your intentions, hoping that God will show you the straight path.
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