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Reading the Direction of Policy: Between Criticism, Preparedness, and Indonesia’s Future

Amid public discourse often filled with criticism, debate, and even skepticism, there is one perspective worth considering more objectively: the long-term direction of a nation’s policies. Not all policies are designed for immediate impact. Some are deliberately constructed as foundations, perhaps not fully felt today, but essential as support systems when unforeseen crises arise. If we take a closer look at several strategic programs currently underway, a broader pattern begins to emerge. There appears to be a concerted effort to build community-based national resilience. Programs such as Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), for instance, are often perceived merely as social initiatives. Yet, on a deeper level, they can also be understood as systematic exercises in managing large-scale food logistics. Widely distributed public kitchens are not only about food provision, but also about preparedness in times of disaster or emergency. Similarly, the concept of Red-and-White Cooperatives extends ...
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While much of the world remains fixated on the Iran–Israel conflict, a significant development has unfolded almost unnoticed.

Just hours ago, NASA launched Artemis II—a crewed mission that will orbit the Moon for approximately ten days. What makes this mission remarkable is not merely its technological sophistication, but the historical weight it carries. It marks humanity’s return toward the Moon for the first time since 1972—more than five decades after the Apollo era came to an end. This inevitably revives a familiar question, If humans reached the Moon decades ago, why did it take so long to return? The answer is, in fact, straightforward. It was never about technological incapacity. Rather, at that time, there was no compelling strategic necessity. From Symbolic Victory to Strategic Necessity During the Cold War, the Moon was not simply a scientific destination—it was a symbol of power. The United States and the Soviet Union competed intensely to demonstrate supremacy. The pinnacle of this rivalry was the Apollo 11 Moon landing, a historic achievement that not only redefined human capability but effectiv...
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Amid Fuel Queues and the Shadow of Energy Transition

Over the past two days, I have witnessed a striking and somewhat unsettling public phenomenon: unusually long queues at fuel stations. Lines of motorcycles and cars stretched far beyond normal, moving slowly, as if time itself was suspended alongside the collective anxiety present in the air. This situation can be understood as a form of panic buying, a collective behavioral response to uncertainty. Whether driven by global geopolitical tensions, concerns over energy supply, or the rapid spread of information in today’s digital landscape, one underlying reality becomes clear: people are seeking a sense of security. Yet behind these queues lies a dimension that is often overlooked—informal sector workers whose livelihoods depend heavily on energy access, particularly ride-hailing drivers. For us, fuel is not merely a commodity; it is an economic lifeline. Without fuel, movement stops. Without movement, there is no income. In this context, long queues are not just about inconvenience, th...
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Amid Fuel Price Pressures and Essential Goods Stability: A Perspective on Gratitude and Leadership

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Amid ongoing public discourse surrounding rising fuel prices and the stability of essential goods, I seek to approach the issue from a perspective that is perhaps less frequently articulated—that of gratitude. I am neither a political analyst nor an economic observer. I write simply as an ordinary citizen navigating daily life, directly experiencing the realities unfolding on the ground. Yet it is precisely from this modest position that I have come to recognize an important insight: not all circumstances must be viewed solely through the lens of scarcity, but also through an appreciation of what remains within our reach. In an increasingly uncertain global environment, many countries are confronting far more severe economic pressures. Rising energy costs and the increasing price of basic necessities have become, to a large extent, unavoidable phenomena. Within this broader context, efforts to maintain equilibrium and prevent disproportionate burdens on society deserve recognition. I p...
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At the End of Ramadan, I Lost Someone… But I Was Also Reminded of the True Meaning of Family

Yesterday, March 20, 2026… I received news that tightened my chest. Daeng Ero, my stepfather, has passed away forever. On the same day, he was also laid to rest. So fast… so quiet…leaving behind a void that words can hardly explain. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. May Allah SWT accept him into His mercy. Yet, behind this deep sense of loss, there is one thought that keeps circling in my mind, how fortunate I was to have lived in a family like that. I had already lost two important figures before this, my biological mother, Bunga Dg. Bollo, and my stepmother, Syamsiah… And now, my stepfather, Daeng Ero, has followed them. Three people who, if seen from a “worldly” perspective, might seem complicated, but in reality, they embodied something very simple, love without conditions. I still remember my childhood… when I lived in my stepfather Daeng Ero’s house. My status? A stepchild. But how did he treat me? Like his own biological child. There was no difference. No distance. No “this i...
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في الأيام التي تسبق عيد الفطر، حين ينشغل الكثيرون بالاستعداد للعودة إلى ديارهم، والاجتماع مع عائلاتهم، والبحث عن السعادة… كنتُ أنا أجلس في ورشة الإصلاح، أنظر إلى دراجتي وهي “مفتوحة” على هذا الحال. ليس لأنني أردتُ ذلك، بل لأنني اضطررتُ إليه. العطل لم يكن بسيطًا. كان لا بد من استبدال الحزام والبكرات. قد يبدو هذا أمرًا عاديًا للبعض، لكنه بالنسبة لنا، نحن الذين نعتمد على هذه الدراجة في طلب الرزق… ليس مجرد عطل في آلة، بل توقّف للأمل، ولو مؤقتًا. ومع ذلك، وسط هذا الشعور، كانت هناك جملة أرددها في قلبي مرارًا: الحمد لله… لقد تعطلت قبل العيد. لا أستطيع أن أتخيل لو حدث هذا في يوم العيد نفسه، حين تُغلق كل ورش الإصلاح، وتبقى الطرق مزدحمة، بينما أبقى أنا في البيت بلا حراك. الدرس الذي خرجتُ به أن الرزق ليس فقط فيما نحصل عليه، بل أيضًا فيما نُنجيَه قبل أن نفقده. كعامل توصيل، أدركتُ حقيقة مهمة: نحن لا نحافظ فقط على صحتنا، بل نحافظ أيضًا على “شريكنا الوفي”… هذه الدراجة. لأنه إذا مرض الجسد، لا نستطيع العمل. وإذا تعطلت الدراجة، لا نستطيع السعي. وإذا لم نعتنِ بكليهما، فإن الرزق سيتوقف كذلك. قد تبدو هذه ال...
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Memahami Sistem, Ketergantungan, dan Kebebasan

Hari ini saya membaca satu pemikiran yang sederhana, tetapi cukup membuat saya berhenti sejenak dan merenung. Tentang bagaimana sistem modern sebenarnya bekerja. Banyak orang berpikir bahwa manusia dikendalikan dengan paksaan. Namun dalam realitas dunia hari ini, pengendalian sering kali tidak datang dalam bentuk tekanan, tetapi dalam bentuk kenyamanan. Gaji tetap setiap bulan. Cicilan mobil. Rumah dengan pinjaman 30 tahun. Gaya hidup yang perlahan menyesuaikan dengan pendapatan. Semua terlihat normal. Bahkan terlihat stabil. Namun di balik itu, tanpa kita sadari, terbentuk satu kondisi yang disebut oleh sebagian orang sebagai “golden cage” — sangkar emas. Bukan kerana kita lemah. Tetapi kerana komitmen hidup sudah terlalu banyak yang mengikat. Akibatnya, banyak orang menjadi lebih berhati-hati mengambil risiko. Sulit berhenti dari pekerjaan. Dan kadang tidak sepenuhnya bebas dalam mengambil keputusan besar. Saya juga menyadari satu hal penting: ketergantungan membuat seseorang lebih m...
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