Random Thoughts and Ramblings

As a liberal 20-something woman who lives in a patriarchal society that is dominated by conservatives, my personal views on issues such as human rights and gender equality are not represented most of the time. I am convinced that I have the necessary open-mindedness every time I exercise my moral judgment, and this sometimes causes me to undervalue the opinion of someone with an opposing ideology. If we look at it from a political standpoint, the principles of those on the right political spectrum are often overlooked. The typical argument is that conservative parties manipulate people's voices - to trick people to choose them. I am not saying that manipulations do not happen in gaining votes (these of course happen A LOT), but sometimes there is more to it than just a political agenda.  A book that I read called "The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt confronted my limiting beliefs from an unconventional perspective. It begins by presenting conflicting theori...

Menunggangi daun mengalun Melintasi kelam sungai Bergerak halus ikuti arus Malu melepas tunjukkan paras Takut ditolak alam Atau dicampak peradaban

It's frustrating yet fascinating to discover that your mingled emotions are capable of revealing such a trait you never imagined you would have – – as a product of the simple presence of another being

Dengan sedikit keberanian Akhirnya kuguratkan bayangan Pada lembar-lembar rindu yang mengendap Tentang yang singgah dan menetap Di rumah berlangit atap bocor pada musim hujan Mencerca damai Membaringkan kelam kabut Aku mencarinya Bukan kabur lalaikan lara Hanya ingin berbagi suka Atau sederhananya, Sebagai perayaan ketidaksempurnaan Setiap antagonisme hasilkan lejar, tapi juga tegar Setiap benturan buat sejengkal lebih dekat Setiap sudut kosong menatih angin tuk penuhi relung Setiap amarah menggiring angan tuk dekap hangat

Our conscience is confronted by this oddity Foreign and unsettling Creeping up on us with no alarms We are somewhat aware A drop of joy is never solitary It clings to us with a baggage of immense sorrow Yet our souls, they are longing for more To dance through our flaws, stitch them to be bearable To unravel the remnants of hope in despair To be content with this imperfect bond And at last, To feel. 

Thoughts trickle in during the lingering night No rush just a hush Through the haze, blurred and puzzled Slowly tangled in coils, unable to be fathomed Flooded by whatever it is that consumes me Confined between sensibility and fantasy They descend and ascend, Pull back and forth Like waves that gently crash, and erode a rocky shore with no end *For all of us who were once (or still are) blinded by the so-called fanaticism

Aku memesan kopi hitam seperti biasa Tanpa peduli yang ada di menu, selalu begitu Ia pekat, sederhana dan bisa diandalkan Kali ini kubiarkan ia dingin oleh angin Tak bertekat menyeruput seteguk pun Mataku berhenti pada secangkir latte di sudut ruangan Kali pertama aku ingin memesannya Segelintir tanya munculkan rupa Apakah tak terlalu rumit? Akankah ia lelah dan menyerah? Tuk paksa badan tetap terjaga Mengawal raga berkelana Menantang malam yang tak berbelas kasih Sebelum racauan selesai berselisih, Latte sudah habis kutenggak bersih

Distance matters, you said. If yes, then how far is close enough? If yes, then how close is far enough? Frequency matters, you said. If yes, then how low is high enough? If yes, then how high is low enough? I am thrown and smashed from one point to another Like a cannon, ready to fire In that hollow space between strangers and lovers Between being attached and detached Between fighting and fleeing To: Wong Kar-wai and his strangely brilliant film - In the Mood for Love 

Menerka maksud bermain peran Enggan mengalah tuk utarakan Arus megalir ombak menggulung Ego memicu upaya membendung Takut genggam lepas melenyap Atau dilahap habis senyap Tanpa bicara sepatah kata Terukir tatap sederhana

Wahai sosok dalam cermin berdimensi tanya Yang buat khawatir tak akan hadir Yang picu kacau hanya racau diri Tapi ragu bersemayam Pada rongga-rongga yang merenggang, ventilasi mungil yang memuai Pada kail yang terlepas, khayal yang dirampas Pada keyakinan yang mengabur, degup yang memudar (Untuk semua yang mengalami krisis seperempat abad)