By Bhima Aryatedja

Why Do We Need to Change?

Some say change is inevitable, others say change is necessary, and many say change is the most constant thing in the world. What is change anyway? How we should deal with it? What happens when things don't change?

JAKARTA - November 30th, Kebayoran Baru, Namarina studio 1. It was rainy season in Indonesia and combined with the weekend, it caused traffic jam all over Jakarta. But it didn't change their consistency to do their routines. Listen to the World held the 36th Offline Series at Namarina Kebayoran. It coincided with LttW's 3rd year anniversary, the topic discussed was about ‘change', which was titled, "Change Is A Must, Isn't It?" It started later than the usual, precisely at 09.15 pm, and the forum began with greetings and introduction by the team and the audiences. Pattraditya Pangestu supported by Aryo Adhianto moderated the discussion. The goal of the discussion is to build a better understanding, taking into consideration the meaning, purpose, and characters of "change" around us.

The first session of the discussion was equating our perception about change. In the second session we tried to build a better sensibility, by showing three examples. First, was Marzuki Hasan who usually goes by Pak Uki - the unchanged man in changed settings, the second was Gringsing - the struggling aspect of the Tengananese's (East Bali, Indonesia) tradition between the change and unchanged, and last was Jakarta, examples of the almost changing things around us, closed by music performance by Lukito Hartawan (acoustic guitar) and Aga (harmonica) playing Blues. The third session was a process for the forum to build a comprehensive and better understanding about change; by discussing the choices we have, on the things that have to change and the things that do not have to change? Or do we understand the consequences of change? In purpose to understand the meaning of change was mutually agreed.

To change or not, is entirely up to what we want

We learnt from Pak Uki that change doesn't have to happen for certain things. Wherever he went, whoever he's with, he never changed. He was always himself, carries his Acehnese in order to spread the value of beauty, love, and brotherhood to the world. On the other hand, in today's condition while the value of Gringsing is now seen not only as the outcome of the set of systems within a culture, but also as the means of production to make a living* (LttW article - "Gringsing amid Changing Times", Adikara Rachman, 2012). Gringsing tells us that we have got to fully understand the consequences of change. And if we let certain things change without knowing the consequences, a good example is Jakarta. A city that is changing rapidly and almost completely, where complaints are never absent while the residents are too busy doing their "business". If we still do not realize what we have been doing and missing, then how can this city ever be calm? How can the complaining ever be converted into proper actions?

With our limited understanding of change itself-what and where is the ground, in what area (spirit and/or manifestation) and the meaning of "towards a betterment," also the ongoing tradition of asking about the ongoing issues and problems-we still didn't have the perspective, about what should have changed, and what shouldn't. Some people will eventually try to change when they realize the situation is no longer ideal, while others are afraid of the consequences of change, pretending as if nothing has happened, even when changes can no longer be avoided. What is even more painstaking is when we realize that our situation is not getting any better, but worse, yet we still think of our own needs and ego. With this kind of situation arises questions such as "is there a better place to live, if we just keep thinking about our own self?" Or, "will our lives be better if we start to think about others?" But the main question is, instead of building mutually beneficial relationships, will we ever reach a better life by ignoring one another in order to protect one's self interest? Well, I guess this situation is the only thing that hasn't change since I was a kid. And sadly, this may take a while.

(BA)

35th Session of Listen to the World Offline Series; Photo by SGS

On Friday, October 26 2012, Listentotheworld held their monthly Offline Series at one of the classrooms of Namarina Ballet-Jazz-Fitness Kebayoran, Jakarta, Indonesia. The series itself has been going on for two years—the next event will mark their 3^rd years of existence—and has raised a variety of issues around culture, music, and arts involving myriad of individuals from various background. And this time, they’ve added a little bit of ‘spice’ into the menu.

Start at 4.30 PM, the discussion consists of three integrated sessions, conducted by Pattraditya Pangestu as the moderator. The chosen title itself, “I Protect My Own Interest. Not the Society’s” was deliberately addressed to all of us here, particularly Indonesians, on how we perceive and deal with ongoing, unresolved nation’s problems. And probably for that reason, the discussion went lively. It may also prove a point: that people have always got something to speak up when it comes to their society’s problems.

The way we see it, problems are people’s daily routines, and they are everywhere—from big cities to rural villages. This also means that problems are meant to be tackled, solved, and conquered. Even to the most difficult ones. Many daring individuals and societies have proved the above statement with their own way. Some of them are Venezuela’s El-sistema led by Economist Jose Antonio Abreu, which succeed in putting the children away from gang violence through music education, and the infamous DJ Kool Herc who changed the entire face of South Bronx, NY, from ruins to Hip-Hop. These are just a few people among many others, who are not only act upon their problems and challenges, but also inspired the world over.

So why are problems keep winning over ourselves here? From the discussion, it can be seen that we tend to immediately act upon those problems, without knowing what or where the problems actually lie. Within this basis, any actions taken will become un-effective, and often costly. And not to mention the low-trust society that we live in, which consequently generates an unjust situation between the majority and minority. This led to another problem, where there is no room given for daring individuals to grow and make real changes for the better.

But at the end of the session, the forum seemed to agree to one thing: that doing the impossible is possible. So let’s just hope that the rest of the nation is ready for it, as the moderator gave his closing statement, “Let’s do what we can!”

(AA)

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