Being Aware of National Issues: Awareness Does Not Mean Playing Politics

Source: LPM Campus

Many people still think that talking about national issues is the same as “getting involved in politics.” Often, people who try to care about the state of the nation are accused of supporting a certain side. In fact, being aware of national issues is actually part of our consciousness as citizens, not just a political game. Being aware is not the same as being partisan, rather, awareness is the main asset for developing ourselves and contributing to society.

In the digital age, information comes flooding in every second. Issues ranging from economics, health, the environment, education, to practical politics are right before our eyes. If we are ignorant, we can easily get swept away, blindly believe false information, or even spread it unconsciously. On the contrary, by being aware of national issues, we train ourselves to be critical, intelligent, and better prepared to face the challenges of the times.

There is a big difference between being aware and playing politics. Being aware means that we understand, are critical, and care about the condition of the nation. Playing politics means being involved in the struggle for power or the interests of a particular camp. As ordinary citizens, we do not have to choose the latter path to continue contributing.

Being aware of national issues leads us to adopt a healthy neutral stance. Neutrality does not mean indifference, but rather choosing to focus on substance rather than partisan fanaticism. If a policy benefits the people, we support it. If it is detrimental, we have the right to criticize it. All of this is done not because of who proposed it, but because we are aware of our role as citizens.

Take the issue of salary increases for members of the House of Representatives, for example. If the people are unaware, policies like this can pass smoothly without debate, even though the public is struggling with the cost of living. When we are aware of the issues, we can ask critical questions: Are these salary increases in line with performance? Are they transparent? Are they urgent for the people? These questions are important as a form of public oversight.

Ultimately, being aware of national issues helps us grow as more mature individuals. We are not easily provoked, reactive, or fanatical towards one side. We are more balanced in our assessments and more focused on finding solutions, even if they are simple.

This awareness also makes us better citizens, who are critical, caring, and ready to contribute. Not everyone can be a public official, but everyone can be an intelligent member of society.

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Writer: Nurhabibah Khoirotunnisa (Medicine’24)

Editor: Naira Afza Salsabilla (Nutrition Science’23)