2020 was an unprecedented rollercoaster ride that slammed all of us with a series of tragedies that sparked political movements, election unrest, and chaos. Billions were affected one way or another, countless lives were changed, and many were lost. One thing we can learn from this year is that nothing is permanent, and anything can change in an instant. Despite such events, most still choose to ignore it as nearly none of us were directly affected. Nevertheless, staying apathetic to society’s problems will only bring severe consequences to our democracy.
Being labeled as a “democratic nation” has given us a false sense of security since it makes us believe that we have ultimate freedom that cannot be taken away. In fact, democracy is the most fragile political system that can crumble in a blink of an eye—it can easily be overthrown when there is a persistent failure to uphold the responsibility of maintaining our democracy.
Considering the tightly knitted relationship of politics in our society, every aspect of our life is made of choices that are heavily influenced by politics, and our current situation is a prime example of such. Most fail to see the role of politics in our lives because of privilege. Our privilege shields us from being directly affected by the choices made by those governing us, but eventually, the effects will find their way towards us.
Privilege is certainly not a crime, but it can make us apathetic bystanders of the unjust system. Invincibility to social occurrences through privilege is an illusion since it merely acts as a buffer for an expected time-being. One may attest that they are “political enough” by posting on Instagram stories, but the posting only occurs when it has become a trend, sometimes without the person understanding the context nor its importance. Black Lives Matter may have been a mere hashtag for us, but to others, it is a desperate outcry that roots from centuries of oppression. Politics has been overly romanticized that taints the essence of movements people have long fought for.
With the importance of politics in mind, we have crucial roles to play as members of a democratic society. As the youth, we have to be socially and politically aware by educating ourselves with the truth and continuously challenge our surroundings. As we are nearing the tense season—elections on May 2022 elections, being aware of Philippine politics and our social issues cannot be more important. For those turning eighteen by May 2022, register to vote. Thoroughly research the potential candidates, their history, their goals, and their values. Once again, the maintenance of democracies is reliant on the people - we are accountable for the future state of our country.
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