“The Time Has Come…”
“…A fact’s a fact/It belongs to them/Let’s give it back.”

The blank page is here, again. Not because there is little to say. Quite the contrary, actually. Living in the United States as an émigré has proven itself more challenging than expected — especially recently. The deadly floods that recently took the lives of many in Texas come at a time of great uncertainty. What’s more, it’s hard to remain optimistic and focused when there seems to be too much to do, but little plans to follow.
Is it me or is this what I should expect from my twenties? I’ve been challenged by this question too often, recently.
Last Wednesday, I went to a Midnight Oil concert with my mother. The Australian rock band, since the 1970s, has stood for something that lies beyond music: the fight against oppressive systems through consistent and thoughtful activism. The band’s singer, Peter Garrett, “is a long-time advocate and campaigner on a range of local and global issues . . . [H]e served as a cabinet minister in the Rudd/Gillard Labor governments from 2007–13.” Needless to say, the band was outspoken, active in their denouncements of American political stances, and simply awe-inspiring.
Aside from the professionalism of the music performance, I quickly noticed that I was one of the youngest in the crowd. Indeed, it was amazing to observe the vast crowd of middle-aged adults (most, I bet, were parents) headbanging and dancing to Beds Are Burning and Redneck Wonderland. I felt ashamed in some ways.
Granted, one of the reasons underlying the lack of young people in the crowd might be the (rather low) popularity of Midnight Oil. This may, absolutely, be the case. However, whether this was the case or not, it made me realize that my social circles are not wholeheartedly committed to issues of public interest. And, by virtue of choosing deliberately to grow and thrive amongst them, I myself have wasted time in showing my colors and commitments.
My recent bursts of traveling have allowed me to take a step back from my life as a student of law. But, they’ve also made me miss the feelings that come with immersion into a new world. It seems to be exclusively in these kinds of explorations that truths can be sought, experienced, and understood. I won’t hide that, having written more than seventy of these weekly posts, I am in search of something more robust to learn and write about.
The fork I am now at is daunting. On one side, I am drawn to exploring issues of public interest through academic lenses, leveraging the resources available to me at school. On the other, I am inspired by individuals like Peter Garrett who managed to channel their convictions through a creative medium, which exists well beyond the borders of academia. Given the sensitivity of time, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to pick both sides and immerse myself fully in something new.
Time is of the absolute essence. There is a crowd of inspired, young people around me with whom I share convictions. Of that, I am sure.
Last Wednesday, I realized, in some ways, that I’d both found a crowd that was not my own. In turn, I was deprived of my group, which exists somewhere. One that is committed to turning the wheels of justice in ways compatible with the most pressing issues of our time.
I admit it. The solitude that I feel amidst this tornado of emotion is imbued with irrationality and lack of self-confidence. Because there is no such thing as being alone in this journey. There is no such thing as being blind to important issues of public interest. However, there is such thing as being scared of taking a step and sacrificing something in return. In the trust I convey to the reader as I write these words, I also expose (yet again) some vulnerability.
“Some got pollution/Some revolution/There must be some solution but I just don’t know.” And, although I’m at times at a loss for words, I stand confident that there will never be a right time for work, commitment, and consistency. I hope I find a way ahead, perhaps led by you.
