Division in the Five-Year Politics Should Not Happen

Leading up to the D-day of this five-year political contestation, division should not occur. Each candidate has conveyed their vision, mission, ideas, and various actions that have been attempted in each of the five debate sessions that have been held. The debate should be used as one of the indicators that helps and directs the public towards national goals. Debate is the main element to see the capacity and capability of candidates. Political sentiments towards certain figures should no longer occur. The public must condition a condition of peace and constructive understanding towards improving the nation and state for the better.

The role of every member of society as Indonesian citizens, including academics, should not only be encouraged to feel disappointment or sadness. They must understand how democracy can be accepted and appreciated as educational institutions become filters towards a better and enlightened society. Living together in society and public exchange requires the involvement of educated citizens. Citizens do need to provide input in political communication and interaction before making decisions based on consideration of discursive, perspective and reflective arguments. Citizen involvement can also be expressed as preferences and shared values that deliberation models want to support. Petitions submitted by each campus should be based on arguments that are weighed and reviewed transparently. This petition can be a consensual step based on the best argument by prioritizing the primacy of truth.

Quoting Habermas' view, a German philosopher who places hope in consensus based on the strength of sound discourse that can only be achieved through the exchange of objective and valid arguments and prospects. The explanations and explanations that each campus wants to highlight must be considered a common occurrence of academic freedom to voice the main principles of democracy.

Each campus is indeed trying to remind political parties and actors in the political contestation to represent critical and rational voters in analyzing each program and vision and mission conveyed. Every academic community that has worn intellectual clothes only does not cause certain primordial sentiments and certain interest calculations. Rationality must be above emotion and of course must be realistic and compatible as well as efficient and effective.

The actions of academics should not be accused of being oriented towards the stigma of innuendo or dealing with certain political interests. The phenomenon of voicing the academic podium that is petitioned must be a positive virus to strengthen the motivation of political awareness and critical awareness. The collective petition that has been sounded by the academic community must be a progressive step from civil society. This step has invited all elements to continue to improve, and politics in Indonesia must be directed at political discussions that are not just about transparency and certain moralities. The choices available after this phenomenon occurs are whether you want to be a fanatic voter or a rational voter, or a militant supporter or a critical supporter?