Unlike generations who came before us, late millennials were too young to understand what transpired during May 1998. I was four years old then, preoccupied with toys at home or circling my neighborhood with the rascals. I had not even attended kindergarten. Homework was a foreign concept. Pure joy and naivete, and some cries.

For some families, that specific period of time would transform a generation’s life—for better or worse. Some might not see the difference, like mine. Both of my parents were civil servants. That meant the economic and political crisis did not bother our kitchen that much. But we did not live in the lap of luxury either. Somehow, it was just enough.

One evening in the middle of May 1998, my dad returned home late. He told my mom, my brother, my sister, and me about the riots he encountered on his way back. As I was too young to understand what happened, I was old enough to know that something went wrong. I felt sorry for my dad and wished him just OK. The following day, I resumed playing.

Time flies, and late millennials are enjoying their own reality. Most of us landed in our 30s. Cheers! Some are ready to bid 20s adieu. Some of us are still striving for education at the highest level, married, having kids, or getting divorced—or just decided to be a cool uncle or aunty. Whoever we are right now, we have been growing up while enjoying the fruits of Reformasi. Needless to say, we are a generation raised on the promise of a vibrant, democratic Indonesia.

Yet, the reality is more nuanced. Since 2006, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has classified Indonesia as a flawed democracy, a term to describe countries with free elections and basic liberties, but experience some significant weaknesses, including problems in governance and underdeveloped political culture such as infringements on media freedom.

It took almost 60 years after independence for us to have a direct presidential election. I remember my first time, 2014. Behind the voting booth, not only did I cast my vote, but also thanked those who went on the streets during 1998 to protest—students nationwide, and even the women’s movement led by Suara Ibu Peduli for their sacrifice—making it possible for us to attain what we have today. Without them, it is almost impossible for us to have a free election.

But again, what seems to be free elections, cost democracy itself. We have witnessed how our Constitution was blatantly disregarded during the latest presidential election. Nepotism, on the other hand, is not dead yet, and apparently, never will. Rather, practiced by our last president in the name of—surprise—democracy. Given the flaws we are having, the outcome of our last presidential election was not surprising at all.

Some late millennials might feel hurt, but life continues regardless. Despite the current political climate, us late millennials still manage to spend weekends over boozy cocktails, good playlists, or even lovely dates. But several cheap red wines, mundane playlists, and zero date later, one prefers writing to address the elephant in the room.

As a political journalist myself, I am cursed by dealing with a lot of information regarding our current nation state and all the bad projections that might happen in the not so distant future. In the very last month of 2024 itself, I have been running at least three nerve-racking issues to write about.

First, as the epiphany from the latest regional election last November, our new president suggested a proposal of returning the regional election system from direct to indirect model through the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). Like how we vote for president and vice president, the direct system of regional election is also a key outcome of Reformasi.

A whole week my editor asked me to run that story, but shortly after, another ridiculous proposal began to be anchored. During his visit to Cairo, Egypt, in front of Indonesian students, he introduced the idea that “we” might pardon corruptors as long as they return the money back. If so, does that imply that corruption is no longer considered a serious crime?

He should have realized that Reformasi is supposed to be an antidote of the era when his ex-father-in-law was still in office—when corruption was ever-present and law enforcement was nothing but bullshit. Free and fair elections, in addition to fighting against corruption are two critical aspects we should perpetuate after all. As those ideas coming from our president are not enough to shake us up, here comes another turmoil.

Reformasi allows us to have some laws that respect human rights, such as Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights which emphasizes human rights as something that cannot be derogated under any circumstances. It is protecting our fundamental freedom, such as right to life, right to self development, right to justice, and right to individual freedom to name a few. And when it comes to individual freedom, we are free to express ourselves, including through artistic means.

The existence of Law on Human Rights was challenged lately due to the censorship of Yos Suprapto’s solo exhibition titled “Revival: Land for Food Sovereignty” at Gallery National. He should have had his exhibition open on December 19 before we knew that his curator demanded the removal of some out of his 30 paintings because they allegedly resembled “a figure who once was very popular in Indonesian society.”

Later did we know through the images circulated in social media, what it meant by “a figure who once was very popular in Indonesian society” from Yos Suprapto’s paintings was our last president—whose eldest child is now becoming a vice president.

Us late millennials might not know how fucked up it was living under the authoritarian regime before Reformasi. But look at what is happening now. Within a hundred days of the new administration framework, we were already served with some entrées of the authoritarian regime.

The question is, are we going to eat that and pretend nothing is harmful? Are we becoming a masochist generation? It is 2024 for God’s sake, the year we are supposed to celebrate 26 years of Reformasi. Are we really going to move forward?