Sometimes it frustrates me that public expression and political performance have become the mandatory conditions for proving that you have empathy. You shouldn't have to broadcast every thought just to prove you care or to validate your humanity.
HOWEVER, silence isn't neutral anymore. In times like these, total silence is exactly what authorities rely on to control the narrative. What is worse is if you don't say something, people immediately fill in the blanks and assume your political alignment lmao. So, while I resent the fact that we’re practically forced into performative posting just to clear our names, the issues at stake are too important to ignore. That being said, here’s what I think 😭🙏🏻:
Supporting a movement doesn’t require absolute ideological alignment with every person involved. And for me, that is the very essence of practicing democracy.
I don’t agree with everything CJP stands for, nor do I blindly buy into the "saint" narrative surrounding figures like Sonam Wangchuk. It’s obvious that political actors have entered the space, and there is a real risk that the protest's original goals could be hijacked by external/other agendas. But none of that invalidates the core intent of this resistance.
At its core, I think this discontent is stemming out from systemic, structural failures of the government (not one; but many) and a fundamental suppression of the right to be heard. It is a demand for accountability.
While polarising or religious slogans have no place here, the selective outrage is kinda hypocritical. Why does a statement by an individual cause widespread fury, while systemic issues like the paper leaks fail to elicit the same collective anger?
Also, It is easy to look at this today and think, "this isn't my fight." But the moment a rigged system or a leaked exam impacts YOUR life, you and your family will be the ones looking for support on the streets. I don’t align with the political theater now latching onto this movement, but the core demands of the people who have been sitting out there for weeks remain entirely valid. You don't have to agree with someone's entire worldview to stand with them against a structural injustice.
ALSO, lately, I’ve been struggling with this sense of guilt that comes with finding joy or comfort in ordinary things. When I’m watching a show, eating something, or just reading, there’s a persistent voice reminding me that my comfort is a privilege. I’m not suffering, I’m not at risk, and I haven't had to sacrifice anything just to be heard (not at this scale at least), though tbh, no one should ever have to put their life on the line just to have a voice.
It’s a strange, conflicting state to live in when I’m fully aware of the graver battles others are fighting in the exact same city, under the exact same authorities. It feels strange to realise that while you are experiencing a moment of peace or celebration, someone else a few kms away is mourning. Ignorance isn't bliss, but hyper-awareness is deeply disheartening.
I’m reiterating this again because I’ve heard people say how any of this concerns us, but right now, it might feel like "their" fight, but the reality is that we answer to the same systems. If they aren’t listened to today, we won't be listened to tomorrow. I don't want to glamorise suffering, and I think to risk it all and the other side to STILL be silent and unbothered is appalling.
We need to talk about a major structural flaw in our mindset as citizens, which is our sheer lack of empathy. We always assume someone else will do the heavy lifting for us, and then we aren't even grateful when they do. Right now, the fear of failure is real. But regardless of the immediate outcome, this protest has succeeded in making our voices heard. It has proven to the authorities that people WILL unite and fight back. I don’t know if forced resignations will fix everything, but we desperately need transparent, two-way dialogue. Is that too much to ask for? We have endured so much over the last four to five years, and the response from the top has been nothing but utter silence.
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