Obama’s Indonesia Trip

Indonesians have started protesting in many cities before President Barack Obama arrives. They burned America flags angrily and threw their shoes at Obama’s poster. The U.S.’s reputation seemed to be ruined by the former president, George W. Bush.

A bronze statue of a 10-year-old Obama was previously placed in a Jakarta park. This statue of young Obama wearing shorts and a T-shirt is smiling at a butterfly that landed on his upheld left thumb. The statue’s pedestal carries the following: “A little boy named Barry (Obama’s nickname) played here once, he is now U.S. 44th president and a Nobel Prize winner.”

The original intention of this lovely statue is noble one: to inspire children to pursue big dreams like Obama. But some people criticized that Obama is not an Indonesian hero and he has done nothing to their country, and therefore his bronze statue should not be built in a public area. This statue was finally relocated to the elementary school Obama attended.

Nonetheless, no matter how reluctant Indonesians are or how busy Obama is, the White House did not cancel his visit to Indonesia. This shows Indonesia’s important position.

This is obviously not a simple sentimental trip. Besides remembering old times, the main reason for Obama’s visit is to build a military relationship. The U.S. is ready to resume special training for Indonesian Special Forces and strengthen their ties in military exchange and anti-terrorism efforts.

The reason U.S. has tried so hard to mend its relationship with Indonesia is to expand its influential power in the Southeast Asia region in order to balance out the power of China.

Indonesia is the largest economic entity in Southeast Asia that has an issue with China.

In addition, Indonesia is home to world’s largest Muslim population. Enhancing the relation with Indonesia could improve the relations between U.S. and the Muslim world, which will build a better image and might help to dissolve Afghanistan’s and Israel’s issues.

Whether Obama will succeed in getting fruitful results for both parties, we will have to wait and see.