Two years ago, the man shook the world. On so many levels, he changed some of the long-held game rules on the last hegemony on Earth, which echo would undoubtedly leave imprint elsewhere. On this particular part of the world, 12-hour ahead and 24-hour flying time away, people celebrated for mostly different reason—that the man had lived here for four years as a boy forty years ago. I was celebrating here with my friends, in the Election Night gathering at Amigos and later on in the Inaugural fete at Marriott, mostly for the fact that a true-blue American Dream personification had just come true on the most public world stage (http://lyndaibrahim.com/2010/08/on-obama-hopeful-inspired-but-never-wishful/).
Now, two years on, the picture has changed considerably. The man is an embattled president facing heavy criticism from his constituents, his party lost the House of Representatives in Decision 2010, and many doubted he’d get reelected in 2012.
But not in Indonesia.
Though the visit has been rescheduled twice, or perhaps precisely because of it, the Obamania went full-fledged from the moment he landed on Tuesday afternoon to the time he departed earlier today. The visit was initially scheduled for 48 hours, yet was subsequently shortened to 24 and 18 hours, with erupting volcano Merapi was cited as the major factor. But Indonesians, mostly Jakartans, went giddily gaga like teenagers watching concert of Glee casts featuring both Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. Former school friends appeared on talk-shows, while students of his former elementary school rehearsed an especially-penned song just in case President Obama managed to swing by. The ones lucky enough to obtain passes to the related functions flaunted their luck, while the rest, such as myself, hogged TV for hours to watch live coverage (erroneously termed ‘Breaking News’ on our often etymology-challenged TV stations). And though I preferred to tweet ‘Welcome back’, many threw ‘Welcome home’ in abandon, a sentiment Obama graciously picked up as he quipped, ‘Pulang kampung, nih,’ at the beginning of his speech in the grand auditorium of University of Indonesia this morning, and which was immediately greeted by deafening cheers and flurry of live tweets.
Of course, there’s always another side of the coin. Some voiced objections, mostly the hardliners long known to oppose anything remotely Western; conveniently forgetting that cellular & Internet they use to get organized are Western-invented technology. Others complained that while we’re dealing with the aftermath of Wasior flood, Mentawai tsunami and Merapi eruptions, we had to throw the whole shebang for Obama; overlooking the fact that earlier on Tuesday SBY also welcome President Fischer of Austria in Merdeka Palace. Certain pundits critically pointed out that Obama only spent so little time here compared to in India and Korea; something I must say is pretty logical considering our relative position on the world stage. Enough self-appointed intellectuals criticized anything and everything, from SBY’s address at joint press conference, the award granted for Obama’s late mother Ann Durham-Soetoro, the State Dinner menu, how today’s National Heroes Day was eclipsed by the visit, how US Secret Service overpowered local authority, to the naked admiration shown in the vicinity of the honorable guest. Even some American friends, miffed by Obama’s recent performance, half-jokingly mused that since Indonesia loved its ‘Barry’ so much perhaps he should just stay here.
Despite everything, I am glad Obama came to visit, and my reasons go beyond whatever political standing, bilateral agreements or aids, such as the doubling of scholarships Obama mentioned, that would come to fruition afterward. I’m talking about the psyche.
This is the country that has often been on the watch or travel warning list. The country, or at least its President, that has long been a source of unflattering illustrations or downright jokes on numerous TV shows like West Wing, JAG or Alias, or even the chick-flick The Sweetest Thing. The country that in recent years has started to rise above its decades-long mess through democracy and yet held back by petty political partisanship, misguided ethnic and religious clashes, plus deadly natural disasters. To have the President of The United States flew in and stayed overnight, no matter rushed, amid volcano eruptions no less, sends clear sign that we’re not a failing state naysayer love to broadcast. One of the consulting jobs I do revolve around cross-cultural training for newly-arrived expats and now I can tell them with straight face that yes, despite all the obvious problems, this is a state safe enough for them to live with their family, ‘cause look, the colossally stupid Tiffie incident notwithstanding, Barack brought Michelle along and she seemed to have a great time.
Beyond that, there’s the psyche factor. Indonesians live in communal society and thrive on collective identity, and Obama’s whirlwind visit, appropriately or not, is seen and felt like a long-awaited return of the ‘local’ boy done good, the one who’s not above himself to acknowledge its ‘roots’ and deigns to ‘return’. As I pointed out in my last column on Obama, most people, even in the media, persistently called him ‘Barry’, either oblivious to his request to be addressed as ‘Barack’ as a part of his embracing the Kenyan heritage and African-American ID, as can be read through his books and interviews, or simply adamant in clutching the only thread linking them to him, that he was their good ol’ Barry of Menteng Dalam and Besuki Elementary School. For all my attempts to maintain a cool head, I must admit that his UI speech, (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/11/10/full-transcripts-speeches-during-us-president-barack-obama039s-state-visit-indonesia), delivered as rousing as expected from the great narrator Obama, has renewed the sense and pride of national identity among many Indonesians. I know I was touched—hell, I’m not made of stone. And must admit, hearing a President of another country opening, closing and peppering his addresses with Indonesian terms that would normally be used by us, in almost accent-free pronunciation indicating his formative years’ exposure, somehow feel good.
Should we watch for the real delivery of whatever signed bilateral agreements? Yes. Should we factor in that the addresses had been meticulously researched for and crafted by the best speech writers, and that Obama might’ve spent much time practicing to pronounce those Indonesian words flawlessly instead of just having spoken Indonesian for the past forty years as some would love to believe? Sure. Should we worry that the inspiring ‘Unity in Diversity’ speech was given by another country’s leader instead of our own? You bet.
But we can do that later. Right now, let’s just bask in the glow. That warm feeling, whatever its name or definition is, that honeymooners know most. As an Indonesia’s literary master tweeted oh-so-eloquently earlier today, it’s not about our admiration for the US, it’s just that, apparently, that a country called Indonesia hasn’t been forgotten. Let’s just enjoy this soothing break, before we deal with our biting reality.Tweet
