Nov. 9 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 the way, in the importance of educating girls diversity. And we are two democracies where and empowering women, because she under- power resides in the people. And so it’s only stood that when we provide education to young natural that we should be partners in the world. women, when we honor and respect women, I am fortunate to have a very strong partner that we are in fact developing the entire coun- in President Yudhoyono, Indonesia’s first di- try. That’s what kept bringing my mother back rectly elected President, and a leader who has to this country for so many years, that’s the les- guided this nation through its journey into de- son that she passed on to me, and that’s the les- mocracy. And our two nations are fortunate that son that Michelle and I try to pass on to our we are forging a partnership for the 21st centu- daughters. ry. And as we go forward, I’m reminded of a So on behalf of our entire family, we thank you. proverb: Bagai air dengan tebing—like bamboo I am deeply moved. It is this same largeness of and the river bank, we rely on each other. heart that compels us tonight to keep in our And so I’d like to propose a toast. In the spirit thoughts and prayers all those who are suffering of friendship between our two countries, we are from the eruptions and the tsunami and the earth- reminded of the truth that no nation is an is- quake. With so many in need tonight, that’s one land, not even when you’re made up of thou- more reason for me to keep my remarks short. sands of islands. We all rely on each other to- As a young boy in Menteng Dalam 40 years gether, like bamboo and the river bank. And ago, I could never imagine that I would one day like my mother riding between villages on a mo- be hosted here at Istana Negara—never mind torcycle, we are all stronger and safer when we as President of the United States. I didn’t think see our common humanity in each other. I would be stepping into this building ever. So, President Yudhoyono, and to all the dis- [Laughter] tinguished guests who are here, thank you for And I know that much has been made about your extraordinary friendship and the warmth how a young boy could move between such dif- with which you have received Michelle and my- ferent countries and cultures as Indonesia and self. And I promise that it won’t take so long be- the United States. But the truth is, is that our fore I come back. countries have far more in common than most people realize. We are two peoples who both NOTE: The President spoke at 10:01 p.m. at the broke free from colonial rule. We are both two Istana Negara. In his remarks, he referred to vast nations that stretch thousands of miles. We Kristiani Herrawati, wife of President Yudhoyo- are both two societies that find strength in our no. Remarks at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta November 10, 2010 The President. Terima kasih. Terima kasih. Pulang kampung nih. I am so glad that I made Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody. Se- it back to Indonesia and that Michelle was able lamat pagi. to join me. We had a couple of false starts this Audience members. Selamat pagi! year, but I was determined to visit a country The President. It is wonderful to be here at that’s meant so much to me. And unfortunately, the University of Indonesia. To the faculty and this visit is too short, but I look forward to com- the staff and the students, and to Dr. Gumilar ing back a year from now when Indonesia hosts Rusliwa Somantri, thank you so much for your the East Asia summit. hospitality. Before I go any further, I want to say that our Assalamu alaikum dan salam sejahtera. thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indo- Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank nesians who are affected by the recent tsunami you to the people of Jakarta, and thank you to and the volcanic eruptions, particularly those the people of Indonesia. who’ve lost loved ones and those who’ve been 1786 Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 / Nov. 10 displaced. And I want you all to know that as al- the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined ways, the United States stands with Indonesia in in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains responding to natural disasters, and we are one of this country’s defining and inspiring pleased to be able to help as needed. As neigh- characteristics. bors help neighbors and families take in the dis- Now, I stayed here for 4 years, a time that placed, I know that the strength and the resil- helped shape my childhood, a time that saw the ience of the Indonesian people will pull you birth of my wonderful sister Maya, a time that through once more. made such an impression on my mother that Let me begin with a simple statement: Indo- she kept returning to Indonesia over the next 20 nesia bagian dari diri saya. I first came to this years to live and to work and to travel and to country when my mother married an Indone- pursue her passion of promoting opportunity in sian named Lolo Soetoro. And as a young boy, I Indonesia’s villages, especially opportunity for was coming to a different world. But the people women and for girls. And I was so honored of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home. when President Yudhoyono last night at the Jakarta—now, Jakarta looked very different state dinner presented an award on behalf of in those days. The city was filled with buildings my mother, recognizing the work that she did. that were no more than a few stories tall. This And she would have been so proud, because my was back in 1967, ’68—most of you weren’t mother held Indonesia and its people very close born yet. [Laughter] The Hotel Indonesia was to her heart for her entire life. one of the few high rises, and there was just one Now, so much has changed in the four de- big department store called Sarinah. That was cades since I boarded a plane to move back to it. Becaks and bemos, that’s how you got around. Hawaii. If you asked me—or any of my school- They outnumbered automobiles in those days. mates who knew me back then—I don’t think And you didn’t have all the big highways that any of us could have anticipated that one day I you have today. Most of them gave way to un- would come back to Jakarta as the President of paved roads and the kampungs. the United States. And few could have antici- So we moved to Menteng Dalam, where— pated the remarkable story of Indonesia over [applause]—hey, some folks from Menteng these last four decades. Dalam right here. And we lived in a small house. We had a mango tree out front. And I The Jakarta that I once knew has grown into learned to love Indonesia while flying kites and a teeming city of nearly 10 million, with sky- running along the paddy fields and catching scrapers that dwarf the Hotel Indonesia and dragonflies, buying sate and bakso from the thriving centers of culture and of commerce. street vendors. I still remember the call of the While my Indonesian friends and I used to run vendors: “Sate!” [Laughter] I remember that. in fields with water buffalo and goats—[laugh- “Bakso!” [Laughter] Enak, ya? But most of all, I ter]—a new generation of Indonesians is among remember the people: the old men and women the most wired in the world, connected through who welcomed us with smiles, the children who cell phones and social networks. And while In- made a foreign child feel like a neighbor and a donesia as a young nation focused inward, a friend, and the teachers who helped me learn growing Indonesia now plays a key role in the about this country. Asia-Pacific and in the global economy. Because Indonesia is made up of thousands Now, this change also extends to politics. of islands and hundreds of languages and peo- When my stepfather was a boy, he watched his ple from scores of regions and ethnic groups, own father and older brother leave home to my time here helped me appreciate the com- fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian in- mon humanity of all people. And while my step- dependence. And I’m happy to be here on He- father, like most Indonesians, was raised a Mus- roes Day to honor the memory of so many In- lim, he firmly believed that all religions were donesians who have sacrificed on behalf of this worthy of respect. And in this way, he reflected great country. 1787 Nov. 10 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2010 When I moved to Jakarta, it was 1967, and it increasing ties between our Governments in was a time that had followed great suffering and many different areas, and just as importantly, conflict in parts of this country. And even we are increasing ties among our people. This is though my stepfather had served in the army, a partnership of equals, grounded in mutual in- the violence and killing during that time of po- terests and mutual respect.