Mario Hadiwinata

(God’s answer : Because America needs him! :-))

Before the Iowa Caucus, I never read (or bothered) about the ongoing presidential election in US. All I know, ‘Ron Paul’ is quite popular - almost everyday ‘Ron Paul’ topics is listed in the front page of digg / reddit.

As in contrary, there is a lack of media support for Ron Paul. So, I assumed it must be a grass root voices that support RP in virtual world. But, after he placing the 5th in Iowa Caucus, I thought his supporter must be very busy digging his story resulting him just in the 5th rank. …and that draw my attention to get to know about Mr Obama…

So, I spent my weekend reading his blogs, news, speeches, etc.

One of my favorites encounter in getting know Obama is when I watched his speech after winning the Iowa Caucus

After the 13 minutes speeches, I totally impressed with Obama Phenomenon, he is so inspiring, calm, honest, quality and determined. It’s looks like once again the country found her leaders in our generation. Many people claiming he’s so inspiring like Lincoln or Luther King, and I no doubt about it. No wonder, he won in a 95% “white” state, eventough Obama is a black man.

Yes, Obama spent a few years in Indonesia when he was a child and I read several topics claiming that Mr. Obama was a muslim and at a glance I know that this is a hoax, it’s like the war (that should not) happened in Iraq, the rumor probably generalize things (again).

“In Indonesia, I had spent two years at a Muslim school,” he wrote in his first memoir, “Dreams from my Father.” “The teacher wrote to tell my mother that I made faces during Koranic studies.”

I never see any politician like that, not in my country, it’s not a popular topic and might complicate his presidential ambitions. But still he’s not try to hide or even deny his past.Several quick facts I have from local detik.com news portal :

• Barry went to Hawaii after his mother divorced with her Indonesian husband in 1971, he was raised and had a good education by his grandma : Madelayne Dunham
• Tante Anne (Anne Aunt), his mother, died in 1995, and used to work as a consultant in BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia - Indonesian People Bank) & USAID
• His sister works in Hawaii, married with a Chinese (and you can see the ‘United States’ in Obama’s life, many different cultures and background)

Obama’s (translated) Book, best seller in Indonesia

Obama’s (translated) book, Best Seller in Indonesia.

This is the classroom and the same whiteboard when Obama still in SD (Primary School) Besuki Menteng. (He also spent several years in catholic school : SD Fransiscus Asisi.)

So far, Barrack Obama has bring a new hope for the country, not only for US, people around the world also pay attention to Barrack as the world might need America, a stronger America. And you Americans : The world glad there is no Bush this year , so happy voting, you are so lucky to have such person like Obama as your candidate president.

As for many Indonesian, Barrack should have motivated us one way or another. Just like what he said on BarrackObama.com “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about the real change in Washington… I’m asking you to believe in yours.” - and this is from the man who spent his primary school from Menteng.