A little bit of America in all of us

Tasa Nugraza Barley ,  Maryland   |  Mon, 05/12/2008 10:51 AM  |  Opinion

Yes, we hate America. We hate their stupid culture and we condemn their arrogance. George W. Bush is the worst American president and it's so exciting that even most Americans think that way too. We curse at them when we see news on TV about Afghanistan and Iraq.

We feel offended when they call our Muslim brothers and sisters terrorists. Thus, some of us even praise Osama bin Laden for his notorious success in making America look like a fool.

We support every demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy and burning their flags is fine because it's a representation of our solidarity with those who are oppressed and poor.

And we wish someday we could have a president like Sukarno again who bravely said to America, "Go to hell with your aid!"

But shamefully, the reality is we also love America so badly. You have to admit that fact.

Of course we do, that's why there's a McDonalds on every corner in Jakarta. Of course we do, that's why Starbucks is the coolest place to hang out for young Indonesians in Jakarta. And of course we do, that's why more and more young Indonesians in small cities dress like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Who doesn't love American movies? At least I do. I love Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. I love Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. In my opinion, Hollywood movies are the greatest heritage of American pop culture.

Let's face it, we can't avoid America. Especially the young ones. Everywhere we go and every time we breath we see America with all its products and values.

Some of us can't live without a computer and internet connection. We worship Bill Gates for inventing software that enables us to live so much easier.

Some of us can't live without an iPod, the small gadget created by Steve Jobs which has become part of our daily lives, and which we use to listen to our favorite American singers, like Mariah Carey and Usher.

It's impossible to avoid America, you may say you hate it, but deep down inside you know you love it too. At least, you know you love their inventions and technology.

Believe it or not, even Indonesians who love to perform demonstrations on the streets and sometimes protest American policies actually watch CNN to grasp some of America's free speech.

Don't feel guilty if you're one of them; I suggest you simply smile and laugh. Forget all those radical comments. This is the 21st century, not World War II. Don't be afraid of all the threats that the radicals make because even radicals love to eat KFC.

It's fine to have a little bit of America in you. It's fine to have a little bit of France or Japan in you. You shouldn't be ashamed of yourself as long as the Indonesian factor in your blood dominates your way of thinking.

Having a little bit of something else from other countries gives you a better perspective for looking at this world. It also gives you the ability to make great changes to your community.

I encourage every young Indonesian who currently lives in a foreign land to learn new things -- as many as possible. If you live in an advanced country then you are more qualified to teach your people how other cultures progress.

Let those Americans laugh thinking that we want to be like them, but let's keep it inside that someday we will laugh together with them.

The writer is a postgraduate student in Washington D.C. His personal blog is http://guebukanmonyet.com.

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