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SMS: Obama makes history
Your comments on the victory of Democrat Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain in the recent election
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Your comments on the victory of Democrat Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States, defeating Republican John McCain in the recent election.
I hope Obama will be able to stabilize the world's economy.
IKA DESTY AMINAH
Metro, Lampung
Yes you can. We love you Obama and may Almighty God give all blessings to world's adored Obama and to all American people.
Despite several errors in its foreign policy, America is always at the frontline in helping other vulnerable people around the globe, perhaps unknown by many people.
I was there when an American chopper who gave relief aid to the victims of a tsunami in the remotely isolated and unreachable west coast of Aceh, Indonesia.
Obama has to embrace both Democrats and Republicans to fix a huge financial and economic crisis in the U.S and around the globe.
Congratulations Obama.
DJALIL
Banda Aceh
Obama is America's asset not Indonesia's. What's the correlation between Obama's victory and Indonesian people?
FUDAILI
Jakarta
I think Obama's priorities are unemployment, foreign policy (especially Iraq and Afghanistan) and to help the country escape from the financial turmoil.
TONNY SANTOSO
Jakarta
His priority should be to make the world be more sincerely respectful of the United States.
SUSY
Yogyakarta
With his victory, he is expected to improve the United States' relations with countries in the Middle East.
IMAM NANAFI
Bekasi, West Java
Obama said victory is for change. It relates to his personal history, from childhood to the present as one born of an American mother and African father who has experienced living in different cultures and countries and .
It makes him wiser than others. He has sparked the flame of youth spirit. He has gotten inspiration from many people.
Reflecting on past U.S. foreign affairs, which produced the Vietnam war, the Iraq aggression, the Afghanistan war and the current global financial depression, it's only proper that U.S. citizens seek a new leader.
Obama, who had many classmates in Jakarta when he was in elementary school in Menteng, is expected to have an emotional feeling for Indonesia, which is expected to become a factor in improving relations between Indonesia and the United States.
YOGI SUWASONO
Jakarta
Obama has to select aides with superior qualities to help him solve the current crisis and to facilitate the economy to recover so that many people can get back to work. He must be ready to work together with other countries to resolve the global financial crisis.
YEFTA
Magelang, Central Java
Obama has to revive the Clinton era by increasing taxes for upper-class people, but reducing the tax burden on low-income people.
Close Guantanamo, withdraw soldiers gradually from Iraq, and seek more allied troops for Afghanistan.
Reduce farm subsidies for big farmers but increase subsidies for farmers who adopt green practices -- a conservation subsidy. All subsidies and welfare programs must be judged by short-term and long-term returns.
Upgrade medical technology to cut medication errors, expand children's health programs, protect doctors -- especially obstetricians and emergency-room doctors - from lawsuits that make malpractice insurance unaffordable.
And restore relations with some foreign pariahs. Renounce the vision of democratizing the Middle East by force.
MELA
Jakarta
This could be the beginning of an improved relationship between RI and the U.S. Not many people know that the U.S. is one of the first friends Indonesia made when it proclaimed its independence from the Netherlands after WW II: U.S. congress and the U.S. government pressured the Dutch to "let go" of Indonesia in 1949.
Today there's mistrust and animosity between (people and leaders of) the two countries, RI and the U.S.. Barack needs no advise the U.S. medias interpretation of Indonesia because he understands it better. Indonesians trust him as one of their own. All this translates to goodwill, and that's a good start.
Peace.
INGGITA
Jakarta
