I am an American history teacher and I have an interest in Indonesian political, social and economic issues because I have an Indonesian-Chinese daughter (who is kept in Jakarta against my wishes). Consequently, I read The Jakarta Post from my home in Virginia whenever I can.
I’m sorry to say that there seems to be as many misconceptions about America, its history and its place in the world among Indonesians as there are misconceptions within America among its own people. For example, to say that America was a “country founded by slave-holders” is misleading.
Some of the founding fathers owned slaves but many did not and many of the founders fought vigorously against slavery. Many of the critics of President Bush seem to lack both perspective and judgment.
The American president’s primary responsibility is to keep the nation safe, and President Bush did that for seven years. The present economic crisis is more the result of market forces and a Democratic Congress than Bush’s economic policies.
For the record, Bush’s presidency brought a 30 percent reduction in homelessness, six years of economic growth, 52 months of job growth, teacher accountability, a 12 percent rise in personal income, lower taxes, the removal of a dictator, opportunities for millions of Afghans and Iraqis they never had before, a savings of millions of African lives from malaria and AIDS through health and education programs, to name some of his achievements.
Richard Karavidas
Virginia
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