The truth behind the Obama statue

Throughout my career as a journalist, I’ve been asked many things many times, including:

“Who did you vote for in the last election?”

“Would you like to make a donation to the (fill in the blank) fund?”

“Can you be the MC for our corporate dinner?”

Each time I would sincerely say I couldn’t say or do what was being asked because I needed to be perceived as impartial in my job. Someone might call me biased if I revealed my choice of political candidate, and then had to cover their opponent’s campaign. There would be credibility problems if I was assigned to investigate irregularities in a nonprofit organization’s bookkeeping and had just made a monetary contribution to the group.

And I couldn’t very well be at the podium of a company function when I might have to report on that company’s troubles with government regulators.

Perception is as important as reality in the news business.

But there comes a time, perhaps once in a lifetime, when you’ve got to take a stand for something bigger than yourself.

And that’s why my name is on the Obama Dream Statue, along with those of 13 others.

I’ve quietly watched and listened to the debate on its appropriateness ever since we dedicated the bronze figure of a young Barack Obama this past December. I’ve read the arguments against it in print and online.

So let me say this now: I can’t for the life of me see one valid reason why 10-year-old Barry shouldn’t remain standing tall in Menteng Park.

Let’s start at the beginning. I wrote about how Jakarta should consider such a statue as far back as the December 2008 WEEKENDER, reiterating that call last July. My logic both times was that we should cherish the special relationship with the first US president to have lived in Indonesia, and that it would help the local economy by becoming a regular stop for tourists.

When it appeared Obama would be visiting Jakarta after a regional summit in Singapore in November, I mentioned the statue idea to childhood friend and Sumatra native Ron Mullers.

“Let’s do it,” he said, immediately recognizing the value it would bring to the city and country.

No politics. No financial gain. No ulterior motive. We simply wanted to give children hope for their own dreams, along with further enhancing the link between the countries we both love.

There would be no cost to taxpayers, as we would raise the money through donations from private citizens. We approached Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo with the proposal, and he too saw the big picture.

Working directly with Central Jakarta Mayor Sylviana Murni, Ron and I made numerous trips to the sculptor’s studio in Ancol and Menteng Park to help scout locations. When all the appropriate paperwork was done and regulations satisfied, we were informed of the site decision in early December.

We had actually wanted the statue located closer to the busy intersection with stoplights, so passersby (and tour buses) could see it from their vehicles.

“No, let’s put it in a place where we can add statues of other inspirational people as well,” said the foresighted Mayor Murni.

Dedication day, December 10, 2009, was sweaty-hot, but government leaders, statue donors and Obama relatives watched proudly as the cover was pulled back to reveal a child smiling at a butterfly that had landed on his finger.

I read out a note from Obama’s Jakarta-born half-sister Maya to the crowd. It said in part:

“Barack’s childhood was influenced by the archipelago's rich traditions and diverse cultures which sparked his curiosity and shaped his dreams. This statue reminds us of the power of exposing our children to different perspectives, and I hope it will forever encourage young people to explore, discover and dream as he did.”

Political? We would have erected an adult Obama if that was our goal.

Embarrassing to Indonesia? On the contrary, I believe. It shows the country’s growing sense of its place in the world. And that’s not the Nobel Peace Prize medal around his neck. It’s a simple child’s necklace with a Polynesian symbol on it.

Why wasn’t it a statue of an Indonesian historical figure? Because it was an idea that sprang from the minds of two men who happened to have lived in Hawaii and Indonesia as Obama did. When critics begin the fundraising drive to put up a statue of former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, Ron and I will be the first to donate. And I’m sure Governor Fauzi and Mayor Murni will welcome their efforts as well.

I’m proud that my name is on the Obama Dream Statue. Crossing this line feels fine.

Hawaii native Dalton Tanonaka is the co-anchor of Metro TV’s Indonesia Now program, which airs Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. and Sundays at 1 a.m. He can be reached at dalton@metrotvnews.com.

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