Obama Lauds Indonesia

On President Obamas visit to Indonesia he learned to admire Indonesia as a model of religious tolerance. He saw Indonesia as a great nation seeking independence in their struggle for freedom. Obama recognizes how ancient traditions endure through Islams flourishing. Obama spent four years of his childhood in southeast Asia. Southeast Asia is the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world and Obama wants "for a new beginning between the US and muslims around the world -- one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences." In Obamas speech he says, " no country is perfect but [in indonesia] you can find the ability to abridge divides of race, of region, and religion." He also states that, " History of America and Indonesia should make us feel optimistic" because they signal human progress " may our two nations working together with faith and determination share these truth with all man kind" that unity is more power than division. Indonesia and US share principles of unity and tolerance and both can benefit from strengthened ties that will aid trade and combat terrorism. Indonesia has been attacked by bombings and for the sake of both nations progress they have to "root out terrorists and combating violent extremism." America "is not, and never will be, at war with Islam... Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion -- certainly not a great world religion like Islam." Indonesias development is strengthen by an emerging democracy, he says. 

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/09/video-obama-touts-importance-of-indonesia/?iref=allsearch