AMERICAN  CORNERS
INDONESIA

  American Corners in Indonesia

Remarks at the Opening of the American Corner 
at the Muhammadiyah University of Yogyakarta

by Charles N. Silver
Public Affairs Counselor
U.S. Embassy

Place: Central Library Building, UMY 
Time: 10:00 am 
Date: 24 April 2004

Rector of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Dr. Khoiruddin Bashori; Rectors and Vice Rectors of universities in Greater Yogyakarta area; the Heads of Regency in the Special District of Yogyakarta; Librarians; distinguished colleagues and honored guests. 

We live in a world that is getting smaller. And that means that we need to nurture an international perspective among our students. Not only so that we can understand other cultures, but also so that we can better understand ourselves. The problems and challenges that any nation or any society faces are the same. And we can learn from seeing how other societies deal with their problems and challenges; but to do that we need to know more about one another. And this is especially true for those of us who work in the field of education.

It is certainly true for the U.S. Embassy.

We believe that greater contact and wider availability of information about other countries strengthens the intellectual life of a university. We believe that a better understanding of the history, background, and life of a nation helps shape a more meaningful discussion of issues. And that is why we are here.

A lot has been written about the "clash of civilizations." Unfortunately, some of what has been written appears to be the work of people who have never bothered to read Professor Huntington's book and article. But the view that there is an inevitable clash of cultures that leads to conflict and enmity is simply wrong. For one thing, the basic values that motivate all human beings are the same. Most people want very basic things - the ability to live a life of dignity, to live and raise families with their basic needs met, in a society that allows them peace, security, and freedom. Americans and Indonesians, in particular, share many key values. We both seek tolerance, we value our diversity, and we are shaped by our religious values.

But while I do not believe that there is a necessary clash of civilizations, or that there is an inherent conflict between Indonesia and the West, or between Islam and the West, we must also recognize that there are genuine differences in our views and our attitudes. But what I strongly assert is that differences are not a problem - they are our strength. The world would be a very poorer place if all of us were the same. History is full of examples of how contact with people who are different have benefited their societies. As a citizen of a country that is truly a "nation of nations..." that is, a society made up almost entirely of immigrants, I must assert that the strength of my country comes from the interaction of people who are very different working together to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

One of the similarities between the U.S. and Indonesia is the diversity of our societies. As large nations with diverse populations, our countries face similar challenges and questions - how to balance a strong central government with regional authority, how to organize an electoral system that ensures that more populous regions do not marginalize smaller portions of the a country, how to protect the rights of minorities, and how to ensure that a deeply religious nation (for that is certainly the case of both of our countries) that contains many different religions develops a tolerant and peaceful society in which all of us can live together harmoniously. And has been pointed out countless times, even our national mottoes reflect our central task; 
e pluribus unum and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika.

But despite our experience that differences are a source of strength, there are those who would exploit differences and reinforce negative stereotypes. Indeed, in this era of mass entertainment and instant news, it is sometimes difficult to get an accurate picture of another nation. Since I have been in Indonesia, I sometimes meet people who "know" quite a lot about America. The problem is that much of what they "know" is absolutely wrong. Seeing a country through the lens of movies, television, and sometimes sensationalist reporting, is not always the best way to learn about a nation. If my knowledge of Indonesia were limited to stories about the Bali and Marriott bombings in the mass media and a tourist guide to Bali, I might have a very different and much less accurate understanding of the complex, diverse, and vibrant nation that is Indonesia. That is why I'm here today. A half century ago, Senator J. William Fulbright described the goals of the exchange program that bears his name. Although he was talking about academic exchanges, his words ring just as true in describing any effort to exchange knowledge and information about a nation and its culture. Senator Fulbright wrote, "The simple purpose of the exchange program... is to erode the culturally rooted mistrust that sets nations against one another." And the way to do that is through knowledge. We are here today to open an "American Corner" at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta. 

This is an effort to make accurate, complete, and up-to-date information about the U.S. available to Indonesian students and scholars. It is a cooperative effort between your university and our embassy. We have provided books, online databases, computers, copiers, and other equipment. UMY has provided space and staff. This new American Corner will make available to your students and others:

• A basic collection of books about the U.S. 
• Access to over a thousand periodicals in a range of fields from politics to history, from literature to technology. 
• On-line access to key databases

But while the "hardware" is important, and equally crucial factor is the "software." We will work with UMY to provide the support that will enable the Center's users to make the most out of the facilities whether this means doing research or student advising. We plan on bringing speakers and other programs to the "corner" so that the kinds of interactions and discussions that we hope will lead to greater mutual understanding can take place.

In short, the American Corner is just what its name says it is - a small corner of American where we hope students can come to learn more about America. And a place where we hope we can bring Americans to learn more about Indonesia. For in the end, what is most important is that we understand each other better. That we have a better understanding of which we are as a people and that we have a better understanding of the other nations with whom we share a very small planet. Understanding is a precondition for dialogue, and the enemy of tolerance is ignorance. Thank you.

Thank you.

Charles N. Silver
Public Affairs Counselor 
U.S. Embassy Jakarta

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