Barack's Mother Honor in Indonesia

The president of Indonesia awarded a special gold medal of honor today to a special former resident of his country: Stanley Ann Dunham, the mother of Barack Obama.

"A few years ago, there was an American woman who loved Indonesia and conducted research on the issue of the role of women and the empowerment of the economy," said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a state dinner for the president and first lady Michelle Obama. "The result of her research was transferred into a scientific paper of high quality regarding the role of women and micro credits in the villages."

He added:

"That researcher is no longer with us, but her dedication and compassion continue to live in on in Indonesia. That woman is Stanley Ann Durham."

"The government of Indonesia has decided to honor Madame Stanley for her dedication and I as President of Indonesia I have the honor to grant this medal of honor to her son on her behalf and to my close friend, Mr. Barack Obama."

Obama said he was "deeply moved" by the gold medal.

"The fact you would chose to recognize my mother in this way speaks to the bonds she forged over many years with the people of this magnificent country," Obama told the crowd.

The U.S. president -- who lived in Indonesia for four years during his childhood -- went on to describe his mother, who died in 1995:

"She believed we all share common aspirations, to live in dignity and security, to get an education, to provide for our families, to give our children a better future, to leave the world better than we found it."

"She also believed by the way in the importance of educating girls and empowering women. She understood when we provide education to young women ... we are in fact developing the entire country."

"That is what kept my mother coming back to the country for so many years and that is the lesson she passed on to me ... I am deeply moved."


Obama also thanked his hosts for a menu that included Bakso and Nasi Goreng -- meatballs and fried rice -- two of his favorite dishes as a child in Indonesia.

"I promise it won't take so long before I come back," said Obama, who earlier today pledged to attend an Southeast Asian conference in Indonesia next year.

President Yudhoyono said, "it is my sincere hope that this visit will be a special moment for you and for Madame Michelle Obama," and that "I hope during your next visit you may consider bringing your beloved daughters Malia and Sasha."

As for the menu, Yudhoyono joked that he received "intelligence" about Obama's youthful eating habits.
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