"The the United States is a melting pot of any nations you can name it on earth," said Baswedan. "It's there. Same like Indonesia, we have hundreds of languages and we live under the same principle unity in diversity."

Some reasons for negative views of U.S. in Muslim countries

:

Indonesian views of the United States have been tempered by what many say has been the lack of change in U.S. foreign policy toward the Muslim world. Critics say there has been little progress in ending the ongoing U.S. military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And President Obama's refusal to strongly condemn Israel after it attacked a flotilla carrying activists and aid to the blockaded Palestinian city of Gaza, angered demonstrators like university student Sahid Sundana.

He says President Obama has to prevent Israel from doing this kind of thing, and not to protect or cover up for Israel.

Baswedan says there is growing concern that President Obama cannot live up to high expectations Indonesians have set for him.

"We are seeing the same one who has legitimacy on both sides of the world and able to capitalize those, but the progress we have seen is rather minimal," Baswedan said.

Baswedan says the personal affection Indonesians hold for President Obama and the United States will not last if he does not deliver on his promise of change.