On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, and in describing what he wanted as the criteria for the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, he wrote that it should be awarded to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
President Obama has eliminated torture on the part of United States military and intelligence personnel, he has pledged to close Guantanamo Bay and is making progress on that pledge, especially with the recent news that prisoners there will be allowed to be tried in U.S. courtrooms, he has pulled forces back in Iraq on the way to a complete withdrawal, and he has – successfully – begun talks with Iran about their nuclear program.
Are the two wars he inherited won or over? Of course not. Has he fixed the economic quagmire he inherited? Nope, hasn’t done that either, although the stock market did record its highest close of 2009 today. Has he brought peace to the Middle East? No, not yet, and he may not succeed at that, but nor has any other president since 1948.
What he has done is significantly opened up and fostered good will for international diplomacy. In the nearly nine months that he’s been president he’s traveled to thirty-one countries, more nations in the first (not quite) year of his presidency than any previous occupant of the office. He has told the world that America wants to listen and talk to the rest of the world, that we wish not to dictate how their countries should be organized, but that we wish to partner with them, and to be their friends.
The Taliban and Rush Limbaugh both agreed that Mr. Obama didn’t deserve the prize. He hadn’t earned it, they said. But Mr. Obama, in his speech this morning indicating that he would accept the prize, said, “I do not view it [receiving the prize] as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations. To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize.” He has said that he will donate the $1.4 million cash award to charity.
Mr. Obama understands that the award is meant to motivate, to catalyze actions towards peace in the months and years to come. He has been advocating for a nuclear weapon free world. He has been willing to talk to enemies as well as friends, something for which he was ridiculed during last year’s campaign, but something for which the majority of Americans voted.
Mr. Obama has not yet accomplished much of what he has set out to accomplish, but he is on his way, and the world is listening. The world’s view of the United States of America has undergone a major shift for the better because of Mr. Obama’s election, and it is likely that, as much as anything else, that explains why he was honored with a Nobel Peace Prize this morning. It is an honor that looks to the future, that embraces his message of hope and optimism, and that understands that things don’t change overnight, but that this sort of recognition might help move the rest of the world to be more eager to work with this young, vibrant president to forge a better future for all of us and for our children.
I salute and congratulate you, President Obama. God speed. Do us proud.
Namaste.
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ReplyDeleteSorry Brian, I need to disagree with your post. The nominations were closed 11 days after Obama took office and voting closed 30 days later. At that point he had not had the opportunity to work on the economy issues (many brought forth by a democratic controlled HoR (since November 16, 2006)who actually controls the checkbook)or to acomplish any of his other "promises."
ReplyDeleteI believe his selection has deminished the award.
A much better choice would have been either Hu Jia or the Cluster Munitions Coalition.
Chinese dissident Hu Jia was the European Parliament's 2008 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. He promotes the urgent need for rights reforms in China. Another better choice would have been the Cluster Munitions Coalition. This group is responsible for getting nearly 100 countries to sign a treaty last year. These are finite actions and not "just words."
You may remember last year's winner. He was former Finnish president and career diplomat Martti Ahtisaari awarded for his efforts on several continents, over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.
What a difference between giving the award for saying and doing.
Hey Chris,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts... You are, of course, not alone in thinking Mr. Obama undeserving of this honor, and, frankly, as I think on it further, it seems to me that it might do him as much (or more) harm than good. Many deserving people, including Gandhi (for crying out loud), have been overlooked by the Nobel Prize committee, for reasons that I can't fathom. I suppose part of what fueled what I wrote on Friday was what seemed to me like a lot of knee-jerk anti-Obama sentiment that was being expressed, much of which implied that Obama himself somehow had something to do with his having been chosen, which is, of course, utter nonsense.
You make very good points, and again, I appreciate your comment and most especially your taking time to read my blog.
Respectfully,
Brian