Obama's Nobel Peace Prize is Well Deserved
Yes, President Obama does deserve The Nobel Peace Prize.
He was given the unenviable task of repairing America's broken image with European allies, and with the heads of emerging nations. Yes, it's still early, but here's the truth: in ten months under Obama, America's image in the world is decidedly better than it was under the previous president.
This is not supposition, but fact. International and regional polls confirm this.
And how has Obama done it mostly? With soft power - this was sorely lacking in the hard power-heavy approach of President George W. Bush. The world was certainly impressed with Obama's great inaugural speech, and his powerful declaration, "We will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." These are not the words of a pacifist, but in fact, a peace advocate.
No president ever went on a lengthy European Tour to meet with the heads of state and engage the citizens in town hall meetings. This has never happened. Don't tell me you weren't impressed with his hour long discussion with Turkish students. And please don't tell me you weren't impressed with his riveting speech to Egyptian students at Cairo University.
But even more compelling is this assertion: America should be honored by Obama's Nobel Peace Prize because we elected him, and his diplomatic and measured approach is what clearly impressed the Nobel Committee.
But his critics claim that he only won because of his soaring speeches, and not his accomplishments. This is a ridiculous claim. I see people have forgotten Huffpost Blogger Ilan Goldenberg's awesome post on Obama's 100 foreign policy achievements in just his first 100 days. So this madness about "what has he done" must stop.
As for Obama's words ... every fight for human dignity is imbued with impassioned words. Susan B. Anthony's words provided momentum to the women's suffrage movement. Martin Luther King's words provided momentum to the civil right movement. Anthony and King were beaten, spit on, ostracized, jailed, and demeaned in the mainstream press. But their words (speeches, books, letters, and protest chants) provided the spark and lasting sustenance for the movements of which they were apart.
Yes, words are powerful. Obama's words are powerful. And in just ten months, the world believes Obama's achievements also merit some recognition. But the award is not just for him. It's also for this country. You would think the "country first" crowd of the last election would at least see that.
After all, many of these "country first" activists cheered wildly when Chicago lost the Olympics, and they have been absolutely disgusting in attacking Obama for just about anything.
Consider this: our president and his family receive over 30 death threats a day (a day!) yet that hasn't shaken the Obamas' belief that we live a great country. Those town hall meetings and Tea Party gatherings had nasty conspiracy theories and ugliness from many right wingers, but Obama still believes in bi-partisanship and reaching out. Yes, still, after all of that. Clearly, this is a man of peace - both nationally and internationally. Again, not a pacifist, but a peace advocate. He wants the people of the world to work together, for the people of the United States to work together, and I can't say I disagree with him on that.
I see his award as a recognition of what he has worked very hard to do globally (and succeeded to a degree), and, a push for him to go even farther, and achieve even more. So it doesn't say "Obama has arrived" as much as it says "Obama is on the right track". Our president earns his keep every minute of the day, and we must make sure it continues. Arianna Huffington wrote in January that Obama wasn't the only one being inaugurated - that we all are. Likewise, Obama didn't just win the Nobel Peace Prize - we all did. I am happy that we all - in this multi-ethnic, multi-racial nation - share this incredible honor.
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Beautifully written, 2morrowknight. Your insights and sentiments are held by many in the blogosphere and millions in the U.S. and around the world. Most importantly, they are also held by the Nobel Peace Prize Commission.
This piece is not only well-written and articulate, it's dead on. President Obama has given new possibilities to a world that only a year ago was defined by conflict. The committee noticed, among many other things, more movement on the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue in the past nine months than was achieved throughout the entire Bush administration. In December, the President will go to Oslo to accept this honor, which includes $1.4 Million--all of which he plans to donate to charity. He's not planning to score big by buying a major league baseball team with the earnings. Instead, he's chosen to become an advocate for peace. Globally. No zero-sum game strategy in this administration.
I'd like to point out that nominations were early February! Everyone is basing this on his presidency. Although I feel he's done well in many areas, and not so well in others, his pre-election actions stand for themselves. He HAS given many people a renewed hope in the possibilities for peace. I don't like his actions in Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan and with regards to his failure to close Guantanamo (the shame of the US) but he's working on many other areas that I hope to come to fruition.
Great article 2morrowknight. Too bad your lefty friends want to take him down a couple of knotches with their "What about me marches and postings", maybe not as far down as the right with their "he's the illegitimate president, and we want him to fail", but down nevertheless. The right is just salvating, wanting you to keep up the pressure on him, so you guys who are disenchanted, just keep the the rights job.
Keep HOPE alive.
Thank You Sir, very well said. Those who think that they are (superior) to others, are the "madness". There would have been no need for the (GOD OF HEAVEN) to bless (PRESIDENT OBAMA) with the (NOBEL PEACE PRIZE), if (unjustifiable wars) were not launched on him (everyday). That is just how the (GOD OF HEAVEN) operates, when others are nothing short of (mean), (nasty) and (filthy) to anyone who is (PEACE) loving toward (everybody). They (love) what is (wrong) and (hate) what is (right). Unfortunately for some, it is going to take them entering (HELL), before they (see), that the (GOD OF HEAVEN) is the (ONLY), [SUPERIOR BEING].
You.......... Betcha!!!!!!
Amen and Amen!
Though two enemies of America are joining forces: Taliban and Republicans--who Rush Limbaugh says are united in agreement against America.
Excellent article...thank you 2morrowknight! Congratulations Mr. President and to we the People!!
To you I say--right on! Obama 's Prize is about what's hoped for! I will not join detractors who see this negatively. Frankly some are just plain jealous. Think about it-- eight months in office, and No 44 is a topic of discussion in every corner of the globe. Awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdqdsWR_hhI
Excellent!
I, for one, think the award to Obama was the BEST choice they could make.
Who else in this world has been more instrumental in influencing a global move back to rational thought, discussion, and cooperation and away from bellicose, me-first, short-sighted individualism?
At its best, the Nobel Peace Prize is a big picture award - not so much focused on a long list of smaller accomplishments - but certainly in this case, focused on how many minds have been changed in a positive way. This prize is more inspirational than aspirational. Obama has inspired the world to have renewed faith in the ultimate morality and righteousness of The United States of America. What achievement could be more important in the modern cause of global peace than that? It’s OUR responsibility to live up to that promise, not just HIS. HE represents US.
The negative reaction here in the US is just more partisan, provincial sore losership. Those who criticize should remember what country they're Citizens of, and stop acting like fractious Middle Eastern extremists focused on the division of our unity. The election is over - and 70% of the country chose the winner.
For my part, I'm happy to be a part of the vast, silent but solid, moral majority of proud Americans who congratulate our President on this distinction, and who will work to help all of us EARN the respect that our President has already inspired.
The haters will never agree.
Since when does giving speeches amount to "doing absolutely nothing"? Isn't Reagan still celebrated for his "tear down this wall" speech?
Yeah, but he didn't win squat, did he?
I am a Norwegian and I am embarassed that the Nobel committee again has given the prize to a world leader who does not deserve the prize. Don't get me wrong - I am a big fan of Obama, and maybe one day he would even deserve the prize - who knows. But it should take more than a few months of good intentions from a powerful world leader to win the Nobel Peace Prize. And of course - he knows it himself. Shameful.
Part ONE
I am an American and an African American/Native American woman. When this president won the election the tone of my nation changed historically. He won an election in a country that began with the birth pangs of slavery and Jim Crow law that denied equal opportunity of all of its citizens. YOU and others .....may see his historical win into the White House as an insignificant gesture of movement...I seen it as a heck of a testament to the progressive and possibilities of my country potential to strive toward a more leveled plain-field and ushered in a moment in November 4, 2009 that for a single matter of seconds...for a microwave minute...the majority of this country functioned in a post racial climate. Never ever happened before in the hundred of years of its existence. Now that is quite an achievement. Perhaps I see it from a totally different perspective having been in this country that still struggles with race and yet this man was able to suspend those long rooted fears and apprehension and had a multitudes of people from all racial and economic background...rally around him in full support.
Part TWO
And that took placer BEFORE the incredible speeches he made to the global world seeking to engage the rest of the world...who had been kept at arms length by the previous administration. To reach out to the Muslim nation and to encourage leaders to work together...may be an insignificant gesture...but for my perspective and enlightened mind having seen first hand the stench of racism in this country...to emerge as the First African American President...is in fact....an accomplishment all by itself WITHOUT the so much as a single word uttered to the global world. And before you minimize speech...let's all remember that words are powerful. Words can assassinate a soul. Words can heal a wounded heart. Words can create a hostile environment that can in fact led to actions of war. AND WORDS can create a harvest field where seeds of good will can be planted and pave the way to PEACE. Words have impact and consequences. Words precedes actions for without a thought ....action can not be orchestrated and put into motion.
As I see it, the election of President Obama changed the prospects for peace all over the world, changed the primary stance of one Superpower from armed belligerance to diplomatic engagement, and promised American respect for peoples and nations.
Americas hostility to the world melted. Ideological "telling" became "talking with". This is...rather...an important change in the country with most of the world's armaments.
President Obama has already done what is required of a Nobel Prize laureate--he has made straight the way of peace.
tobben:
Umm...let's see what President Obama did before getting elected and his accomplishments after being sworn in as President of the United States. Shall we?
Please feel free to share the list below with perfect and imperfect strangers. Spread the word!
3/18/8 – Obama caught world-wide attention for his moving speech on race relations
7/24/8 - Obama lays the foundation for a new era of international relations and began inspiring renewed hope in American leadership during his campaign speech in Berlin
11/6/8 – Obama’s victory was hailed as a promise of hope for the world.
12/1/8 – Obama began plans to restore U.N. ambassador to cabinet rank.
1/22/9 - Appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East peace
1/22/9 – Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay
1/22/9 – Ordered comprehensive review of detention policies
1/22/9 – Prohibited use of torture
1/22/9 - Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons
1/23/9 – Lifted “Global Gag Rule” on international health groups
1/26/9 – Began to address climate change by increasing fuel standards for automobiles
1/26/9 – Appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change
1/27/9 - Signs Lily Ledbetter “Fair Pay” Act
2/1/9 – Expanded healthcare for children by signing SCHIP
2/5/9 - Again addressed energy conservation by increasing standards for appliances.
signed the Lillie Ledbetter Act.
This is an excellent well-written, well-reasoned, and well-thought-out posting. It is a shame that we {liberals/progressives/Democrats/whatever-you-like} seem to be preaching only to the choir {writing and speaking only to our like-minded compatriots}.
And ditto for our counterparts on the conservative/Republican/whatever-they-like side.
Every day looks a bit more like Hate Week of 1984. Perhaps Orwell merely got the year wrong?
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