Obama's Unusual Nobel Peace Prize Just Right for Unusual Times

Yes, it's unusual for the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded early in someone's career, as is the case with President Barack Obama. But these are unusual times.

In making the award, the Nobel Committee emphasized Obama's leadership in creating a new international climate, and they particularly called out his role in the areas of nuclear proliferation and climate change.

These two are not just any issues. If nuclear weapons spread around the world, or if climate change accelerates into runaway mode, all of human civilization is in danger. This simply isn't the case with most other issues of our time.

In the case of both climate change and nuclear proliferation, we still have time to avert disaster -- but not a lot of time. Either one could reach dangerous thresholds relatively soon.

In both cases, the U.S. has a large responsibility for the impending crisis. We were, until recently, the largest source of greenhouse gases. We developed the first atom bombs, currently stockpile the most, and we have failed to comply with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which requires the nuclear powers to reduce and eventually eliminate their weapons stockpiles. But we are also central to the solutions.

The people of the world have everything at stake in these two issues. It's no wonder that the Nobel Peace Committee would want to encourage an embattled U.S. president who is trying to do the right thing. After eight years of neocon recklessness, there's a lot of catch-up to do. President Obama has the goodwill of most of the world (with the notable exception of the Taliban, Rush Limbaugh, and a few others, who would defeat the U.S. president no matter what the cost).

When I see this move on the part of the Nobel Committee, I see a world willing to give the U.S. a chance to be great -- a world that's actually desperate for real U.S. leadership on the crises that threaten us all.

"Maybe [the Nobel Peace Prize] can represent some sort of encouragement and bring some added support to his cause," said Geir Lundestad, Norwegian Nobel committee secretary in a video release.

In unusual times, we need all the encouragement for peace that we can get.

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Comments

[joseph7384]

Yes, it's unusual for the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded early in someone's career, but if anyone deserves it, its president Obama, He has done so much in such a short period of time. This is a great article on the the presidents Nobel Peace Prize award.

[Roshan Sival]

Obama has brought the change which is needed in these unusual times. he desrves every bit of it.

[Mutraw]

Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to someone early in his or her career is not unusual, and certainly it is not the first time. Back in 1991, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the same Peace Prize simply for bringing back hope to the people of Burma and what she did at the time was by returning from UK to attend to her ailing mother. She had yet to even begin a career as politician or Burma's public servant. She was absent from Burma most part of her life. But, what she did was significant for the people of that doomed nation - reviving their hope. And, she was awarded the Prize just for it. Now, President Obama has restored majority of the world's population's hope. Hope matters. With hope, we continue on. Hope is as much a substance for our living and thriving as the food we consume. For that, the President has been recognized. Well deserved Prize, Mr. President! The fusses are more of hatred, jealousy, and distrust. Perhaps, also of limited understanding of the Nobel Prize itself. We did not fuss back in 1991. Why now? Burma continues to host an internal armed conflict in which its ethnic minorities are the main and only target. The war began back in 1949 and remain well alive to this date.

[JohnMeadows]

"When I see this move on the part of the Nobel Committee, I see a world willing to give the U.S. a chance to be great--a world that's actually desperate for real U.S. leadership on the crises that threaten us all."

Even in columns such as this one, the American propensity for narcissism comes through loud and clear. This is no different than what I heard Jerry Falwell say once: "America, for all it's faults, is the only hope the world has."

Why should the rest of the world look to the U.S. for leadership, when the U.S. is so far behind the curve in areas such as recognizing healthcare as a basic human right, as opposed to a vehicle for greed? For justice when still counts so many brutal regimes as allies, for peace while U.S. troops are still in Iraq?

Obama so far has nothing but words to his credit. He has brokered no peace deals, closed no prison camps, decommissioned no nuclear weapons. He is a branding concept, nothing more.

Three key beliefs are central to all empires: firstly, that God has ordained their greatness, secondly, that their empire is the greatest the world has ever know, and finally that their empire will be the one to last forever. Until the U.S. understands that these beliefs are false, transformational change that truly merits a Nobel price, will not be driven nor lead by the U.S.

[SAGMUN]

The issue isn't whether Obama deserves The Nobel Peace Prize, but whether the people who voted for him do. Their pro-votes came from their hearts not like the anti-votes that came from dark the "souls" of the neo-cons

Do we laud the first step of a toddler or do we wait 17 years later for an Olympic Gold Award?

Whether we like or not, each one of of us a member of an extended family called America. Are we family or not?

These are the questions you should ask yourself.

[doctarr]

What the hell?

Isn't Barack the one who said yes WE can...

That's our Nobel Peace Prize too. Where the hell is my invite?

[EddietheInfidel]

As if Mr. Obama needed any additional pressure on him to perform on his campaign promises. Now as Peace Prize laureate, he'll be expected to not only deliver on his rhetoric, but to be "exceptional" in doing so.

I wonder how disappointed the Norwegian Nobel committee will be when the next Predator strike kills "innocent civilians" that just happened to be hanging around an Al Queda compound, when he's forced to impose harsher sanctions on Iran that do nothing to change the mind of the regime and merely cause further suffering of the populace, or when his influence in bringing peace to the Levant falls apart.

Congratulations, Mr. President, and good luck.

[patilee]

I was always taught that the Nobel Peace prize, or any Nobel prize, was for achievements. Is it now for expectations? Or maybe bribes? President Obama is an intelligent, honest man that can achieve great things. However, he has yet to do that. I voted for him and am expecting great things.....waiting.