Obama's Nobel Peace Prize
I woke up this morning to the news that Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Like for most people I'm sure, the news came as a surprise, mainly because there had been no prior rumors to the effect, or even knowledge that he had been nominated.
My first thought was that all those people who have been spitefully wishing for him to fail, in whatever endeavor he was involved in (such as his recent attempts to woo the Olympic Committee on behalf of the Chicago bid), would be gnashing their teeth in rage over this.
That's their problem.
And then surely there would be others on the opposite side of the political spectrum scratching their collective heads wondering how Obama could win such an award while escalating the level of troops involved in the Afghanistan War.
That's more complicated.
But when I asked myself who else may have been a better choice this past year, may have done more to promote and pursue peace around the world, I couldn't think of anyone else. It isn't like anyone has stood out as more deserving.
So the Nobel Committee decided instead to make a statement to encourage Obama to continue his efforts to return the U.S. to a position of diplomatic global leadership, engaging and working with the world, instead of unilaterally. This was a decision "to support what he is trying to achieve".
That's not unprecedented with this award.
Having just heard part of Obama's remarks in reaction to the announcement, I think Obama clearly recognizes the intent of the award, and accepts it as a further "call to action", and less as a suggestion that any of his goals have been achieved. Ironically, he'll receive most of the flack about the award from within - but I think he is skilled enough to not allow it to become a distraction or political liability, but rather judiciously use it to his benefit on the international diplomat front.
After all, the same people gnashing their teeth because he won the award, would be openly celebrating if they knew he had been nominated and not received the award. That small but vocal minority will seek to undermine Obama, and ridicule the Nobel Institute as they do other international institutions, but around the world, I suspect that this award will viewed much differently, and the chosen recipient will be viewed with respect for having won it.
At the end of the day, as surprises go, this is a pleasant one, much preferable to all the nasty ones we've had to suffer through in the past decade.
My first thought was that all those people who have been spitefully wishing for him to fail, in whatever endeavor he was involved in (such as his recent attempts to woo the Olympic Committee on behalf of the Chicago bid), would be gnashing their teeth in rage over this.
That's their problem.
And then surely there would be others on the opposite side of the political spectrum scratching their collective heads wondering how Obama could win such an award while escalating the level of troops involved in the Afghanistan War.
That's more complicated.
But when I asked myself who else may have been a better choice this past year, may have done more to promote and pursue peace around the world, I couldn't think of anyone else. It isn't like anyone has stood out as more deserving.
So the Nobel Committee decided instead to make a statement to encourage Obama to continue his efforts to return the U.S. to a position of diplomatic global leadership, engaging and working with the world, instead of unilaterally. This was a decision "to support what he is trying to achieve".
That's not unprecedented with this award.
Having just heard part of Obama's remarks in reaction to the announcement, I think Obama clearly recognizes the intent of the award, and accepts it as a further "call to action", and less as a suggestion that any of his goals have been achieved. Ironically, he'll receive most of the flack about the award from within - but I think he is skilled enough to not allow it to become a distraction or political liability, but rather judiciously use it to his benefit on the international diplomat front.
After all, the same people gnashing their teeth because he won the award, would be openly celebrating if they knew he had been nominated and not received the award. That small but vocal minority will seek to undermine Obama, and ridicule the Nobel Institute as they do other international institutions, but around the world, I suspect that this award will viewed much differently, and the chosen recipient will be viewed with respect for having won it.
At the end of the day, as surprises go, this is a pleasant one, much preferable to all the nasty ones we've had to suffer through in the past decade.
Posted at 10/09/2009 03:53:00 PM UTC
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1 Comment(s):
I think that the Nobel Peace Prize Committee chose Obama this year as a statement of happiness and optimism about Bush no longer being the President of the U.S.
That's fine. I like Obama and I wish him success in all his endeavors.
However, I would have liked them to choose someone less well known just for the sake of playing a role of shining a light where it isn't already being shone. There are thousands of people all over the world risking their lives to promote peace. Of those thousands there are hundreds of remarkable human beings. Of those hundreds there are scores of downright amazing people. This Peace Prize should have gone to one of those unheralded amazing people.
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