Stunning
President Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize.
No, that's not a headline from the Onion. President Obama, nine months into his administration, has indeed won what I consider to be the most prestigious award in the world.
To say I am surprised would not do justice to my eyes, which are still spinning in my head. I am stunned, perhaps even shocked. After all, the US is still engaged in two wars, one of which Mr. Obama promised during his campaign could, should, and would be won. What on earth were the committee members thinking?
Well, here's what they had to say:
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."
The committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.
"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said.
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."
The committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.
"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said.
I am tempted to say, "In other words, he is not George W. Bush."
That, however, is not really fair, either to President Obama or to the prestigious committee which issued the award. President Obama has brought the world some of the change he promised during his campaign. He has reached out to Muslims. He has engaged in diplomatic efforts with nations this country has long considered enemies too dangerous to even speak to in terms other than military threats. And he has turned to our allies and to key international organizations such as the United Nations and asked them to join the US in those diplomatic efforts.
Generally the Nobel Prize is awarded to those who have devoted more than nine months to the cause of world peace and who have accomplished at least some part of their visions. President Obama's award might be a bit premature in that regard, but perhaps the Nobel committee took that into consideration. Perhaps the committee is using the award as a goad, pushing him into the role of peace maker he has not yet fully embraced.
We'll see just how much President Obama deserved this award soon: he must make some hard decisions with respect to Afghanistan and the Palestine-Israeli issues. If he cannot grow into the award, then the committee will have made a mistake, one that will sadden the world and cheapen Alfred Nobel's greatest contribution.
No, that's not a headline from the Onion. President Obama, nine months into his administration, has indeed won what I consider to be the most prestigious award in the world.
To say I am surprised would not do justice to my eyes, which are still spinning in my head. I am stunned, perhaps even shocked. After all, the US is still engaged in two wars, one of which Mr. Obama promised during his campaign could, should, and would be won. What on earth were the committee members thinking?
Well, here's what they had to say:
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."
The committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.
"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said.
"Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population."
The committee said it attached special importance to Obama's vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.
"Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play," the committee said.
I am tempted to say, "In other words, he is not George W. Bush."
That, however, is not really fair, either to President Obama or to the prestigious committee which issued the award. President Obama has brought the world some of the change he promised during his campaign. He has reached out to Muslims. He has engaged in diplomatic efforts with nations this country has long considered enemies too dangerous to even speak to in terms other than military threats. And he has turned to our allies and to key international organizations such as the United Nations and asked them to join the US in those diplomatic efforts.
Generally the Nobel Prize is awarded to those who have devoted more than nine months to the cause of world peace and who have accomplished at least some part of their visions. President Obama's award might be a bit premature in that regard, but perhaps the Nobel committee took that into consideration. Perhaps the committee is using the award as a goad, pushing him into the role of peace maker he has not yet fully embraced.
We'll see just how much President Obama deserved this award soon: he must make some hard decisions with respect to Afghanistan and the Palestine-Israeli issues. If he cannot grow into the award, then the committee will have made a mistake, one that will sadden the world and cheapen Alfred Nobel's greatest contribution.
Labels: Change
posted by Diane at 4:03 AM
2 Comments:
Exactly my sentiments.
Let's hope he continues to be worthy of the promise that is inherent in this award.
[But it sure is wonderful to enjoy after the Righties crowed over the loss of the Olympics last week, using that as proof that the world rejects Mr. Obama.]
That prize lost it's lustre when henry-the-K (for killer) got it.
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