I woke up to a shocker this morning. President Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize! The nominations were February 1st, only 12 days after he was sworn into office. Other nominees were President Sarkozy of France, who proposed the cease fire plan for the Gaza Strip, and as the EU President proposed a progressive energy package to reduce carbon emissions. Or Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Columbian senate candidate, who was kidnapped and held captive by Marxist nationals for 6 1/2 years. Or Dr. Denis Mukwege, the only Congo gynecological doctor who has treated 21,000 women suffering from devastating gynecological injuries as a result of rape in Congo's brutal war.
Geir Lundestad, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, said today that President Obama was awarded the prize because "he has emphasized multilateral diplomacy, he has addressed international institutions, dialogue negotiations. He has inspired the world with his vision of a world without nuclear arms. He has changed the U.S. policy dramatically. There's a whole list."
Previous winners are recognizable symbols of peace, Martin Luther King, Jr, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Theresa. Muhammad Yunus was the 2006 winner, for their establishing of the Grameen Bank, which instituted the micro credit loans to help women pull their families out of poverty. Other winners have been awarded the prize because of their efforts in the green peace movement. Al Gore in 2007 and Wangari Maathai in 2004 for her Green Belt Movement in Kenya.
My take: In reading several statements by the Norwegian Nobel Institute, and others who are giving their congratulations across the world including former winners, used the words like "anticipates an even greater contribution" or "Nobel committee hopes the award will enhance his moral authority" or "he gave hope". I didn't read any actual policies enacted, treaties written, or international actions taken, which validate this award. Lech Walesa, who won the prize in 1983, spoke for many with his reaction. "Obama? So fast? Too fast - he hasn’t had the time to do anything yet," the former Polish president told reporters in Warsaw. Michael Cox, a North America expert at the Chatham House thinktank, said: "It is difficult to see why it would be awarded to him at this stage in his presidency. There are problems in the Middle East and an ongoing war in Afghanistan. You could say it is a little bit premature." Why did President Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize? Hope. Hope for peace. Let's see how far this "hope" takes us. How will this affect his policies in Afghanistan and Iraq? Is the world setting the US up for great accomplishments or tragic failure? In reading over several of the other nominees, I believe they were far more deserving. They are doing the day-to-day grind, hard work, in actually being the change. President Obama may be the spokesman for change, but I have not seen anything more than words. Now the question may be, will he follow Al Gore's footsteps and this be the first of future awards? Oscars? Grammys? World's Best Dad?
6 comments:
I knew you would post on this!
I think Obama could eventually do enough to deserve this, but he has not done anything concrete to deserve this yet.
Yes he has given some speaches, but he hasn't gotten anything accomplished yet.
I wish him well and hope he does stuff in the future deserving of this.
I'm with you on this Sarah. I am not disputing on whether or not Obama could eventually be awarded this recognition, but it is just too soon. Let's award those who have the record to show that they have done something, not for something they hope they will do. I am also not disputing that Obama hasn't motivated people and given "hope" to people, but actions do speak louder than words, or they usually do. It seems that Obama has broken this saying because with him Words speak louder than actions. Maybe one day he will earn this prize he has been prematurely given.....we'll see.
I hope he can live up to the legacy that people are building for him already.
I just wonder how much the other world leaders are irritated by him! Those who have been on the world stage much longer, and made more of the tough decision he will face in the next 3 years (or 7). The analogy of the new kid in high school came to mind. The one that shows up, and within a day is a starter quarterback, head cheerleader as his girlfriend, and the teachers nominate him as homecoming king. How much do the other guys HATE him? It will be interesting to see if the other world leaders will be that much harder on him because of all of his instant popularity.
But it is nice to have someone in office that is getting international respect.
By the way, out of curiosity I've scoured the web to see other's opinions. Here were several of the poll results I found, when asked "Was Barack Obama deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize?"
CNN:
Yes: 44%
No: 56%
MSNBC:
Yes: 24%
No:61%
Not Yet: 13%
Guardian (UK)
Yes: 31%
No: 69%
The majority of the comments on Australia's national news website, France's, and Germany's were that it is ridiculous and not only premature, but an insult to those others who were nominated. It was actually very interesting getting outsiders' perspectives.
Obama supporter here. But when I saw that Denis Mukwege was also nominated I decided that, No, Obama does not deserve the NPP over this man. I have read about the horrible things the women Mr. Mukwege is helping have had to endure and he is an angel on earth for doing what he is doing. It's a shame he wasn't recognized.
I agree, there were people more qualified, but he didn't exactly lobby for it.
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