How fascinating that Obama just won the Nobel Peace Prize!
Here’s my first reaction: As the New York Times pointed out, this seems like a direct rebuff of Dick Cheney and all the other politicians who have criticized Obama for being naive and overly optimistic. It seems like the Nobel committee is saying, “We are all of us desperate for thoughtfulness. Please, Mr. President, keep it up.”
I mean, I know the committee is saying that the award is being given for what he’s already done, not what he might do, and yes, just by attempting to launch his international programs (not to mention his health care bill), he really has done something concrete to announce that the United States will now be leading a new type of conversation.
But by giving him this prize at the beginning of his tenure, isn’t the committee also saying that they want the world to water the seeds he has planted? When something new and beautiful shoots up through the ground, you have to tend to it, or it will die, The Nobel Prize could convince some people (a lot of people?) to get down in the dirt and take care of what is struggling into life.
And yes, I’m sure there are people in our country and around the world who are pissed about this. (I haven’t read that many websites this morning), but even if they don’t agree with the specifics of Obama’s policies and arguments, I hope they can see this award as a testament to Obama’s style. He and his administration have largely avoided the partisan hysteria that’s been the norm in our country for years, and they’ve modeled grown up behavior. Maybe even Obama’s detractors can see the Nobel as proof that, no matter what you believe, levelheaded, open-minded diplomacy is always valuable. That it really is an engine for peace.
Deep breath.
I’m feeling emotional that our sitting president has been declared a beacon for peace. The fact that anyone would say that about the American president means America is once again becoming the kind of place I’m proud to call home. Let this prize become the latest touchstone in a massive shift in our nation. Let us all become people who can be worthy of what the prize represents.
ETA: So, okay. I’ve digested this information a bit, and while I do still hope the things I mentioned above actually come to pass, I’m also developing a bit more skepticism. A colleague suggests that the prize could also be seen as putting political pressure on the United States to refrain from launching a war against Iran. Maybe. I can see it.
Another colleague mentions that the prize loses something when it can be read so obviously as a political statement. I’m not sure I agree with that. When isn’t a peace prize a political statement? And if the Nobel committee wants to use its highly visible platform to push forward its agenda, then more power to them. (Especially since I agree with them! Ha!)
5 responses so far ↓
1 InfoMofo // Oct 9, 2009 at 10:44 am
Nobel Prize Expansion Project!
…
Please Don’t.
2 Rey // Oct 9, 2009 at 10:57 am
I’ve never considered Nobel Prizes to be in recognition of specific individuals, rather what they or their work represents or contributes to the world at large. That’s just my view.
I’ve already heard one political analyst suggest (and I’m paraphrasing) that after the last administration, even John McCain would have also been the recipient because the world is just so ecstatic to see Bush/Cheney out that it doesn’t matter who would have followed, it couldn’t get any worse.
I also think the Nobel committee recognizes our government (the senate, in particular) is so much in the strangle hold of corporations and special interests that even a President is often powerless to make the changes that are needed, so though seemingly premature, this is actually the perfect time to award this prize. If Obama pulls off the near impossible and overcomes Wall $treet, big pharma, the insurance companies, racism/xenophobia, etc. to fulfill his campaign promises, he won’t need the prize. He needs it now in order to help us all overcome all those powerful interests and obstacles to everything the prize honors and stands for.
Instead of the committee sitting back and waiting for the accomplishment to be complete, this is a bold move at a critical time to help make sure it happens, while it can still make a difference.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and we need people suiting up and getting in the game, not just cheering from the sidelines. I believe history will regard this time, right now, as a major turning point in US and global history where we either begin or prevent our decline a la the Roman Empire. (Read your history, folks, it’s all repeating itself.)
The prize honors the efforts of our nation, not the President. We put him there. It’s for us and we need it to help get us back on the rails.
3 Jeff C // Oct 9, 2009 at 10:57 am
I disagree, Mark. I believe Obama is probably embarassed that he received this award at this point in his presidency. He has been faithful to a host of Bush policies and has no material successes in foriegn policy (so far). The award should highlight accomplishment, not simply potential.
I believe this award is about two things: first, a slap at Bush, Cheney, et al.; and second, a way to paint Obama into a corner by stamping him with the halo of a Nobel Peace Prize. They are trying to ensure he does not stray from his campaign rhetoric. Fortunately, Obama does not answer to the Nobel panel – he answers to us.
This award will not benefit the President. When he sends more troops to Afghanistan, and potentially uses force against other nations, it will make him look hypocritical, particularly to liberals. The award also bolsters the long-held, and growing, view that Obama is all hype, no substance. This was Hillary’s endless frustration – she had an accomplished career, had fought in the trenches, and knew the players; he had some great speeches. So far, that’s still an accurate recap of Obama’s accomplishments. If he is smart, he will decline the award and ask to be reconsidered at the end of his career.
4 Mark Fifer // Oct 10, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Hear, hear, and amen, brother!!!
I love the sowing seeds and watering the earth analogy. That is dead on. Here’s to better America.
5 ferretrick // Oct 11, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I’m going back and forth on this one. For one thing, simply the fact that he’s the first African American elected President of the free world is a stunning accomplishment. Certainly that must have seemed like a pipe dream in 1964, when Martin Luther King won the Peace Prize. There’s something to be said for giving that alone recognition.
OTOH, I can’t see where his administration has yet accomplished that much to merit such an award, and I think it is a move to create political pressure.
Whatever their intentions, this will backfire as I have already seen conservative friends deriding this. What they’ve done is given the Right one more weapon to use to paint Obama as just a charismatic personality, rather than a true leader. Obama would be very smart to respectfully decline the award.
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