The Nobel Peace Prize: A Recognition of Hope or Premature Prognostication?
Obama: Nobel or No go?
So, Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. This news came as a surprise to most people. After all, there were 205 nominees. As critics of Obama have pointed out, Obama hasn't really done anything.
At first, I agreed with them. Apart from running a killer campaign and giving a decent apology tour, Obama has not done much more than any other president. However, after further research into the prize itself, I have revised my opinion.
The Nobel Peace Prize isn't actually so much a prize as a vote of confidence. When people hear the word "prize," they think "reward."
However, that's not just how the Nobel Peace Prize works. If it was, half the people who have won it would never have been decorated.
Winning the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't mean that an individual has in fact beaten unsurpassed odds. The 1991 winner Aung San Suu Kyi is actually house bound, as her cause rages on beyond her control. Although she was elected as the Prime Minister of Burma leading the National League for Democracy party, she was unable to assume her role due to her subsequent detention by the military junta.
However, she served as an example of someone who has stood bravely for peace and moved other people to stand with her. For Obama personally, the award is a commendation for managing to convince the most powerful country in the world that he could truly serve as a leader. He adhered to his ideals concerning nuclear proliferation. As with much of the press surrounding electoral contests and Obama, debate over whether or not he merits the prize serves as a mere distraction from the real issue at hand.
The real issue is not "Did Obama deserve to win the Nobel Prize?" The real issue is that: if the world has now openly vested its trust in Obama (and America by default), what are we doing to repay that trust?
You wouldn't know it from the press (I didn't until it was brought to my attention by a professor's e-mail), but as Brown and Sarkozy stood behind Obama after the G-20 they were fuming.
At first, I agreed with them. Apart from running a killer campaign and giving a decent apology tour, Obama has not done much more than any other president. However, after further research into the prize itself, I have revised my opinion.
The Nobel Peace Prize isn't actually so much a prize as a vote of confidence. When people hear the word "prize," they think "reward."
However, that's not just how the Nobel Peace Prize works. If it was, half the people who have won it would never have been decorated.
Winning the Nobel Peace Prize doesn't mean that an individual has in fact beaten unsurpassed odds. The 1991 winner Aung San Suu Kyi is actually house bound, as her cause rages on beyond her control. Although she was elected as the Prime Minister of Burma leading the National League for Democracy party, she was unable to assume her role due to her subsequent detention by the military junta.
However, she served as an example of someone who has stood bravely for peace and moved other people to stand with her. For Obama personally, the award is a commendation for managing to convince the most powerful country in the world that he could truly serve as a leader. He adhered to his ideals concerning nuclear proliferation. As with much of the press surrounding electoral contests and Obama, debate over whether or not he merits the prize serves as a mere distraction from the real issue at hand.
The real issue is not "Did Obama deserve to win the Nobel Prize?" The real issue is that: if the world has now openly vested its trust in Obama (and America by default), what are we doing to repay that trust?
You wouldn't know it from the press (I didn't until it was brought to my attention by a professor's e-mail), but as Brown and Sarkozy stood behind Obama after the G-20 they were fuming.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Tommy
posted 10/16/09 @ 5:14 AM EST
Please let me correct some facts about Myanmar. Daw Aung San Su Kyii was never elected, and thus never been selected as Prime Minster because she was barred from entering the election by an election law drawn by her late father. (Continued…)
Rachid
posted 10/16/09 @ 5:41 AM EST
http://inspirationwriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/do-all-people-seek-peace.html
Joe
posted 10/16/09 @ 11:21 PM EST
If this is your reasoning ' For Obama personally, the award is a commendation for managing to convince the most powerful country in the world that he could truly serve as a leader. (Continued…)
Jose Martinez
posted 10/17/09 @ 9:52 AM EST
Obama's Nobel funds should be donated to the U.S. government to pay for his two Air Force 1 Scandanavian trips (Copenhagen - failed plug for Chicago Olympics) and Oslo - to pick up his $ 1. (Continued…)
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