I woke up this morning and checked what was happening with the news. Standard morning ritual especially when it's 55 degrees outside and cold inside this house. I opened my browser and the banner on CNN declares "Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize."
What. The. Hell.
I read up on various reactions and news reports about this. Later on, the President gave his remarks at the Rose Garden. The whole time, my reaction ranged from initially of one of completed surprise to questioning why eh received the prize to researching the entire Nobel Peace Prize issue on Wikipedia and then finally to gradual acceptance, similar to how one would deal with breaking up with a girlfriend.
First, a little research regarding past winners of the Nobel Peace Prize:
1984 - Desmond Tutu received the
1984 Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in efforts to abolish apartheid in South Africa. Apartheid was not officially abolished in South Africa until 1994, a full decade after Tutu received the prize.
1994 - Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Yasser Arafat received the
1994 Prize for the efforts in resolving to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The conflict continues to this day. This citation was notable for its inclusion of Yasser Arafat, a controversial figure in his own right.
2002 - Former President Jimmy Carter received the
2002 Prize. It was a recognition of his efforts to resolve international conflicts with peaceful solutions and his work in human rights. The Carter Center has continue its work in helping eradicate diseases as well as monitoring elections.
2007 - The IPCC and Al Gore both jointly received the
2007 Prize for their efforts in educating the public and combating climate change. Gore is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater understanding of climate change and what can be done about it. Climate change is an issue that has entered mainstream consciousness and people are gradually realizing its implications and adapting to them.
The link to the 2009 Prize press release from the Nobel Committee is located
here.
My opinion of this is that this prize is a recognition of the international community of the importance placed on the good that American can do as well as its own potential for the uncertain future. The President is considered to have re-oriented the foreign policy of the United States and also affected its own image abroad for the positive. The committee states: "Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics."
The international community has come to respect the role and leadership of the United States as a global power once again after the last eight years. So what exactly has the President done?
October 1,2009 - The US and its allies have begun meaningful engagement with Iran, which recently culminated in Iran allowing IAEA inspectors into its new facility in Qum. Further engagement with Iran continues.
September 17, 2009 - The missile defense shield proposed under President Bush was officially scrapped in favor of a cheaper, quicker, and more effective system. This issue was a major source of contention between Russia and the US, leading to a cooling of international relations.
June 26, 2009 - Diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuela are restored.
June 4, 2009 - The first US President to address the Muslim world directly emphasizes that the United States is not the enemy of Islam but a friend in a publicly lauded speech not only as a reset of American foreign policy but also the acknowledgment of the Palestinian situation as well as the first admission in public of the role the US had in the 1953 Iranian coup. As a result, al-Qaeda branded Obama a threat and a "wise enemy."
April 13, 2009 - The United States lifts travel restrictions between Cuba and the US for families as well as allow expansion of communication links and remittances to resume between Cuba and the US.
February 2009 - The United States declares its intentions to participate in and help shape the climate talks in Copenhagen, reversing the stance of the previous administration. The talks will determine the replacement to the Kyoto Treaty of 1997.
January 22, 2009 - President Obama orders the closure of Guantanamo Boy within the year as well as prohibit the use of tortue by the United States.
This is but a fraction of what he's done while in office. The president himself acknowledges that this award represents what people hope will be accomplished:
"To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
"But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century."
However, there remains some indisputable facts. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue, with the President to likely escalate the force required for combat in Afghanistan. Negotiations between Russia and the US have began to engaged in arms reductions but neither side has yet to start reducing their nuclear stockpiles. President Obama has attempted to restart talks between Palestinians and the Israelis which are stalled again, with Israel continuing to ignore calls to end its settlements despite pressure from the US and the international community. Furthermore, there remains the issues of Iran, North Korea, and a host of other issues.
The President has a lot on his plate. And he intends to get it done. There's much work to be done but this is a moment to be proud for America and its status in the world. The future is in our hands.
