Surprising but exciting news just occurred less than two hours ago when Norway announced that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize!
He was awarded the prize for promotion of diplomacy in the quest for world peace and his efforts to work toward the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.
Obama is the fourth President to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Theodore Roosevelt won it in 1906 for negotiating the end of the Russo Japanese War. Woodrow Wilson won it in 1919 for involvement in the negotiating of the Versailles Treaty after World War 1, although ironically, the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty or membership in the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter won it in 2002, more than 20 years after leaving office, for his promotion of free and fair elections in many countries around the world and his general efforts for world peace and diplomacy.
Additionally, two Vice Presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Charles Dawes, Vice President under Calvin Coolidge, won it in 1925 for negotiating the Dawes Plan, which lessened the debt burden on Weimar Germany that had been imposed on them by the Versailles Treaty. Al Gore won it out of office in 2007 for work on Global Warming and other environmental concerns.
This is a moment of rejoicing, but one wonders whether it will have any long range effects on diplomacy or domestic affairs. Also, it is certain that right wing talk show hosts and Fox will not see it as a plus or a victory for our nation, but rather as a negative in some fashion.
One thing is clear: We are in the midst of an historic Presidency, and I congratulate the President for this fantastic honor that has been bestowed upon him! 🙂
Listening to right talk radio this morning was very amusing. Listeners called in saying that the reason why Obama got the Nobel prize is because he is “spreading socialism in america”. It seems as if the conservatives love it when other nations hate America. They claim to be patriotic but they don’t want europe to like us? I love this country and I want other countries to know how great this country is as well!!!
Congratulations President Obama
To be quite honest I believe that this was a premature move from the Norwegian Nobel Prize committee. Newsweek’s article title pertaining to this matter essentially breaks it down in four simple words:UNDERQUALIFIED FOR THE OVERRATED. I sincerely feel that Mr. Obama does have good intentions on achieving diplomatic ties with otherwise unfavourable countries. However, Mr. Obama’s good intentions and a general impulse of compassion for the oppressed should not be grounds for a renown prize.
Wouldn’t I love to have been a fly on Bill Clinton’s wall the day this news was broken. Bill Clinton started the “Clinton Global Initiative” Program since 2005, collaborating with global leaders to effectively confront the world’s most pressing problems. Yet Mr. Obama, not even a year in office receives the Nobel Peace Prize. The irony, of it all is that even Mr. Obama himself said that he does not deserve this awarded but yet he welcomes it.