Although I’m still taking pain meds, I feel like I’m reasonably lucid and beginning to heal. My jaw dropped when I learned this morning of President Obama’s selection for a Nobel Peace Prize. I agree with those who say that it wasn’t based on accomplishments, at least not yet, but I’m most curious to learn more about the rationale of the selection committee. I’ve since learned that the committee is selected by the Norwegian Parliament and as such would be expected to represent a Norwegian view of foreign affairs — internationalist in outlook and generally predisposed to Obama’s stated goals in restoring the role of diplomacy.
Interestingly, it isn’t the first time that the award went to encourage a process that needs to proceed. One example of that would be the award to Desmond Tutu in 1984 as Tutu engaged in the struggle to overturn apartheid in South Africa. Similarly, Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho shared the award as the process to end the Viet Nam war wore on.
Some may say that the award is more of an expression of relief that George W. Bush is no longer the US president. Others complain that Ronald Reagan should have won the prize during his lifetime. There have been many deserving people who haven’t been so honored. What is clear is that it puts even more pressure on the president to work toward his goals in furthering a more peaceful and nuclear-free world. It’s also very apparent that the world wants the United States to step up and reclaim a true leadership position. But their vision is that we would lead, not impose our views and vision on everyone else. That, in turn, puts pressure on each and every one of us regular Americans to work together to achieve a measure of civility at home in order to further the efforts to achieve peace in some of the world’s hot spots.
America stands to gain should the president’s efforts bear fruit. That means that we all benefit — the whole world benefits.
