Suppose there was a four year college that awarded a diploma to a student in the middle of his freshman year. Almost everyone would think this would be outside of protocol; a graduate earns a diploma at the completion of his course of studies. The consensus would be that he hasn’t earned this award. The student himself would feel a sense of anticlimax, and instead of the proud sense of accomplishment, there would be the uneasy feeling: “I still have to earn this.”
This is the exact position that Obama has found himself when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize.
When Obama received the award for the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9th, most viewers were sent into a tailspin. It’s hard to understand how a political figure could be a recipient for such an award without having accomplished much of anything.
The Nobel Peace Prize could have been given to any other nominee who has made progress, whether ingenius or minute. While I have gradually begun to appreciate Obama for his promising efforts to change the world for the better, I haven’t concluded how he deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
When most people hear of an award of such size, they think of popular citizens who have given their entire being to better the world of its worsened state. People such as Theodore Roosevelt for creating a peace treaty for Japan and Russia; Martin Luther King Jr. in his efforts to ensure peace in his campaign; even Mother Theresa and her inspiration to support the needy. 1
There is still a promise that the new President can rise up to the challenge and keep his word on the matters at hand. Obama recently began circulating a “New War Plan” – a preparation of ideas in order to end the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan – that has been approved by Afghan President Hamid Karzai. 2 In addition to this promising tactic, the President also plans to rid the U.S. completely of nuclear weapons. Obama stated that he plans to ensure a settlement with Russia called the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, in order to condense the expansion of such weapons. 3
The President has stated that receiving the Nobel Peace Prize does not necessarily promote or glorify anything he has done, but more of a “wake-up call,” or something that has come to his attention as a call to action. This being said, Barack Obama, upon receiving the award, is ready to make drastic change to the world’s serious needs. 4 I myself would be incredibly relieved to know that while he didn’t earn – or even expect – the prize, his duties as President will grant him respect and trust.
A Nobel Prize for achieving nothing
The president’s win comes with a sense of anticlimax and lack of accomplishment
Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
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