The Preemptive Peace Prize
Published October 09, 2009 @ 05:50PM PT
President Obama now has the task of earning his Nobel Peace Prize, ex post facto.
While I take Mark Leon Goldberg's point that the award represents an affirmation of the new direction of American leadership, I still find it premature to bestow top honors when that leadership has yet to take us anywhere. Obama and his foreign policy team have spent nearly a year, since before the inauguration, laying the groundwork for a potentially-revolutionary new global role for the United States. He wasted no time in breaking from the Bush Doctrine that made Americans reviled world-wide, and deserves recognition for his handling of such a daunting task.
We have the foundation, the grounding philosophy of the Obama Doctrine -- we know broadly what he wants to do, but he has yet to show us what he is actually capable of doing. This is not his fault, of course; he hasn't even been in office for a year. I am as frustrated as anyone over the delay in the Sudan policy review, but I also recognize that such foreign policy quagmires require careful consideration.
But bestowing a Nobel Peace Prize on the promise of change seems like an opportunity wasted to elevate the hard-fought progress of other candidates* over the past year. I have little doubt that Obama would have otherwise earned the honor at some point during the course of his presidency -- another opportunity lost, perhaps, to elevate that work, if and when it happens.
To his credit, or at least according to the email sent out tonight, Obama recognizes the Nobel as a "call to action." Perhaps this will be just the kick in the pants the administration needs to show it's serious about something other than health care.
[I share the disappointment that Morgan Tsvangirai was passed over.]
[Photo of Barack Obama during his speech at the Victory Column in Berlin from Matthias Winkelmann's Flickr stream, Creative Commons license.]
Share this Post
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
StumbleUpon
Delicious
EmailRelated Posts
Comments (14)
Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.
Author
-
Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.
For the first time in My life I am ashamed of both country and president, disgusting!
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/09/2009 @ 06:07PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Obama hasn't done anything to be ashamed of -- he didn't give himself the award, and he accepted it graciously.
Posted by Michelle . on 10/09/2009 @ 06:20PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
You would. Obviously, you do not know why he has received the award. I am not proud of everything our country has done, but I am very proud of what President Obama is trying to do for our country and the world. At least he is trying to find ways for peaceful resolutions and have genuine and sincere diplomatic conversations with other world leaders. Obviously, the Nobel Peace Prize committee gets that. See Nathaniel Whittmore's article "Holy Crap! President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize". This is great news for our country, not just for President Obama's accolades. President Obama's behavior these past few years has been one of service and diplomacy. Now he is put on the world stage to prove that he will continue his resolve for world peace and justice. If you really want to know what this man is all about, read Obama's autobiography, "The Audacity of Hope." This takes you into his ideology and what he believes public service is all about. Because of the renewed sense of hope that he has given the world, he definitely deserves this prize. I am sorry you just can't see it, but I suppose you are not looking at everything he has already done, and is attempting to do. That he sometimes does not succeed has more to do with the Republicans who are doing everything in their power to make sure he fails; yet, I have NEVER seen him criticize or denounce the opposition. This is one of the true qualities of a peacemaker. We need more people like him.
President Obama IS deserving of this award. This is a unique honor given to those who will continue, throughout their lives, to promote world-wide peace. It amazes me how many people of the world respect and admire him, yet we have people within our own country hating him because they cannot see beyond their own prejudices and narrow-mindedness; they have allowed themselves to be manipulated and lied to by the extreme right wing fanatics, because it is easier to unite people with fear and hate, than it is to have genuine tolerance and peaceful collaboration. That takes work, and it is something the right wing cannot accept and will not do. Their hatred of average Americans and our government is so obvious, it's blinding. These are the role models of the Republican party. They are not people we should be aspiring to. They are not my heroes. My heroes are those who go about their business (their tasks) without praise or even adequate compensation, because it is their goal to make this world a little better, ones who recognize that we are all in this together, and by helping the weakest among us, the rest of us will be stronger and better for it.
Posted by Barbara McNamara on 10/10/2009 @ 10:47AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Barbara, that's pretty hateful speech about an entire group of people just because they disagree with You. I hope you find enlightenement, but for now i will clarify My position. I meant no such nastiness as You. I simply meant He has done not one thing to earn it, and plenty of others have. This is a slap in those good peoples' faced.
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/10/2009 @ 11:06AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
"faces"
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/10/2009 @ 11:08AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
I agree with you Michelle, pretty much to the last puctuation mark. Cheers! Here's to a better America.
Posted by Rachel Russell on 10/09/2009 @ 10:11PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Ms. Russell, (not to be rude,) but all you ever do is agree. Are you capable of thinking for yourself?
"Here's to a better America." ????????
Would you clarify please? For whom?
Certainly not for gay rights, immigration, or poverty. The Stock Market is up and so is our poverty level. So yes, it is a better America, if your wealthy. Just in case you can't make the correlation, let me clarify......Obama is sending our low-income and middle-class jobs overseas. The companies that provide these jobs are American Companies. Now, he wants to extend NAFTA(North American Free Trade Agreement,) to include the entire world. So, if we have no jobs, and the wealthy are paying slave wages for labor, and importing their wares for free.........WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MIDDLE & LOWER-CLASS???????? We can't benefit from free-trade, if we have no income.
Ms. Barbara, if you haven't noticed, the rest of the world hates the U.S. They are of every color, religion, and economic level. The Obama followers are the first ones to scream,"racism," if someone opposes his policies. If you can't see past the color of his skin, maybe your the one with a "race-issue."
As for peace, HA! A man from Pakistan asked me; "Your soldiers are in my country,Why?"
I couldn't even answer his question....why?
Posted by L.S. hope on 10/13/2009 @ 06:55PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Gracious would have been deferring it to a deserving candidate. At least He gave away the money though.
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/10/2009 @ 05:21AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Sorry, Charlie, it is not "hateful speech" to talk about people who are hateful. These people don't disagree with me. They couldn't care less about what I believe. I merely disagree with THEM because I do care what they believe, and I do care that they are lying to the American people, that they are attacking good people without any rational justification; that they are totally off the mark. If you think I am generalizing, it is because the extreme right wing is hateful. Their leaders, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Lou Dobbs, others, are hateful and bigoted. They attack anyone who is not like them or thinks like them. They are having a field day with our president, because they believe they can act and say anything they damn well please, touting free speech, even if it's wrong and even if it may cause the gullible and unhinged to act in extreme and violent ways. This is un American and unpatriotic. This is fascism.
I never implied any nastiness toward you, personally, but if you do take offense, then perhaps you place yourself in the same category as those who would rather look for fault than look for positive action and consider the humanitarian intentions of others. I explained my position as to why President Obama received the award:
"At least he is trying to find ways for peaceful resolutions and have genuine and sincere diplomatic conversations with other world leaders. Obviously, the Nobel Peace Prize committee gets that. See Nathaniel Whittmore's article "Holy Crap! President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize". This is great news for our country, not just for President Obama's accolades. President Obama's behavior these past few years has been one of service and diplomacy. Now he is put on the world stage to prove that he will continue his resolve for world peace and justice."
The Nobel Peace Prize ISN'T always given for deeds already done, but for the promise of action to occur, such as the president taking measures to eliminate ALL nuclear weapons worldwide. This is something he plans to undertake fully in 2010. Hopefully, we will get health care reform by then!
One question to you: Who would you have nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize?
Posted by Barbara McNamara on 10/10/2009 @ 12:46PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Barbara, first of all, don't worry about me. I am happy to not associate myself with the republicans until they remember who they are supposed to be. They have increased every rediculous goverment program, and even created more. I just don't get why the leftists aren't in love with them. I just wish people would learn listen to people of different viewpoints instead of spewing hatred such as in your first post. Regarding the peace prize, since Arafat got it, it is a piece of crap that I would not want on any person I respect. I actually respect Obama too much for it! So does Beck, but then You have already exposed that You have never listened to him. god bless You though. P.S. perhaps I overreacted above. (ashamed?!)
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/10/2009 @ 02:53PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Mr. Reed, you stated:
"They have increased every rediculous goverment program, and even created more." Really? Their's is a policy of "laissez faire" - always has been. They have basically deregulated everything they could get their hands on. They would take away Social Security and Medicare, if they could. They tried.
"I just don't get why the leftists aren't in love with them." Again, really? You obviously do not know what 'leftists' stand for.
"...since Arafat got it, it is a piece of crap that I would not want on any person I respect. I actually respect Obama too much for it! So does Beck,..." First you say Obama hasn't done anything to deserve it; then you say plenty of others have; then you say it's a piece of crap because Arafat got it, and that you respect Obama too much for it and so does Beck. Wow - that's over reaching, if not twisted logic. I believe you contradicted yourself here. I never said I did not listen to Glenn Beck. I have, which is why I can see through his bigoted nature. Perhaps you are not listening to enough 'leftist' liberals. Perhaps you should listen to what liberals really believe. I was under the impression that those who visit and comment on this site are more liberal and open-minded, anyway. I have no problem with yours or anyone else's opinions, even if different from my own, provided a good argument is presented and based on facts, not hearsay.
PS: Arafat got the Nobel Peace Prize for trying to make peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis. It was a noble attempt. However, and sadly, he did not succeed. His later years were questionable. How much so depends on where you read.
Posted by Barbara McNamara on 10/11/2009 @ 09:59AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
Barbara, I am aware that leftists want cradle to grave social programs. Both Bushes increased all. Bush # 2 did not try to do a way with social security. He tried to give people the option (only optional!) of being in in charge of their own funds. (allowing them to only put them into govt. approved funds only!) Arafat was a terrorist a lot longer than His phoney attempt at making peace lasted. The reason I know you don't listen to Beck is because He stated repeatedly that the problem is not Obama, but run away government. He has said over and over that both parties are giving Us the same bull. Most of us figured that ou a long time ago though didn't we.
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/11/2009 @ 11:22AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
oops! (government) sorry!
Posted by Charlie Reed on 10/10/2009 @ 03:12PM PT
You must be signed in to report content.
The peace prize became a joke long ago, just another politically motivated tin badge to pin on paper men... For the love of God Al Gore won over Irena Sendler a woman who hid over two thousand Jewish children from the Nazis, had about every bone broken in her body and yet never gave up the hiding place of a single one. Her story;
http://www.auschwitz.dk/Sendler.htm
Al Gore speaks about global warming and then flies around in private jets that cause the very pollution he rails against. Way to suffer for the cause Al... Well at least he is nicely compensated for it, oh wait... Pardon me if I take the prize seriously.
Oh and just for good measure for those saying it was a deterrent to escalation of existing conflicts;
http://nobelprize.org/nomination/peace/nomination.php?action=show&showid=2609
Not such a great track record really. Nobody get on your high horses here, I'm not comparing Obama to Hitler, just sighting the fact that awarding or nominating a peace prizes as a motivation against war isn't so much a winning strategy. Oh and yeah it was an irrelevant award then too.
Posted by Seth Piepgrass on 10/14/2009 @ 01:27AM PT
You must be signed in to report content.