Barack Obama’s Surprise Nobel Prize Award

Global Politics, Current Events, U.S. Elections |

By MAJOR TOM | October 9, 2009

It’s being hailed by many as most pleasant surprise. U.S. President Barack Obama’s winning of the most prestigious humanitarian award brings forth a wind of very warm feelings across the world and as of now, the field is yet clear of any criticism.

Except for a few who sees the award as too premature, for a president who is just into his first year of office. They say, he has done nothing yet, at least, not on a long term basis.

Yet, this award is given mostly on not what he has already achieved but on what he intends to gain.

The Nobel Prize award committee in Oslo Norway, states that he is being given the prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples."

While former Nobel Prize awardee, Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, sums up Obama’s award as:

"In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself. He has shown an unshakable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts. He has reached out across divides and made clear that he sees the world as one human family, regardless of religion, race or ethnicity."

I fully agree with this.

President Obama’s style of diplomacy has won it all for him, reaching out to the Arab world with open palms, signifying am approach of dialogue rather than of rhetoric.

This despite that the irony remains intact, where as a U.S. President at these crucial times in global political environment, he is still so much embroiled in conflicts that has been left on his table by a former administration, with pressure in Afghanistan for surge in U.S. military presence, lest instability would inure in the South Asia region.

And just last month, Pres. Obama had to propose a missile shield of Western Europe, presumably from Russia and its allies.

The peace prize could in fact provide unnecessary pressure for Pres. Obama, now that he is seen as a global peace progenitor, when in fact as the leader of the strongest military power in the world, he is also involved in several wars and conflicts still appertaining today across the globe.

There’s so much good feeling with Obama’s winning the Nobel Peace, yet giving it to a very active and newly-installed U.S. President could bring forth some undeniable irony, if not now, then in some coming years.

10 Comments »

1. bing says; October 11, 2009 @ 9:25 pm

   i think it is not premature. after all, the awarding body awarded it to Obama for his intentions and not his accomplishments. but we have yet to see the sincerity though his intentions are good.

2. bw says; October 12, 2009 @ 4:25 am

   we all know that Obama is a complete antithesis of the George Bush conservative, ultra-right triumphalistic profile. He will do much better on the world peace issues. Many people say that this award is tainted by the US continued involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and Obama should only get it once the Americans withdrew from those places.

3. Major Tom says; October 12, 2009 @ 7:58 am

   To Bing: Could be that way Madame, since for one, his winning of the last year's US presidential elections already a monumental achievement, ushering thereon a wind of understanding never before seen in America and in the world. I think Pres. Obama so deservingly gained the award that way.

4. Major Tom says; October 12, 2009 @ 8:02 am

   To BW: Afghanistan proves to be a harder case for him than expected, it's becoming more problematic than ever as Pakistan's instability now becomes a primordial issue.

   And then this award. I wonder greatly if this could actually do some telling on the decision-making means of President Obama, now that he is expected to be that role model for peace. It could be a bane somehow.

5. Gypsy says; October 12, 2009 @ 1:52 pm

   Hmmm...I still havent made up my mind about this issue...there are a lot out there who have persevered for many years. By the way, you've been tagged...!

6. Abaniko says; October 13, 2009 @ 9:00 am

   People are split on Obama receiving this prestigious award. Some say he deserves it, some say it's highly politicized. But I have so much respect for the man and I hope he'll be successful in all his peace efforts.

7. Major Tom says; October 13, 2009 @ 9:05 pm

   To Gypsy : it's a brimming issue actually some days ago, but it somehow settled in now. Perhaps, Obama's critics just couldn't pin down the guy as much as they want to. He's like to good to put down.

8. Major Tom says; October 13, 2009 @ 9:06 pm

   To Abaniko : Oh yea, like he is too legit to put down. I bet he deserves every accolade that comes his way. Although now that he is US president, he would of course have some flak, and we are just waiting for that to happen.

9. BlogusVox says; October 14, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

   I get cynical when it comes to the Nobel Peace Prize. I have a feeling a hidden agenda is sometimes being brewed when this award is given to a political figure. It's just a hypothesis, but remember when Aung San Suu Kyi won this award? I'm in the opinion that it was an attempt to extricate her from Myanmar.

10. Major Tom says; October 15, 2009 @ 1:34 pm

    To BlogusVox: That sounds plausible but since this is somehow a political citation, it wouldn't be a far-off scenario.

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