I've been meaning to write an opinion piece on this one, since Friday. There's so many different angles to it. Yet I've just been very sick the past few days, with a nasty cold... Which is weird cause I usually don't get sick... I think it's either a mixture of stress or the drinks I took Thursday night at Zambukas... Whatever it is, I got a very busy week next week and hope I can get better by tomorrow... Anyway back to Obama.
So when I heard the news Friday morning my initial reaction was surprise and happiness... I was happy to see that the world approves of our leader, and puts him in the highest of regards. Yet I was more surprised because he's not even through his first year yet. Sure he's brought significant progression and change from the Bush years, yet has still yet to accomplish anything of great magnitude. He's only the fourth president in history to receive the award, and the 3rd actual sitting president. So he joins the list of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Jimmy Carter. Roosevelt put an end to the Russo-Japanese War, Wilson founded the League of Nations, and Jimmy Carter has worked as an activist following his presidency to better human rights. And so I can't help but wonder what really makes Obama deserve this award, the most prestigious awards we have.
I think it's pretty obvious and safe to say that this award wasn't given to Obama based on his accomplishments, yet more on his aspirations. After 8 years of American aggression in Afghanistan and Iraq the world is happy to finally see that the country is moving in a new direction. This award demonstrates the world's approval of the new direction, while also giving a well-deserved blow to the Bush administration. In his first year, President Obama inherited a mess of domestic and global issues, and has worked tirelessly more than any other president to find solutions to these problems. He has tackled the Financial Crisis, a fix for the auto-industry, an end to the Guantanamo Bay Camp, health care reform, stronger foreign relations; most especially with our enemies North Korea and Iran, climate change, and the disarmament of nuclear weapons. It's these last three (his foreign relations, climate change, and nuclear disarmament) that most likely won him the Nobel Peace Prize...
When the news came that Obama had won the prize, the entire world was shocked, including Obama himself. In an address later that day he admitted that he did not deserve the award, yet was still honored and deeply humbled. The world leaders had mixed reactions, some said it was too early to be awarded while others said it demonstrates his promise for hope. And of course Obama's critics, especially the Republicans, have already begun to run with this one, pointing out that Obama's presidency is glorified for his celebrity status and not his accomplishments. Then there comes the issue that the Nobel Prize Committee is biased, with a leftist slant, and perhaps have begun to lose their credibility.
I can't help but see the good and bad in this whole thing. The Nobel Prize is a lifetime achievement award, and is awarded to those who have dedicated their lives for world peace. Whereas Obama is only beginning his goals for World Peace, and still has a lot to accomplish. I can't help but see this award as a looming cloud over the president, who now has to deliver even bigger. I hope in time only good will come of it, that will motivate Obama to accomplish his goals. I hope the award can be used as a tool to strengthen his foreign relations even more and thus achieve a global peace for humanity unlike we have ever known before!
So when I heard the news Friday morning my initial reaction was surprise and happiness... I was happy to see that the world approves of our leader, and puts him in the highest of regards. Yet I was more surprised because he's not even through his first year yet. Sure he's brought significant progression and change from the Bush years, yet has still yet to accomplish anything of great magnitude. He's only the fourth president in history to receive the award, and the 3rd actual sitting president. So he joins the list of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Jimmy Carter. Roosevelt put an end to the Russo-Japanese War, Wilson founded the League of Nations, and Jimmy Carter has worked as an activist following his presidency to better human rights. And so I can't help but wonder what really makes Obama deserve this award, the most prestigious awards we have.
I think it's pretty obvious and safe to say that this award wasn't given to Obama based on his accomplishments, yet more on his aspirations. After 8 years of American aggression in Afghanistan and Iraq the world is happy to finally see that the country is moving in a new direction. This award demonstrates the world's approval of the new direction, while also giving a well-deserved blow to the Bush administration. In his first year, President Obama inherited a mess of domestic and global issues, and has worked tirelessly more than any other president to find solutions to these problems. He has tackled the Financial Crisis, a fix for the auto-industry, an end to the Guantanamo Bay Camp, health care reform, stronger foreign relations; most especially with our enemies North Korea and Iran, climate change, and the disarmament of nuclear weapons. It's these last three (his foreign relations, climate change, and nuclear disarmament) that most likely won him the Nobel Peace Prize...
When the news came that Obama had won the prize, the entire world was shocked, including Obama himself. In an address later that day he admitted that he did not deserve the award, yet was still honored and deeply humbled. The world leaders had mixed reactions, some said it was too early to be awarded while others said it demonstrates his promise for hope. And of course Obama's critics, especially the Republicans, have already begun to run with this one, pointing out that Obama's presidency is glorified for his celebrity status and not his accomplishments. Then there comes the issue that the Nobel Prize Committee is biased, with a leftist slant, and perhaps have begun to lose their credibility.I can't help but see the good and bad in this whole thing. The Nobel Prize is a lifetime achievement award, and is awarded to those who have dedicated their lives for world peace. Whereas Obama is only beginning his goals for World Peace, and still has a lot to accomplish. I can't help but see this award as a looming cloud over the president, who now has to deliver even bigger. I hope in time only good will come of it, that will motivate Obama to accomplish his goals. I hope the award can be used as a tool to strengthen his foreign relations even more and thus achieve a global peace for humanity unlike we have ever known before!
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