Nobel Committee swings weight around; degrades status of Peace Prize
May 11th, 2009 by Nick SeguinThis past week it was announced that Barack Obama is the recipient of the .
Really?
Things to think about -
1. Nominations for this prize were due February 1, 2009. That’s less than 1 month after President Obama assumed office.
According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the peace prize should go to an individual who:
during the preceding year
[...] shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.
2. I believe bestowing this award is really the the Nobel Committee doing what they can to box President Obama into his campaign rhetoric which focused heavily on international relations and specific U.S. participation on the world stage. Since assuming office, the President has, obviously, been dealing with some high-priority domestic issues. They are nudging you, Mr. President.
3. Jimmy Carter and Al Gore are both former recipients of this award. I think this award is also the Nobel Committe sticking it to President George W. Bush in their own way.
I do think that President Obama is a fantastic speaker (though he and his team should have rethought content for both he and his wife in Copenhagen!) and seems to be committed to socio-economical and geo-political progress (define progress?) in the global theatre, but the award of this prize, considering timing and absence of real action, significantly decreases my respect for the Committee and the award. Shame on them for leveraging their position for political statements and hope for action.