But I am not going to go into a tirade like conservatives and attack Obama for receiving an award he had no control over. This wasn't a presidential election. He did not campaign for this. I have heard conflicting accounts about whether or not he even knew that he was nominated. (I read in one location that he didn't know about his nomination, but later I heard that he knew.) The account that said he knew added that Obama didn't think he would win. It wasn't on his mind. That was clear, as his win caught the White House off guard and certainly served as a pleasant surprise.
The prize has meaning though. The committee saw, if not potential, a desire from Obama to make this world a peaceful place. He inherited two wars that need to be ended. He inherits a Middle East peace process that has been a routine piece of the foreign policy puzzle for past presidents. He also became President at a time when the world wasn't too fond of the United States. As we saw on the campaign trail and as president, Obama has made it a priority to fix America's image abroad. Conservative critics say that it his celebrity, not substance, which has helped improve this image. I say it is the opposite. The world, as evidenced by other nations' willingness to embrace health care as a right and not a privilege (among other issues), is much different from the United States. They value intelligence over ignorance. So when you have a president that is willing to sit down with leaders from most, if not all nations and treats them with respect while also improving the United States' standing as a world leader, that is a good thing and the world acknowledges that. It is that principle that was key to the committee. Not necessarily what Obama has accomplished, but how he has approached the world.
(Photo credit: White House photographer Pete Souza. In photo, President Obama joined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New York City for trilateral talks.)
In his remarks today, President Obama made it clear that while he was humbled being the recipient of this great honor, he didn't feel as if he was deserving. He added, however, that he sees this as an opportunity not only for himself and his administration, but for our country:
He also sent out an e-mail today that shared similar sentiments. The subject of the e-mail? A call to action.
But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.
So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.
There is a lot for Obama to accomplish. There are two wars (Afghanistan and Iraq) which will be two of several defining moments of his presidency. Also on the list is tackling peace in the Middle East. The Nobel Peace Prize should help him with those things while also being a guiding light. And we should also take our President's accomplishments and lead by example as citizens.
"Yes We Can" rings true. That cannot be forgotten. "Hope" and "Change" are not impossible.
The prize has meaning though. The committee saw, if not potential, a desire from Obama to make this world a peaceful place. He inherited two wars that need to be ended. He inherits a Middle East peace process that has been a routine piece of the foreign policy puzzle for past presidents. He also became President at a time when the world wasn't too fond of the United States. As we saw on the campaign trail and as president, Obama has made it a priority to fix America's image abroad. Conservative critics say that it his celebrity, not substance, which has helped improve this image. I say it is the opposite. The world, as evidenced by other nations' willingness to embrace health care as a right and not a privilege (among other issues), is much different from the United States. They value intelligence over ignorance. So when you have a president that is willing to sit down with leaders from most, if not all nations and treats them with respect while also improving the United States' standing as a world leader, that is a good thing and the world acknowledges that. It is that principle that was key to the committee. Not necessarily what Obama has accomplished, but how he has approached the world.
