Martin Luther King Jr., Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat, Mother Teresa and Barack Obama all have something in common. For 108 years, the Nobel Peace Prize has honored the most humane, worldliest and most respected humans of the century. All of these individuals have received that honor. Martin Luther King Jr. was the face of a movement for equal rights among all people. His inspiration helped create a more tolerant world. His actions to end the Vietnam War were admirable and his belief in d?tente helped defuse the Cold War. Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat, with fellow Nobel laureate Menachem Begin, helped promote peace in the Middle East with the Camp David Agreement. Mother Teresa is among the greatest humanitarians ever. Her efforts to take care of the sick and diseased in India led to her beatification in the Catholic Church. President Barack Obama has… been in office for 10 months.
Barack Obama has nothing on his r?sum? that would make him equal in that community. These are people who have done great things in their life and Barack Obama has the rest of his ahead of him. I am not saying that Obama will not “strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people.” I am saying that he hasn’t done much yet. At the very least, not enough to warrant a Nobel Peace Prize.
If the Norwegian Nobel Committee believes he is worthy of this honor, can they explain how the commander and chief of the U.S military during a war can “strengthen international diplomacy?” I would better understand that statement if our president pulled his troops out of the Middle East the first two months he was in office (like he promised). I would even understand that statement if he actually did something to progress the end of the war. Instead, he sends some more troops. I would not consider that humane, worldly or respectful.
The fact this Nobel Peace Prize is more of a hope than an accomplishment takes away from the grandeur of the award. This prize is an expectation for Obama to live up to instead of an honor. It’s almost shameful they reduced this prestigious award to a bet — a bet on whether Obama can live up to it. Our president now has a bigger burden and I hope he is ready for it.
According to the committee, the only way to become a Nobel laureate is to be nominated by a scholar or a so-called “respected person.” Their process starts in September, where they formally ask for nominations from those individuals qualified to nominate. In February, they collect all nominations and begin to decide on a short list of candidates. Over the next eight months, they interview and decide on the winners, who they announce in October. The process in which they do it is simple, but according to that time frame, Barack Obama was most likely nominated before he took office. Even if someone nominated him on Feb. 1, the last day to nominate, he would only be in office for 11 days. Only relying on his word for how and why he is going to “strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people” is insufficient justification for receiving such an award.
If that is the case — the award was given out of hope for plans he wishes to enact — then there should be more Nobel Peace Prizes given out. I would like to nominate our chancellor, Biddy Martin, for her promise to keep this university diverse and further promote equality not just on our campus, but in our classes as well. Her example of keeping an open mind to all is one that we should all learn, and will learn here at UW. Therefore, because she says this and also believes it, she deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. Also, I would like to nominate the jazz saxophonist who plays in the evening outside the University Bookstore across from Memorial Library. Not only is he bringing joy to those who listen to him, but he also provides a service in relaxing me after I get done studying intensely for a couple hours at the library. Because of his humanitarianism, he also deserves a Nobel.
I am perplexed why this award was given to Obama. I understand we’re all putting a lot of faith in him and I really wish him well. However, at least wait a year into his term to award him with anything. Otherwise, you are demoting the Nobel Peace Prize to the equivalent of a participation award.
Zach Day ([email protected]) is a sophomore majoring in journalism.
