President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

On Friday morning, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, making him only the third sitting U.S. president to win the honorable distinction. (Theodore Roosevelt was awarded in 1906, and Woodrow Wilson was awarded in 1919.) The award was a shock to many, as even the president himself was just told of the news early this morning, according to AP.

The reaction to his award has been varied:

Some disagree with the decision, such as Polish President Lech Walesa who said:

So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act.

Other dissidents feel that the award is misplaced, with Obama continuing a war in Afghanistan.

According to the AP:

Obama ordered 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan earlier this year and has continued the use of unmanned drones for attacks on militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan, a strategy devised by the Bush administration. The attacks often kill or injure civilians living in the area.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, however, responded this way:

It's an award coming near the beginning of the first term of office of a relatively young president that anticipates an even greater contribution toward making our world a safer place for all. It is an award that speaks to the promise of President Obama's message of hope.

Of their decision, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said, "The exciting and important thing about this prize is that it's given to someone ... who has the power to contribute to peace," which is duly noted as a striking departure from his predecessor, former President George W. Bush.

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President Obama Photos

US President Barack Obama and his wife Michele arrive for an event for local middle school students to star gaze and conduct hands-on experiments with astronomers on October 7, 2009 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO / Tim Sloan (Photo credit should read TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images)

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President Obama Pictures

Photographers and reporters gather around Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, at podium left, in Oslo Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, as he announces that US President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The citation for the award, in part says: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons. (AP Photo / Jon-Michael Josefsen, Scanpix) ** NORWAY OUT **

Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, holds a picture of US President Barack Obama, in Oslo, Norway, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, after the announcement of Obama as winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The citation for the award, in part says, The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons. (AP Photo / Jon-Michael Josefsen, Scanpix) ** NORWAY OUT **

The Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, holds a picture of US President Barack Obama in Oslo on October 9, 2009, after the annoncement of Obama as winner of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Obama sensationally won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2009 less than a year after he took office with the jury hailing his "extraordinary" diplomatic efforts on the international stage. AFP PHOTO / Jon-Michael Josefsen / Scanpix (Photo credit should read Jon-Michael Josefsen/AFP/Getty Images)

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Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Thorbjoern Jagland, announces in Oslo Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, that US President Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. In backgorund right is Geir Lundestad, secretary of the committee and director of the Nobel Institute. (AP Photo / Jon-Michael Josefsen, Scanpix) ** NORWAY OUT **

WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 25: (AFP OUT) President Barack Obama (C) escorts his daughters Sasha Obama (R), Malia Obama and Marian Robinson, the president's mother -in-law to the South Lawn of the White House on October 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Obama's joined area middle -school students as part of an astronomy event at the White House. (Photo by Martin H. Simon -Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marian Robinson;Malia Obama;Sasha Obama;Barack Obama

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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 25: (AFP OUT) President Barack Obama peers through a telescope set up on the South Lawn of the White House on October 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Obama's joined area middle -school students as part of an astronomy event at the White House. (Photo by Martin H. Simon -Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Barack Obama

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WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 25: (AFP OUT) President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama arrive on the South Lawn of the White House on October 7, 2009 in Washington, DC. The Obama's joined area middle -school students as part of an astronomy event at the White House. (Photo by Martin H. Simon -Pool/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michelle Obama;Barack Obama

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Anti-war protesters on the eight-year anniversary of military action in Afghanistan during a demonstration outside the Federal Building in Los Angeles on October 7, 2009. President Barack Obama moved closer to a crucial decision on the US-led war in Afghanistan after receiving a request from his commander to send in more troops. With the appeal for reinforcements in hand, Obama and his top advisers could start talking about committing yet more troops to the unpopular war later this week after a wide-ranging strategy review, the White House said. TOPSHOTS AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

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Veteran Jack Finley joins other anti-war protesters on the eight-year anniversary of military action in Afghanistan during a demonstration outside the Federal Building in Los Angeles on October 7, 2009. President Barack Obama moved closer to a crucial decision on the US-led war in Afghanistan after receiving a request from his commander to send in more troops. With the appeal for reinforcements in hand, Obama and his top advisers could start talking about committing yet more troops to the unpopular war later this week after a wide-ranging strategy review, the White House said. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

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The committee received 205 nominations this year, the largest ever, and it is unknown who nominated the president. What is equally noteworthy, though, is that the deadline for Peace Prize nominations was Feb. 1; therefore, the President had to have been nominated at the very beginning of his term.

A cheerleader of the decision, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna and former Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei had this to say:

"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," ElBaradei said. "He has shown an unshakeable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts."

I am overjoyed that President Obama would win this award, even if the world has yet to see the consummate legacy an Obama presidency will have. I will never forget witnessing the global jubilation that occurred when Obama won the presidency: Images of people celebrating and shedding tears of happiness were shared across the Internet at a dizzying pace. Never before have so many people, with varying classes, religions, languages and political associations, been collectively moved and inspired. In what has been a grim last few months for Obama, with town halls, the targeting of his colleagues and the ongoing health care drama, this prize acts a sole beam of light that must encourage Obama to keep steadfast and persevere.