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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.
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 **
AP
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 **
AP
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)
AFP/Getty Images
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 **
AP
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
Getty Images
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
Getty Images
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
Getty Images
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
Getty Images
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)
AFP/Getty Images
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)
AFP/Getty Images
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.
Comments: (36)
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By: HERNOT VERSAINT on 10/10/2009 7:02PM
Oh yes, this prize means absolutely the value of smartness, pragmatism and seriousness. Oh yes, it is the reward of a sparkling destiny; With it, everything is possible. It doesn't matter to a required life-work or not, in fact, no one is born hero, you become hero! Sometimes gradually or spontaneously. Obviously this honor can not be an abomination either a joke like Mr. Brown Christie and company have spitefully mentioned; I really feel so ashamed of hearing such allegory towards the president of United States, can't be accepted even among his own progeny just because he looks different. A real man must be recognized: first by his words and his charactere, but the words themselves are the brightness through which everything else comes up! This is the reason that my fellow citizens have alot to learn by this momentum. Do not get lost by jealousy or nonesense feelings! God bless America!!!!!!
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By: lisa on 10/11/2009 11:03AM
FOR WHAT AND WHY? DO YOU EARN AWARDS FOR BEING ELECTED?
WHAT HAS HE DONE? DESTROY THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, MAKE BAD APPOINTMENTS, SREW UP HEALTH CARE, NO BACKBONE WITH COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, INVITE MUSLIMS, MEXICAN AND ANYONE ELSE INTO AMERICA, TAKE MORE OF OUR FREEDOMS AWAY, WELL YEAH I GUESS HE CAN GET AN AWARD FOR THE SELF DESTRUCTION OF THE U.S.
IF HE HAD ANY SENSE HE WOULD SAY THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR BUT I HAVE NOT EARNED IT YET.
THIS WAS THE BIGGEST JOKE OF THE DAY? EVERYONE SAID WHY?
THIS MAN HAS DESTROYED AMERICANS MORALS AND VALUES OF THE U.S.
WHEN YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON GOD AND LET HOMOSEXUALITY, AND EVERYTHING ELSE INTO YOUR COUNTRY AND DON'T CELEBRATE GOD WHO Has kept America under his grace. America is under seige from within. Obama has encouraged a nonAmerica globaly. We are watching our culture dissenegrate before our eyes.
Lincoln to saw a nation lost for a purpose. His proclamation in 1863 called for a fast prior to the Civil War. I think we need a fast for the Christians of the U.S. to get a new leader and get our nation under a Christian leader who believed in God and anyone not of God and believes in Jesus to get out of office. The Christians of the U.S. can save our country because if God is before who can be against us.
We can remove Obama and everyone under his unGodly ways through the power of prayer. All this no recognition of our God and welcoming Muslims and turning his back on Israle. Pray America because this man is not serving the God Christians serve.
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By: roscoe on 10/11/2009 11:22PM
Lisa, you are such an hypocrite! mixing your racist klan views and christianity, be consistent in what you belive in. You want a white president and a white america, democracy only for you, how pathetic.
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By: Roger Barriteau on 10/13/2009 11:44AM
I wish the Mahatma Gandhi had received the Nobel prize - and received it early in his nonviolent resistance to British Rule.
I, an African_American, am thrilled that President Obama has received this honor. The Nobel Committee, reflecting Norwegian emphasis on diplomacy, wishes to add the leverage of the prizes prestige to President Obama's diplomatic efforts in reconciliation between peoples and for the end of nuclear weapons. What might the Nobel Committee have accomplished in the 1930s or before the partition of British India just after WWII by recognizing the efforts of the Mahatma? Consider the legacy of Gandhiji's teachings on Nonviolent Resistance in the works of Dr. Martin Luther King. The Nobel Prize committee has itself advanced and realizes its great powers of persuasion. This IS a very Timely decision by the committee. ---
( I sent the comment above to the NY times. We must struggle for Peace and Reconciliation between peoples. The struggle will take forever – so we must pace ourselves - and take our moments of success along the way )
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By: J99 on 10/15/2009 12:35AM
I thought he was getting the award for pulling together the people of the USA specifically where regardless of race they were able to vote for the best candidate for national and international peace and togetherness. That was my immediate thought!
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By: tykete on 12/10/2009 11:32AM
President Obama is not deserving of this award, not at this stage in his political career. Maybe later, who knows but as of right now he has accomplished nothing except to increase the racial barriers that exist in this country. He stepped in to a state matter for his friend Professor Gates, where he never should have said a word. This created the appearance that he himself is biased towards a black man. Hopefully he learned from that mistake. I hope that he is able to accomplish at least 1 thing that was promised however I am becoming more and more disheartened as his presidency advances. I voted for the president and I am truly regretting my decision, he fooled me as he fooled so many others.
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