October 9 at 6 AM the telephone rang in President Obama's bedroom jolting him out of bed. So were the American listeners and readers on this side of the Atlantic when they heard he was the Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2009. It should have been a cause for jubilation and celebration but the reaction was muted, ripe with ambiguity. Some wanted him to turn it down, others to ask the Nobel committee to hold it until he thought he was ready and others calling it a political nightmare. The right did not lose time in lashing out in a fashion that has become customary of them. Michael Steele, the Republican Party president was quick to denounce him by saying "he wont be receiving any awards from the American people" pointing to the fact that Obama has not delivered yet to deserve such a lofty prize. As expected this moment was ripe fodder for the rabid radio and TV talk show hosts to have a free for all. “Can you imagine, folks, how big Obama’s head is today?” Rush Limbaugh barked, “I think it’s getting so big that his ears actually fit.”
The Nobel most often is awarded to people who have spent a life time in the service of a mission. Just nine months into his presidency and at forty eight he joined the esteem company of his heroes Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. That was a difficult picture for people to visualize and as the President acknowledged, it was difficult for him to grasp as well, as he genuinely felt humbled. In his acceptance speech he said that he viewed this recognition more a validation of his people by the world. Nobody can deny that 2009 was a groundbreaking year for America as the world turned its gaze to see a most unlikely candidate be inaugurated. This moment in history in itself was undeniably worthy of a prize.
There is a clear distinction in the way the world sees President Obama and the way Americans have come to see him in the recent past. The Nobel Prize was awarded to President Obama, as the citation reads "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". There is no question that the psychological impact his election has had on the people of the globe has been profound. His image, grace, civility and demeanor has sparked an uncompromising idealism and optimism in people of all races. The rhetoric in his lofty speeches from Cairo to Prague, has energized people across boundaries like never before. In the nine months he has traveled the world promising real change and cooperation in the way America behaves, and has called on nations to rise up and take responsibility for their actions. He has laid out a vision for a nuclear free globe and has engaged Iran and North Korea instead of isolating them even more with remarkable results. He has demanded the Pentagon to conduct a radical review of US nuclear weapons doctrine to prepare the way for deep cuts in the country's arsenal. He has restarted the middle east peace process which had come to a grinding halt under the previous administration. And to top it all he has set forth grand benchmarks to curb global warming.
While most of his ambitions in the global sphere have been expressed through rhetoric and oratory flare, not much has yet been achieved in the way of tangible results. But like never before his words have had a penetrating influence. And that does count for something.
The Nobel most often is awarded to people who have spent a life time in the service of a mission. Just nine months into his presidency and at forty eight he joined the esteem company of his heroes Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. That was a difficult picture for people to visualize and as the President acknowledged, it was difficult for him to grasp as well, as he genuinely felt humbled. In his acceptance speech he said that he viewed this recognition more a validation of his people by the world. Nobody can deny that 2009 was a groundbreaking year for America as the world turned its gaze to see a most unlikely candidate be inaugurated. This moment in history in itself was undeniably worthy of a prize.
There is a clear distinction in the way the world sees President Obama and the way Americans have come to see him in the recent past. The Nobel Prize was awarded to President Obama, as the citation reads "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". There is no question that the psychological impact his election has had on the people of the globe has been profound. His image, grace, civility and demeanor has sparked an uncompromising idealism and optimism in people of all races. The rhetoric in his lofty speeches from Cairo to Prague, has energized people across boundaries like never before. In the nine months he has traveled the world promising real change and cooperation in the way America behaves, and has called on nations to rise up and take responsibility for their actions. He has laid out a vision for a nuclear free globe and has engaged Iran and North Korea instead of isolating them even more with remarkable results. He has demanded the Pentagon to conduct a radical review of US nuclear weapons doctrine to prepare the way for deep cuts in the country's arsenal. He has restarted the middle east peace process which had come to a grinding halt under the previous administration. And to top it all he has set forth grand benchmarks to curb global warming.
While most of his ambitions in the global sphere have been expressed through rhetoric and oratory flare, not much has yet been achieved in the way of tangible results. But like never before his words have had a penetrating influence. And that does count for something.
On record, the process of pulling out of Iraq and closing down Guantanamo Bay has been slow, and his deliberations on the next move in Afghanistan causes confusion. While he has claimed victory in stalling America's financial descent, not many people buy it as job losses continue to take their toll. Health care reform, the success of which will define his leadership, hangs in a balance due to the sluggish, partisan and morally bankrupt nature of congress. People are beginning to show discontent with the pace of change he so dramatically promised during his campaign. In the light of all this Americans find this award confusing and struggle to make sense of it.
There is no doubt that in his first nine months President Obama has set out to take on more than any leader before. If this award is meant to give him a bump, if it is meant to be an investment in the future, there is no better place to make it, as there is no leader that can wield the kind of influence he can. That he has proven thus far with fortitude.
In his low key acceptance speech at the rose garden, where he declined to take questions from the press, he said he would accept the award as a "call to action". As he left the podium a reporter shouted "Mr. President what are you going to do with the award money?". Later in the day he revealed in a communique that he would be donating it to charity.
A few days ago President Obama passed on a meeting with fellow laureate the Dalai Lama in order to appease the Chinese, with whom he has a scheduled visit next month. It will be interesting to see what his "call to action" will entail. Will he be able to convince the Chinese to reduce their nuclear arsenal, will he be able to hold their feet to fire on issues of human rights and democracy as they strengthen their hold on more and more American debt. Will he be able to bring China and Russia on his side, without whom half the problems of the world can never be solved.
In my view, the peace protesters of Iran who gallantly fought for freedom shedding blood on the streets, deserved the prize this year. But unfortunately they did not have an Aung Song Su Kyi or Lech Walesa to put a face on their movement. But as a strategy maybe it was a more prudent choice to give it to a leader who can actually bring about effective change in a much larger sphere. In no means was this a controversial choice when compared with the likes of Yasser Arafat and Henry Kissinger. But without a doubt it has put more pressure on the President, something he could have done without at this moment in time. His presidency will be defined to the world in the shadow of this prize. And to a leader who has to make some of the toughest decisions on the planet, that could be a heavy cross to bear. It is what it is.
There is no doubt that in his first nine months President Obama has set out to take on more than any leader before. If this award is meant to give him a bump, if it is meant to be an investment in the future, there is no better place to make it, as there is no leader that can wield the kind of influence he can. That he has proven thus far with fortitude.
In his low key acceptance speech at the rose garden, where he declined to take questions from the press, he said he would accept the award as a "call to action". As he left the podium a reporter shouted "Mr. President what are you going to do with the award money?". Later in the day he revealed in a communique that he would be donating it to charity.
A few days ago President Obama passed on a meeting with fellow laureate the Dalai Lama in order to appease the Chinese, with whom he has a scheduled visit next month. It will be interesting to see what his "call to action" will entail. Will he be able to convince the Chinese to reduce their nuclear arsenal, will he be able to hold their feet to fire on issues of human rights and democracy as they strengthen their hold on more and more American debt. Will he be able to bring China and Russia on his side, without whom half the problems of the world can never be solved.
In my view, the peace protesters of Iran who gallantly fought for freedom shedding blood on the streets, deserved the prize this year. But unfortunately they did not have an Aung Song Su Kyi or Lech Walesa to put a face on their movement. But as a strategy maybe it was a more prudent choice to give it to a leader who can actually bring about effective change in a much larger sphere. In no means was this a controversial choice when compared with the likes of Yasser Arafat and Henry Kissinger. But without a doubt it has put more pressure on the President, something he could have done without at this moment in time. His presidency will be defined to the world in the shadow of this prize. And to a leader who has to make some of the toughest decisions on the planet, that could be a heavy cross to bear. It is what it is.
One can say without an iota of reservation that Mahatma Gandhi has done a lot more for the betterment of a peaceful society, than quite a few members of the recipients of the Nobel peace prize winners. But why did the committee deny him the prize? Five times, the noble committee received his nomination but they never decided to give him the prize. Gandhi’s omission has been publicly regretted by later members of the Nobel Committee; the committee did acknowledge this fact, but after 40 long years of Gandhi’s death.
ReplyDeleteThe next presidential elections are approaching, and if one looks back at what tangible reforms Obama has made for a peaceful society, I can say vanishingly remote. Just the desire to contain peace around the world and express it, in an ornate language does not entitle a person for the award. The Nobel Committee should have waited for some more years before they could have adjudicated Obama’s achievements. I think the way the Noble committee has regretted omission of Gandhi’s name, in the same manner, few years down the lane, the committee might regret having Obama’s name included in the coveted noble list (on par with Nelson Mandela, Aung Song Su Kyi, Dalia lama etc).
R.Sanjeev (date 12/05/2012)