I tried to hold myself back, I really did. Unfortunately I just can’t, in good conscience, not object to Barack Obama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I find him receiving the award deplorable. According to Alfred Nobel, the prize should be awarded to a person who “during the preceding year… shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses“. Please, for all that is good in the world, tell me where Barack Obama did any of those things?
To be forthright, I do not support Barack Obama — the man. However, my personal feelings toward him have nothing to do with my objection to his being awarded the prize. The Barack Obama I see is a man who can move people with his speech alone as well as a man of good intentions, but a man with absolutely no leadership abilities or accomplishments under his belt. How does that lend itself towards a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize let alone selection for it? To go a step further, where are the actions and the results to warrant and support such an award?
Barack Obama has not done a single thing to advance peace in the world. If I am wrong, prove it to me. The only thing he has done, in my purview, was win an election by inspiring others to vote for him with words and phrases like “Hope”, “Change”, and “Yes We Can”. In what reality does that translate to advancing peace in the world? He vowed to make a difference to be sure, but it was merely a campaign promise. To date, he still hasn’t done one thing to advance peace in the world. The U.S. is still engaged in two wars, no new treaties have been signed, no alliances have been formed, and no accords struck.
In my opinion, he was awarded the prize for saying all the right things and for the “future potentiality” of him advancing peace in the world. That is what I find deplorable — the potentiality. How is it that one can merely speak their way to a Nobel Peace Prize? Whatever happened to having to earn it, to having to actually do something to advance the cause of peace? Honestly, if Barack Obama were to advance peace in the world during his Presidency or perhaps after it, I would support such an award; however, I don’t think we should be giving out peace prizes to people who simply talk a good game. There are tons of people in this world who can do that. They can talk the talk, but they can’t walk the walk. I believe Barack Obama falls into that category. I believe he talks the talk, but at the end of the day, he won’t walk the walk. He has shown it in every one of his actions to date. He folds under pressure, he refuses to take a stand, and he doesn’t do anything to “lead” people other than to point the direction from the rear (and from the safety of those in front of him).
To my great sadness, I believe the Nobel Peace Prize lost its luster, its prestige, and its distinction as a result of his selection. No longer will it be seen as valuable since anyone with good speaking skills can simply talk peace and be awarded it. If Barack Obama had any class, he would have said “Thanks, but no thanks”. However, like George W. Bush before him, he is on a power trip and thinks he can cure the ills of the world simply by being President. I’m sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. My hope, though, is that the good people in this world will continue to advance the cause of peace and prosperity despite the Nobel Peace Prize having no teeth. I’m sure truly good people will. I only know that, as one of them, I don’t need a peace prize in order to do something good. In fact, I’d rather not be recognized for it or given any attention. If I do something good, I’d rather someone just say thank you and pay it forward. But that’s just me.
