October 11, 2009

PEACE PRIZE SLAP

The so-called “Peace Prize” -- awarded each year by a committee of five people selected by the Norwegian Parliament  -- was given last week to United States President Barack Obama.

Reason stated for the honor was:

“Obama’s extraordinary efforts -- to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples -- has created a new international climate.

“Only very rarely has a person -- to the same extent as Obama -- captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.

“His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population.”

SLAP  AT  BUSH

In reality, the “honor” was a slap at the immediate past President George W. Bush.

Note:  President Obama took over the reins of the United States government on January 20, 2009.  The filing date for Peace Prize nominations was February 1.  Thus, Mr. Obama was responsible for United States actions for 12 days before he was nominated for the Peace Prize.

By Peace Committee rules, the name of the nominator for a Nobel Peace Prize is kept secret for 50 years.

President Obama certainly is well-educated and experienced for his comparatively young age.  His meteoric rise from birth and boyhood in Hawaii -- to head of the world’s strongest nation  -- is unprecedented.

The Peace Prize was awarded last year to the former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, for “peace efforts in Africa and the Balkans.”

The prize is worth the equivalent of $1.4 million and will be awarded at Oslo on December 20.

GARDEN  MEETING

President Obama seemed genuinely surprised when his press secretary awakened him at 6 a.m. to inform him of the Peace Prize honor.

Later that morning, Mr. Obama arranged a White House rose garden meeting with Congressional leaders to say he was “surprised and humbled” by the award.

“I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.”

President Obama is the third leading American Democrat to win the Peace Prize this decade.  The other two were Vice-president Al Gore for his climate change theory, and former president Jimmy Carter for his “humanity.”

Theodore Roosevelt was selected in 1906 while in the White House.

The last, sitting, American president to win the prize was Woodrow Wilson in 1919.

James Carter was named 20 years after leaving office, and is still active in volunteering to help build homes for indigent families.

REPUBLICANS  DISSENT

Obama cannot expect the Peace Prize honor to dampen the criticism of Republicans.

Michael Steele -- newly-elected Black chairman of the Republican National Committee  -- is not intimidated by Obama’s international recognition.

“The question Americans are asking” -- says Steele -- is: “What has President Obama actually accomplished?”

It is unfortunate that President Obama’s star-power has out-shined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights.

For instance, Presidents Clinton and Bush W.  had made great strides toward getting rid of nuclear arms.

“One thing is certain says Steele: “President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing-up rhetoric with concrete action.”

REAGAN  REJOINDER

Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan had it right in 1980 when he declared:

“Recession is when your neighbor loses his    job.  Depression is when you lose yours.  Recovery is when President Jimmy Carter loses his! ”

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist