Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize
—by Paul Wilson
So, last night I posted this on facebook:
My wife, Lindsey, warned me that I was stirring an angry nest with this status, and in all honesty, I knew I was. Yet, I strongly believe in what I posted and it is apparent by the overwhelming response to my status that many disagree with me.
Regardless what my friends may think, I am not an evil plotting liberal/progressive. In fact, on most moral issues I stand in opposition with the liberals and Mr. Obama. Key issues as abortion and gay marriage make it impossible for me to ever be in that camp of belief.
So, why would I feel that Obama deserves the Nobel Prize? For me, my feelings on who should receive this distinguished award are independent of my political stance. I sincerely believe that the many people scoffing at the notion of Obama receiving this prestigious award, are basing their opinions on their political feelings. Many are not looking at what our President has accomplished in his short time in office.
My previous post highlights almost 80 acts of note worthy, Noble Peace Prize deserving, behavior—and that is only for nine months in 2009. It amazes me that people are willing to cast a blind eye to these achievements because they stand on opposites sides of the debate. For me this seems the underlying problem of America’s politics, we choose not to understand the other side or even be amiable to it.
With that all said, I do have to agree with my friend Katie (concerning both her statements 
) when she said:
I seriously felt awarding the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Al Gore the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for “their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change,” was, well, um….interesting to say the least. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure “An Inconvenient Truth,” was probably an inspiring movie, but was it worth the highest award for peace?
This example could feasibly support my friend’s Katie’s assumption that the Nobel Peace Prize is more of a liberal platform. Understanding this, I can see why some may feel that Obama’s award was more political than anything. However, when deciding who should be the worthy recepitant of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize I have to ask the same question Thorbjoern Jagland, chairman of the Nobel Committee, asked when he stated, “The question we have to ask is who has done the most in the previous year to enhance peace in the world. And who has done more than Barack Obama?”
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