Obama’s Nobel has definatly garnered a lot of head scratching. Many people I talked to, Democrats and Republicans alike, thought it was an awful idea. Many felt that he received that award without actually accomplishing anything. Heck, he himself even said that.
I disagreed with them though. I felt that Nobel was not only appropriate, but also needed. In this particular instance I don’t see Obama’s Nobel as an award (although maybe it’s deserved after all). I see it as a call to action. I see it as a call for change and new responsibility. Not just to the President, but to our nation as a whole.
Obama, as our President, is the most prominent symbol of the United States. However, he is only the extension of our country, a single man who has to deal with a very divided legislature, and an unsure and scared populace. He cannot change the world alone.
Ever since Soviet Union collapsed nearly two decades ago, United States has been the sole super power in the world. Other countries have develop greatly since, but in terms of political, military, and cultural influence United States is alone at the top. It is a status we are very much aware off. And while we seem to embrace being the ‘best’ in the World, we have turned our back on the responsibilities that title carries.
To me, this Nobel Award is a reminder of those duties. Instead of arguing over whether or not it is earned and deserved, WE need to live up to that Award. I say we because that responsibility doesn’t fall on Obama or the Congress alone, we all need to contribute.
