…albeit very briefly.

It seems clear that Obama winning the Nobel Prize for Peace is both premature and well deserved.
It’s premature as he hasn’t done enough in his 10-month presidency to deserve an award of this calibre. He still faces the unsolved crises in Afghanistan, the economy, Middle East and Iran – to mention just a few. The Finanacial Times on Saturday said that it is in Obama’s hands to “rescue the prize from itself – by declining it in deference to those more worthy then he.”

But, he is worthy of it. He has set a new international diplomatic tone, a new tone of politics. There is something about the way he engages with the world that is special. Some say he is a master of words as if that’s a bad thing. Words, and the way we choose to use them, are powerful. He tends to use the right words. Words of peace.

By being who he is, a black man, the son of a single mother, he has demonstrated something about human potential that wasn’t available before. That’s worth something too.

All of this has contributed to bringing America back into the world after 8 years of Bush’s alienating political manner. Sarkozy in responding to Obama winning the award said:”The award marks America’s return to the heart of the people of the world”.

However, I think that Andrew Sullivan has a point in believing that also deserving of the prize is “Neda, the murdered Iranian who died defending her own freedom and democracy. If not Neda, then Mousavi and Karroubi. Obama has set the stage for peace, and changed the global dynamic. But these people are heroes, displaying the courage of their convictions, putting their lives on the line for freedom.”

That said, I believe the man who has changed the mood of the world, and who has brought fresh hope deserves the endorsement and encouragement this peace prize brings.

Here are Obama’s comments on winning:

“Let me be clear: 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.

“To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize — men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

“But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build — a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action — a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century.”

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