Obama & Hack 2004 US Senate primary campaignAt 4:58am Archbishop Desmond Tutu sent me an email about President Barack Obama being the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.   Tutu used the affectionate terms by which I call him and his wife Leah and the one we use for fellow Nobel Peace Laureate President Nelson Mandela in writing, “Leah was crying with joy and disbelief as we watched an epoch-making event unfolding before our eyes.  What a fantastic result, what a fantastic human being, what fantastic people, what a fantastic country.  What hope you all have aroused in the rest of the world.  Thank you God, thank you friends, thank you for filling us all with hope that change is possible.  Yippee…it is so like when Madiba became president, almost impossible, almost dreamlike but real.  Pinch yourselves. It has happened you have all made it happen.  Love and blessings, Arch and Archess.”

I wrote back “I too wept, rejoiced and thought, ‘Now let’s watch those reluctant members of congress fight him on providing universal health care: it’s one thing to stand up to a president, but one who’s also a Nobel Peace Laureate!?!’”  But seriously, I hope this recognition will help Obama in his efforts towards peace, prosperity and the well-being for the citizens of the US and the world.  I especially hope he will approach his decisions on wars, what contributes to them, and what can help bring them to an end through the prism and with the burden of carrying this internationally recognized peace mantel.  In his remarks at 11:20am, Obama said he will accept this award as “a call to action” to establish a new era of engagement in which all countries work together to solve problems and improve conditions.  He also expressed a hope that people of different faiths and beliefs could pursue a “new path” of working together.  Please post comments on what you believe this global honor might allow him to do as well as what challenges he still faces.

{ 5 comments… add one }
  • Carole Weinstein October 9, 2009, 3:07 pm

    I am proud for the global recognition he deserves and see it as a confirmation he is moving in the right direction in spite of those who would derail him and attack him. Yes, it is about time we have someone who leads us or tries to in the face of a still distrusting and very naive, and self-interested society. We now have someone who has a brain, sees truth and possibilities, and is trying to represent our diverse world. I champion him, his mission, and his journey and glad I am still here to witness it, no matter what others think.

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  • lindi October 9, 2009, 3:15 pm

    I believe that was his comment on the election, not the Nobel.

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  • Robert Kesten October 9, 2009, 3:23 pm

    The prize will help him a bit more internationally than nationally. Our domestic political landscape is one where he has no control over the Republicans and there is too much fighting with the Democrats. If he can find a way to make the prize one all Americans are apart of, then maybe he can ralley the public to his side and once again move mountains as he did in the election.

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  • Tore J. Brevik , Oslo October 12, 2009, 2:39 am

    It is a surprising and very controversial choice. There are great expectations that action and good results will materialize. Perhaps was the prize given him too early – it may actually make some things more difficult for him. His greatest obstacles are found in his home country and he is Commander in Chief of two running wars.
    But again, Obama has taken many bold, new initiatives and believes in cooperation and multilateral action. This time the Nobel Peace Price reflects our hopes . Without hopes and dreams, there can be no change. I congratulate him and proudly wish him and his country all the best.

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  • Nadine Hack December 10, 2009, 2:48 pm

    I was disheartened that the focus of his acceptance speech was a justification of the “just war.” I expected so much more from him.

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