Friday, October 09, 2009

Obama Awarded Nobel Peace Prize


President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize this morning for his work to improve international diplomacy and rid the world of nuclear weapons--a stunning decision to celebrate a figure virtually unknown in the world before he launched his campaign for the White House nearly three years ago. Especially considering that Barack Obama took office just two weeks before the deadline for Peace prize nominations.

Of president Obama, the committee said:

"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."

Obama is only the third sitting U.S. president--and the first in 90 years--to win the prestigious peace prize. His predecessors won during their second White House terms, however, and after significant achievements in their diplomacy. Woodrow Wilson was awarded the price in 1919, after helping to found the League of Nations and shaping the Treatise of Versailles; and Theodore Roosevelt was the recipient in 1906 for his work to negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese war.

The only other U.S. president to win the peace prize was Jimmy Carter, who won 22 years after leaving office, in 2002, for his work negotiating peace between Israel and Egypt.

Congratulations to the President.

8 comments:

  1. I am so happy about this. This is so great.

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  2. I would be happier if he kept his promises to the LGBT community.

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  3. Anonymous11:12 AM

    This is such great news! I had no idea only one president had received this prior to this point. Interesting.

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  4. Anonymous12:02 PM

    The man just needs time to continue his path to greatness. I'm sure he also needs time to bring his promises to reality. Good things come to those who wait.
    Neal

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  5. Well, you beat me to it, but I am glad you posted this. It is truly wonderful news and we all should be very happy. But there is still such hard work ahead. But this proves that the world is behind us, even if not everyone in this country is. Global perspectives are more in vogue in the 21st Century.

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  6. I can't wait to hear the haters

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  7. This is wonderful! I'm so proud of him. As he said, it's anticipatory. True, but it also says so much about how the world views him and sends a message about the previous administration. Wow! This is awesome!

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  8. Very cool news. The haters are reacting predictably. :P

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