Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Did you hear about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize ? I was actually surprised by the announcement when I heard the news but after thinking a little more about it, I felt that the Norwegian Nobel Committee may be acting proactively in their mission to support and create a more peaceful world. I really can not speculate on what was going through the heads of the committee members but here are my thoughts- The prize was not about a person or his achievements. It was a mandate on the approach to creating a environment where dialogue wins. The prize is to support a move away from the rhetorical and irrational policy of fear, hatred and appeasement (8 years under Bush) to an atmosphere of engagement and rational thinking. Obama and his administration may have just taken the baby steps in this direction and it may be years before we see anything worthwhile coming out of this. One thing we all can agree is that whether it is global warming, financial crisis, nuclear disarmament, fighting terrorism, the middle- east conflict, or supporting the cause of UN as a world body and not America's puppy, Obama and his administration are taking the right approach by engaging all the nations in the process. I think this prize is for all the Americans and all the people of the world who believe that by bringing the world together as one, we can overcome some of the major problems that we are currently facing. What do you think ?


Below is the text of Obama's acceptance speech which I found was a very gracious acceptance speech.



“Good morning. Well, this is not how I expected to wake up this morning. After I received the news, Malia walked in and said, "Daddy, you won the Nobel Peace Prize, and it is Bo's birthday." And then Sasha added, "Plus, we have a three-day weekend coming up." So it's -- it's good to have kids to keep things in perspective.

I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. 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. Now, these challenges can't be met by any one leader or any one nation. And that's why my administration's worked to establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we seek.

We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to more nations and in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers more people. And that's why we've begun to take concrete steps to pursue a world without nuclear weapons: because all nations have the right to pursue peaceful nuclear power, but all nations have the responsibility to demonstrate their peaceful intentions. We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, which could forever damage the world that we pass on to our children, sowing conflict and famine, destroying coastlines and emptying cities.

And that's why all nations must now accept their share of responsibility for transforming the way that we use energy. We can't allow the differences between peoples to define the way that we see one another. And that's why we must pursue a new beginning among people of different faiths and races and religions, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. And we must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have caused so much pain and hardship over so many years. And that effort must include an unwavering commitment to finally realize that -- the rights of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security in nations of their own.

We can't accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity and dignity that all people yearn for: the ability to get an education and make a decent living, the security that you won't have to live in fear of disease or violence without hope for the future. And even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today. I am the commander in chief of a country that's responsible for ending a war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies.

I'm also aware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisis that has left millions of Americans looking for work. These are concerns that I confront every day on behalf of the American people. Some of the work confronting us will not be completed during my presidency. Some, like the elimination of nuclear weapons, may not be completed in my lifetime.

But I know these challenges can be met, so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone. This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration; it's about the courageous efforts of people around the world. And that's why this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity; for the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard, even in the face of beatings and bullets; for the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy; for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away; and for all those men and women across the world who sacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives for the cause of peace. That has always been the cause of America.

That's why the world has always looked to America. And that's why I believe America will continue to lead. Thank you very much.

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Through this blog, I hope to share with the readers my views on everyday things around us be it politics, economy, healthcare, parenting, an article that I read, my experience at the grocery store or any such thing that I feel worth sharing and discussing. I hope you will enjoy your stay.