Fighting Over Peace
At this point, I think most people have developed an opinion on the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to Barack Obama. I've got my own, but I don't think that's what important to mention.
Whether he deserved the award or not (as many have argued), that's inconsequential.
What does matter is how individuals have used their power within the media or their own political circles to bash the president for this turn of events.
Now, if it turns out President Obama lobbied as hard for this award as he did for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, there'd be plenty of criticism to levy at his feet. But that has yet to be proven, nor is there any indication as to whether there's an ounce of truth to that suggestion.
I'm much more concerned about the bashing of Obama because a committee of foreign interests deciding that he should receive this honor. Let's turn the focus to the Nobel committee if we must, but even then it's widely known that they have made some dubious choices for their peace laureates over the years.
I'm all for debating the job Obama has done as President thus far, but it seems a bit ridiculous to use "He doesn't deserve a Nobel Peace Prize" as an indictment of his work overall; only two other sitting U.S. presidents (Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson) have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and only one other person to serve as President (Jimmy Carter) has received the honor outside of his time in office.
And since you've stayed with me to this point, I'll let you know how I feel: Obama is making the right decision to donate the prize money to charity. It might have been an even better decision to decline the honor outright, as there are MANY deserving people in the world (like Hu Jia).
