Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
The initial White House reaction to word from ABC News that theNorwegian Nobel Committee awarded President Barack Hussein Obama theNobel Prize for Peace was surprise and disbelief.
The President himself expressed surprise in his remarks below and is "deeply humbled".
He quite rightly understands that it is a "call to action" by the wise and sane of the world.
It is also a challenge to us all to meet our potential as human beingsentrusted with this planet and a powerful declaration of ourshared aspirations for peace so that every human being mightenjoy "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
The very evening of President Obama's award I attended the lastperformance of "A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine" by TrevorGriffiths at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.*
I was riveted throughout three hours of the lively and deeply movinghistory of the United States revolution and the founding of a new sortof country (an attempt at Plato's "Republic" based on the principles ofdemocracy and human rights).
The play contrasted America's successful struggle to the failed attempton the British Crown and the bloody, failed French Revolution throughthe eyes of the American Revolution's greatest writer/fighter Thomas Paine--the man who NEVER sold out.
Throughout the play we were confronted with our greatest shame: slavery. And we are not allowed to forget what we have done to theIndians and the corruption of men wherever they are.
What an extraordinary experience for the world to see a half-BlackPresident take America beyond our shame, dream the dreams we dream,aspire to make those dreams reality and perhaps have the powerto create a better, safer, more peaceful world!
It is up to you, Mr President, to use your "Common Sense" to help the sane secure "The Rights of Man". We have your back.
Note from Susan following her comments leading to President Obama'sacknowledgement and informal acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Peace.
*By coincidence I sat next to a slightly nervous man in the middletower of the recreated open-air Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on thefinal night of "A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine".
That man was acknowledged at the play's end as Trevor Griffiths, theplay's author, who spent 20 years analysing over 20 years ofoverlapping US-European history to produce three hours of sheerbrilliance and a exciting tribute to a man who never sold out.
This superb musical play must be seen in the United States and shouldbe filmed. Our people need to learn our history and understand theobligations we have to the world.
Thank you Mr Griffiths.
The President himself expressed surprise in his remarks below and is "deeply humbled".
He quite rightly understands that it is a "call to action" by the wise and sane of the world.
It is also a challenge to us all to meet our potential as human beingsentrusted with this planet and a powerful declaration of ourshared aspirations for peace so that every human being mightenjoy "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".
The very evening of President Obama's award I attended the lastperformance of "A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine" by TrevorGriffiths at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.*
I was riveted throughout three hours of the lively and deeply movinghistory of the United States revolution and the founding of a new sortof country (an attempt at Plato's "Republic" based on the principles ofdemocracy and human rights).
The play contrasted America's successful struggle to the failed attempton the British Crown and the bloody, failed French Revolution throughthe eyes of the American Revolution's greatest writer/fighter Thomas Paine--the man who NEVER sold out.
Throughout the play we were confronted with our greatest shame: slavery. And we are not allowed to forget what we have done to theIndians and the corruption of men wherever they are.
What an extraordinary experience for the world to see a half-BlackPresident take America beyond our shame, dream the dreams we dream,aspire to make those dreams reality and perhaps have the powerto create a better, safer, more peaceful world!
It is up to you, Mr President, to use your "Common Sense" to help the sane secure "The Rights of Man". We have your back.
Followingis a transcript of President Obama’s remarks in response to receivingthe Nobel Peace Prize, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.
PRESIDENT OBAMA:
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 ownaccomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership onbehalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of somany of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize,men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world throughtheir courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that thosemen and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives lifeto the promise of our founding documents.
And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not justbeen used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a meansto give momentum to a set of causes.
And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a callfor 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 ofengagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the worldwe seek.
We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to morenations and in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers morepeople.
And that's why we've begun to take concrete steps to pursue a worldwithout nuclear weapons: because all nations have the right to pursuepeaceful nuclear power, but all nations have the responsibility todemonstrate their peaceful intentions.
We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, whichcould forever damage the world that we pass on to our children, sowingconflict 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 thatwe see one another. And that's why we must pursue a new beginning amongpeople of different faiths and races and religions, one based uponmutual interest and mutual respect.
And we must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have causedso much pain and hardship over so many years. And that effort mustinclude an unwavering commitment to finally realize that -- the rightsof all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security innations of their own.
We can't accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity anddignity that all people yearn for: the ability to get an education andmake a decent living, the security that you won't have to live in fearof disease or violence without hope for the future.
And even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolvedpeacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront theworld as we know it today.
I am the commander in chief of a country that's responsible for endinga war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversarythat directly threatens the American people and our allies. I'm alsoaware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisisthat 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 mypresidency. Some, like the elimination of nuclear weapons, may not becompleted 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 forjustice and dignity; for the young woman who marches silently in thestreets on behalf of her right to be heard, even in the face ofbeatings and bullets; for the leader imprisoned in her own home becauseshe refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy; for the soldier whosacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half aworld away; and for all those men and women across the world whosacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives forthe cause of peace.
That has always been the cause of America. That's why the world hasalways looked to America. And that's why I believe America willcontinue to lead.
Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT OBAMA:
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 ownaccomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership onbehalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of somany of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize,men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world throughtheir courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that thosemen and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives lifeto the promise of our founding documents.
And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not justbeen used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a meansto give momentum to a set of causes.
And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a callfor 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 ofengagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the worldwe seek.
We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to morenations and in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers morepeople.
And that's why we've begun to take concrete steps to pursue a worldwithout nuclear weapons: because all nations have the right to pursuepeaceful nuclear power, but all nations have the responsibility todemonstrate their peaceful intentions.
We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, whichcould forever damage the world that we pass on to our children, sowingconflict 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 thatwe see one another. And that's why we must pursue a new beginning amongpeople of different faiths and races and religions, one based uponmutual interest and mutual respect.
And we must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have causedso much pain and hardship over so many years. And that effort mustinclude an unwavering commitment to finally realize that -- the rightsof all Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security innations of their own.
We can't accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity anddignity that all people yearn for: the ability to get an education andmake a decent living, the security that you won't have to live in fearof disease or violence without hope for the future.
And even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolvedpeacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront theworld as we know it today.
I am the commander in chief of a country that's responsible for endinga war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversarythat directly threatens the American people and our allies. I'm alsoaware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisisthat 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 mypresidency. Some, like the elimination of nuclear weapons, may not becompleted 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 forjustice and dignity; for the young woman who marches silently in thestreets on behalf of her right to be heard, even in the face ofbeatings and bullets; for the leader imprisoned in her own home becauseshe refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy; for the soldier whosacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half aworld away; and for all those men and women across the world whosacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometime their lives forthe cause of peace.
That has always been the cause of America. That's why the world hasalways looked to America. And that's why I believe America willcontinue to lead.
Thank you very much.
Note from Susan following her comments leading to President Obama'sacknowledgement and informal acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Peace.
*By coincidence I sat next to a slightly nervous man in the middletower of the recreated open-air Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on thefinal night of "A New World: A Life of Thomas Paine".
That man was acknowledged at the play's end as Trevor Griffiths, theplay's author, who spent 20 years analysing over 20 years ofoverlapping US-European history to produce three hours of sheerbrilliance and a exciting tribute to a man who never sold out.
This superb musical play must be seen in the United States and shouldbe filmed. Our people need to learn our history and understand theobligations we have to the world.
Thank you Mr Griffiths.
Posted by Susan's Views at 10/11/2009 10:57 AM 
Categories: Politics
Tags: Politics Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Categories: Politics
Tags: Politics Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Great insight, great article, and thanks for sharing it.
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