The Nobel Peace Prize for US President Barack Obama has invited a wide range of reactions, ranging from delight to disappointment. Critics and cynics say Obama has yet to achieve much, having held the presidency for a mere eight months. But those who really want to understand the reason for the award need only to follow the official explanation by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The committee praised the "change in the international climate" that the president had brought, along with his cherished goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.
"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," it added. President Obama, in his acceptance speech at the White House, pointed out that "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".
We remember the egg of Columbus. As the story goes, guests at a tavern were heckling Christopher Columbus about his successful expedition. The cynics jeered that discovering the Americas was no great accomplishment. Columbus challenged his critics to stand an egg upright. When nobody succeeded, Columbus showed how to do it by tapping the egg on the table, flattening its tip. Now the egg of Columbus refers to an achievement that seems simple after the fact.
(The article is written by Wimar Witoelar).
Your comments:
Muslims and peace are not contradictory. But in the past, Indonesia really has not been a model for peaceful politics. And as long as violence against its own population is so widespread, Indonesia cannot claim a role as worldwide peacekeeper.
Harkus Hagenauer
Surheim, Germany
How can you justify Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono becoming a world statesman - one who will be instrumental in saving the globe from climate change, as well as a peacemaker equipped with a keen understanding of Islam in the political world - when so far little has been done in his own backyard.
Did his acclaimed performances at the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh and address at Harvard University set a new international tone for Indonesia? What tone? Any leader if given the chance to speak at such a forum could have done so . reading a text written by someone else.
Does that make ones' self a world class leader? I wonder.
Patrick
Surabaya
It was too early to award Obama a Noble Prize. The world has lot of hope in him. By awarding the prize so early, he will be looked at with lot of hope all over world. He will have to withstand the pressure of hope and perform outstandingly to bring about lasting peace.
Now the word Noble laureate in peace is attached to his name, his every move will be watched. If he cannot achieve lasting peace, it will affect his performance.
He will be now under lot of pressure to make bold decisions for either achieving lasting peace or to introduce tough measures against any terrorist or countries supporting them.
We wish him all the best.
Umesh K. Dash
Lonavala, India
