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Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize......Deservedly

10/9/2009

2 Comments

 

         "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal"......Martin Luther King Jr.


    My first reaction to the news was "what? then "why?" but I was in bed and my brains was deactivated. Then, as I floated between sleep and awareness, I realised that the Nobel committee was more astute and perceptive. They had made a brilliant decision and for all the good reasons.
     Eight years of toxic relations under Bush has given way to hope under Obama. He changed the tone and the thrust of the debate on war and peace. While placing his trust on diplomacy, he did not back away from robust actions when needed, like the drone attacks on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border or sending more troops to Afghanistan. In Cairo he delivered a strong  message to the players in the Middle East. He faced off against Netanyahu and his settlements building and footdragging while making Abbas and the Palestinians aware of his concern for their shortcomings and their responsibilities. He sent a strong message to Ahmadinejad on Iran's nuclear programme but continued to pursue dialogue. The North Koreans were made to understand that they have to behave if they want to avoid sanctions and America's economic help. He scrapped the defense shield that Bush had promised to Eastern Europe and thus eaesd concerns in Russia, whose help will be needed with Iran and North Korea and Syria. He made Europe and Nato a full partner in Afghanistan and ended the frosty relaations with France and Germany, who had opposed Bush's unilateral actions in Iraq and in other areas of international relations. He ended the undermining of the American Constitution, decided to close Guantanamo and have prisoners brought to trial and his economic package, in concert with other countries, has resulted in the economic meltdown being reversed and some control being placed on rapacious corporations banks and investment houses. He will get a Health bill passed and millions of Americans will get the health care so long denied them. 
     The world is a safer place because of his approach and his policies. America's stature has been won back and gradually it is being trusted again.....no more 'cowboy" diplomacy. The Nobel will further enhance him and his position and it will also make him even more committed to pursue America's interests in conjunction with those, of other nations. We live in a very interconnected world, whether it is HINI, TERRORISM, NUCLEAR PROGRAMMES. MIDDLE EAST PEACE, CLIMATE CHANGE, TSUNAMI, FLOODING IN THE PHILLIPINES OR DEFORESTATION IN BRAZIL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION OR THE ECONOMIC CRISIS ETC.. Local and national have become international and even though America has lost some of its military and economic clout. it remains the major player and its leadership is needed.
     Congratulations Mr. President Obama, the award is fully deserved. It will make your enemies choke on their vitriol and they will cast doubts on its merits, but that is so much sour grapes. Enjoy the moment and then back to work ....Medicare and al Qaaeda awaits.
      
2 Comments
Ray Sundar
10/11/2009 02:08:35 am

I was taken back by your seemingly wholehearted and unabashed endorsement of President Obama being awarded the Noble Peace Prize. Especially since Obama has such a skimpy body of work. Let's not forget he was nominated in February '09, a mere month or so after becoming our president.
The 'looney left wing' Norwegian Noble Peace Committee has done irreparable harm to this hitherto prestigious award. It is evident their contempt of an inept President Bush blinded their objectivity as they stampeded to naming Obama the unanimous winner. If I were a betting man, I would say this is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse.
The laundry list in support of this award is woefully inadequate in accomplishments. Except for the drone attacks in Pakistan he has not, yet, achieved much. And the drone attacks resulted in innocent Pakistanis being killed. Yes, yes I know, collateral damage is an unintended consequence (maybe intended in some circles)of war. The list contains words such as robust(referencing the drone attacks), strong message in Cairo, faced off against Netanyahu (do you honestly believe Bibi will allow himself or Israel to be pushed around?), strong message to Ahmadinejad, North Koreans were made to understand, Abbas and Palestinians aware of his concern, etc. - no record of accomplishments.

It is debatable whether or nor the world is a safer place as a result of afore-mentioned. Bombs keep on exploding with impunity in trouble spots, murders and atrocities continue unabated.

Now, if this award is based wholly and solely on hope, then I suppose any of a number of folks could have won.

I agree with your initial reaction......What? Why?

Even President Obama did not feel he deserves the award, saying" I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize".

Not yet, Mr. President!

At some point in the future Mr. Obama may very well deserve this award. Not now!

Reply
Ian Cibula
10/29/2009 01:32:01 am

I have to admit, I felt refreshed and surprised to find that I was not alone in thinking that the move to award President Obama was a good decision.

Although his list of acomplishments is quite small at the present moment, he represents the hope for a better tomorow for youth like me better than any other individual in the public eye. At the very least the prize was awarded in the spirit of legitimizing Obama and his lofty ambitions of hope and change. It is this kind of international support that could help break the US against the World mentality that dominates in America today.

And as for those who might say that awarding the prize in essence prematurely could tarnish the reputation of the Nobel, let us not forget that in the past it has been used as a token gesture. Awarding it to Yasser Arafat for mascarading to promote peace in the middle east would seem to me a more surefire way of damaging the reputation of the prize.

Even if this award is being doled out proactively, let us be grateful that it is being done with the best of intentions, as opposed to being used as a cheap reward.

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    fig 2-b My Father and Mother to whom I owe everything

    "Ecce Homo"  ("Behold the Man"), Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Jesus to the people of Jerusalem.

    fig 1-b


    figure 1-a

    F. Goya
    Two men fighting with clubs
    circa 1819-1823

    The Black Paintings Period


    (Fig 2a) The Death of Innocents


    Author

     Ishwar R. Prashad recently retired from over 47 years of teaching.

    He taught Political Science variously at Dawson College, Loyola College, Algoma University College, Sir George Williams University, Concordia University and Vanier College.

    Previously, he taught for nine years in Port Mourant, Guyana.


    He became Principal of Corentyne Comprehensive High School at the tender age of 21. During this time he turned down Scholarship offers to study overseas in England and the U.S.S.R.

    He chose Canada and after graduating from Sir George Williams with a B.A Honours with Distinction, he accepted a Fellowship to complete his graduate work at McMaster University. He completed his first two degrees-Bachelors and Masters- in three years.  

    His last position was as Co-Ordinator of Political Science and Economics at Vanier College and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Concordia University.

    He is married to the former Juliet Ramcharan (Library Supervisor, McGill University) and together they have three children – Indra R. Prashad, P.Eng. ,McGill (Presently Manager, Ontario Safe Water Drinking Agency), Ishwar R. Prashad Jr., B.A ,McGill (Presently, President, Kismit Gear Inc.) and Rabindra Y. Prashad, (Presently, Artist and Chef).They are the proud Grandparents of eight grandchildren-Miranda, Kamal, Ayesha, Élan, Anĵa , Étienne, Chloé, and Jasmine.

     

     

     





     



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