Looks like the world's love affair with one of the most articulate and inspiring orators and diplomats of our time is not yet over, contrary to one CNN report.
It hasn't been a year yet since Obama took office, but his charisma, thoughtful rhetoric and distinctive equanimity (some might add good looks) captured the world's attention years before the election. The amazing thing about the celebration around Obama is that people are taken with his character and approach, rather than his politics. Indeed, the strong suggestion is that the former dictates the latter.
However, one is tempted to think that this was a rather last minute decision. His official advocacy of nuclear disarmament was a relatively recent affair. Well, everything he has said or done is relatively recent. Perhaps the other candidates were more deserving? Maybe Obama could have copped next year's award?
Then again the issue isn't time so much as the dearth of precedent associated with the Obama persona. Apart from his race, when was the last time a US President - or premier of any nuclear nation for that matter - proposed a reduction in atomic weaponry? One may be tempted to believe that Obama is actually an advocate of peace!
Of course the implications are somewhat worrisome. Obama is threatening a multi-billion dollar industry. War makes money. The Iraq War has been a very public and practical illustration thereof, so what kind of corporate opposition will he face? Then again, peace is also about action, and no reduction in nuclear arms has taken place yet - only the proposition of such (not to mention two on-going wars).
A debate regarding Obama's worthiness of (and indeed the motives/agenda behind) receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is likely to follow closely behind this announcement (indeed this discourse is part of it), and perhaps it should do. I am certainly in Obama's camp, but wish him to keep his cool head and determined posture, after all, titles and awards have been known to steal substance and action. The reward in this case is not a peace prize - but peace itself, and that is still far from mission accomplished.
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