This is not the way 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 Shasha added, “plus we have a three day weekend coming up.”. So, 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 own accomplishments but rather as a affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honoured by this prize -men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know this prize reflects the kind of world these men and women and all Americans want to build - a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honour specific achievements, it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action - a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges can’t be met by any one leader, or any one nation, and that is why my administration worked to establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we seek.
We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to more nations, in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers more people. And that’s why we’ve begun to take concrete steps to pursue a world without nuclear weapons - because all nations have the right to pursue peaceful nuclear power but all nations have the right to demonstrate their peaceful intentions.
We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change, which could forever damage the world that we pass on to our children - sowing conflict 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 people to define the way that we see one another. That’s why we must pursue a new beginning among people of different faiths and races and religions. One based upon mutual interest and mutual respect. And we must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have caused so much pain and hardship over so many years – and that effort must include a non-wavering commitment to finally realize the rights of all Israelis and Palestinians to live in security in nations of their own.
We can’t accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity and dignity that all people yearn for – the ability to get an education and make a decent living, the security that you won’t have to live in fear of disease or violence without hope for the future. Even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today.
I am the Commander in Chief of a country that’s responsible for ending a war and working in another theatre to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies. I’m also aware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisis that has left millions of Americans looking for work. These are concerns that I confront everyday on behalf of the American people
Some of the work confronting us will not be completed during my presidency. Some, like the elimination of nuclear weapons may not be completed 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 by 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 for justice and dignity – for the young woman who marches silently in the streets on behalf of her right to be heard, even in the face of beatings and bullets. For the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refuses to abandon her commitment to democracy. For the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away. And for all those men and women across the world who sacrifice their safety and their freedom and sometimes their lives, for the cause of peace. That has always been the cause of America. That’s why the world has always looked to America, and that’s why I believe America will continue to lead.
Thank you very much.
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Thorbjorn Jagland, Chairman, Norwegian Nobel Committee:
Because.. President Barack Obama – he has made extraordinary efforts to improve the international climate and strengthen international diplomacy and also the fact that he has endorsed a so called zero-vision approach for a world free of nuclear arms. So he have done a lot already. So that’s why we have awarded him the prize this year. CNN:
A great many people are delighted, some are shocked. He’s been in office less than a year – most of what he’s tried he’s really just at the start of. Was the committee acting a little… fast? Chairman Jagland:
No, not at all. We wanted to promote what he stands for and this is a longstanding history of the Nobel committee, namely to try to enhance a set of ideals that Barack Obama is promoting and it is not the first time that we’ve given the prize to one that’s STARTED a process – for instance, here in Europe when Willy Brandt launched the so-called Ostopolitik, this was the starting of the process that ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall many many years later and when Mikhail Gorbachev got the prize also we want to promote what he has done for and what he has already done. CNN:
I keep coming back to the very basic fact that won’t be lost on the people of Iraq or Afghanistan or many people around the world – he’s leading two different wars. Is he really the right man to name as the world’s most distinguished peace maker? Chairman Jagland:
The (undecipherable, sorry) that concerns us all. And we do want to emphasize that there is a need now for strengthening diplomacy for resolving conflict and that’s what Barack Obama is trying to do and also changing the international climate of international politics and one could hope that this could help resolve also the conflict. I would like to add also that other people have to respond positively and this also a message from the committee, namely that we want other leaders, other people, other nations also to go along with his concept namely to resolve conflicts within the framework of diplomacy and within the framework of international institutions. CNN:
Now the Norwegian Nobel Committee has a long and honourable tradition of secrecy surrounding it’s discussions but can you tell me, is it true that this year you had trouble reaching a concensus…. Chairman Jagland:
Oh no. CNN:
...- and can you tell me of the voting members… Chairman Jagland:
No, no. CNN:
How many people actually voted for him? Chairman Jagland:
No, everyone. We had no problems at all. This was a speculation from those who don’t know anything about it. So it’s untrue. CNN:
No problem at all? But how many people voted for him? Out of five voting members… Can I ask.. Chairman Jagland:
Five! CNN:
....It’s a symbol of.. It’s a question of some curiosity on my part. How many people did it take for Barack Obama to win in this year’s Nobel Prize? Chairman Jagland:
No, no. We need all the members of the committee and everyone was, the entire audit was unanimous discussion. CNN:
Unanimous? Chairman Jagland:
This was the decision.
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* i personally feel that the outcry from the people (not governments, not organisations or most importantly, NOT the media) goes to show how much obama has permeated the public agenda and that in itself shows the difference he's made in the world.. the amount of awareness he's accumulated. michael steele, chairman of the republican party says obama won because of his "star power" rather than any meaningful accomplishments - and while i doubt that its the entire reason he won, i think mr steele shot himself in the foot because i kind of agree. i feel star power's got a good deal to do with it, because 'star power' leads to credibility and trust, something a good politician needs to push for better policies. even if his rhetoric is seemingly indah khabar dari rupa, its driven so many people who otherwise do not care for politics to stand up and think and more importantly, make their voices heard - in the us AND otherwise. i do not know if his achievements, in this case, overshadows the other nobel nominees but i seriously doubt he was a lame duck, all talk no show guy. i hope he goes on an earns this merit now. insyallah. |
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