Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Well, that was fast.

Obama's been president not enough nine months and here he is being awarded what, from my perspective, is the single most prestigious award in the world. Some might argue that winning the Nobel for medicine or science might be as high -- or even higher -- an honor. But in my book, you don't get to research medical or scientific breakthroughs, or write transformative literature or develop a novel economic theory, unless there is peace.

Some will call it premature to bestow the award on Obama this early into his term. After all, the Feb. 1 deadline to nominate someone for this year's prize meant his name was put into play less than two weeks after his Jan. 20 inauguration. Plus, with inherited wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and diplomatic or military hotspots presenting themselves from Pakistan to Palestine, from Iran to North Korea, there's nothing concrete that our new president has accomplished in any of those areas. Which is not to say he won't achieve some kind of breakthrough in due time.

A co-worker at The Oregonian, David Sarasohn, noted wryly in the column he wrote for this Sunday that Arizona State University had opted not to confer an honorary degree on Obama when he spoke at the school's commencement in May, contending that his "body of work is yet to come." As if being the first African American president in our 233-year history wasn't enough of an achievement. I'm guessing ASU would like a do-over.

In the meantime, The Associated Press reports, the five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee said awarding Obama the peace prize could be seen as an early vote of confidence intended to build global support for the policies of his young administration.

They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease U.S. conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen its role in combating climate change.

While I'm among those surprised by the Nobel going to Obama this soon, I have no doubt he will accomplish great things as president.

It's not just his oratorical skills but his towering intellect, calmness under pressure and amazing ability to multitask that make him a transformative international figure. He speaks from the heart, as well as the head, when he calls for diplomatic engagement over brute force as the way to peace. And he has given people around the globe reason to hope for a better future, one in which they can strive to better themselves educationally and economically while the United States moves away from the belligerent, me-first posture the characterized the George W. Bush administration.

Ironic, isn't it, that W's father is the one who vowed in his 1988 acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention that he would work to make the United States "a kinder and gentler nation."

Wouldn't it be nice to hope that the prestige of winning the Nobel would translate to Obama having greater clout on Capitol Hill? The longer the health care reform "debate" drags on, the more exasperated I become at the influence of the medical insurance companies and the failure (stupidity?) of millions of Americans to realize that comprehensive reform is in their best interests.

I realize there's no direct connection between receiving an international award and rounding up enough votes in the Senate to not only pass legislation but invoke cloture and shut off debate. But one can always wish, right?

Photo by The Associated Press