Barely awake and drifting in and out of sleep thanks to a symphony of storms rolling through the Texas morning, I awoke to the news of another monumental moment in the exuberant and historic presidency of Barack Obama.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee made a surprise announcement that was received by gasps and applause from a small group of journalists at the institute in Oslo, Norway. For the first time since 1919 a sitting US president has been given the prestigious and internationally recognized award for peace.
The committee sites "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," according to Associated Press Reports.
"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," the committee said. "His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population." (AP)
The magnitude of the hope and the encouragement to the world that he emits continues to grow. Rumors of his honeymoon with the media and world being over are grossly overrated.
In just over nine months as president and leader of the free world and on the heels of his failure to secure Chicago's 2016 Olympic-bid, Barack Obama has won the highest award for peace in the world. His selection over 205 other potential nominees that includes 172 individuals and 33 organizations is significant if not shocking.
The outrage will surely be fierce from the right as the jaw-dropping news permeates the airwaves. Many of tea-bagger masses will say, *hmph! "What has he done to win the award?"
In truth, leading two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, facing mounting opposition to his health-care plan, surging domestic unemployment numbers and a recessed but recovering economy, Obama still has a full plate to digest with very few results to show.
Although, to his credit Obama has not shied away from the pressure or heat of the debate. He has remained at the forefront of the discussion most notably to a recent joint session of Congress when he stood firm to support his health-care agenda despite open disrespect from his opposition.
Still winning this fantastic award so soon in his presidency will be viewed as a down payment on the hope of peace to come. A down payment that for far too many at home and abroad has to be paid in full now not later.
Congratulations President Obama on winning the award, now get back to work!
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- Really Different Staff