Douglas Brinkley: Obama has already confirmed his place of greatness

[BeyondGeography]

Well-Deserved Prize

I was shocked by the sudden announcement that President Barack Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize. I just didn’t see it coming. But, after a half-day of reflection, I now firmly believe it’s an inspired choice.

...the Norwegian Nobel Committee never claimed they were giving President Obama the award for his nine-month old presidency. Barack Obama, it seems, deserved the Nobel for his audacious ability to navigate the curse of racism with unparalleled integrity and high-mindedness...Plus, let’s face it, Obama has become the world ambassador of hope — quite a burden to carry. Millions of mothers in the world, whether in a remote village or a forgotten corner of urban sprawl, often tell their sons and daughters: “Yes, you can grow up to be like Barack Obama. Oh, yes you can!” As the Nobel Committee knows, there is a huge battle being waged between the forces of light and darkness in the world.

President Obama is one of the brightest flames the human rights movement has seen since Mahatma Gandhi (who never won the prize) took up his loom and marched to the sea...No matter how his presidency develops or the planet evolves, he has already confirmed his place of greatness. For he didn’t just write “The Audacity of Hope,” he actualized it on the campaign trail of 2008. We spend billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars to win over hearts-and-minds to the American Way. President Obama has done the same service on the cheap.

From Cairo to Johannesburg and beyond, he has inspired scores of marginalized teenagers to believe they have a chance at the Main Game, that ballot-box democracy does produce free-and-fair elections. Having our president win the Nobel should be a cause for national honor and civic pride. President Obama represents for the world the cornerstone of our heroic American tradition, where Horatio Alger-like personal biography intersects with our future dreams. Let’s be frank: without hope there is no peace...

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/what-does-a-nobel-do-for-us-leaders/?hp

[Voice for Peace]

1. nice

agree/kr

[Kind of Blue]

2. The common denominator. The kernel of goodness in all

of us personified. Thanks for the link. K&R!

[Inuca]

4. Very nicely put n/t

[chieftain]

3. Thanks for the post.

I think Brinkley's analysis mirrors what a lot of us went through yesterday. Our initial reaction of surprise fell away as the accomplishments of our President were brought to mind. I think we have been so mesmerized with domestic matters and rancid RW attacks, the enormity of what Obama has done in repositioning the US as a force for peace and reconciliation has gone largely unnoticed.It is not remarkable that the media and the GOP devalue what has been done. What is most unfortunate is that on the left, many of us have been overly concerned about particular issues and have lost sight of the number of trans formative initiatives which have been launched by this administration.

[Cha]

12. ..

Indeed!

[ProSense]

5. Awesome. n/t

[Capt. America]

6. spot on!

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Excellent commentary. Thanks for posting. (nt)

[MH1]

8. I support the choice of Obama - I think it's great - but what does it say

that Gandhi never won it?

I'm sure there's a backstory there ...

[hileeopnyn8d]

9. The Nobel Committee

admits that their greatest omission is Ghandi. He was nominated numerous times, and was set to receive it in 1948 but was assassinated. No prize was given that year and a statement was made that there was no suitable living candidate.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/articles/gandhi/index.html

[MH1]

10. Ah, thanks for the info

so in essence Gandhi did win, but couldn't be awarded because of being assassinated.

[Cha]

13. Ohhhh, I did not

know that..thank you.

[Cha]

11. "Inspired Choice" is absolutely

correct!

Those who don't get it need to think outside the box a wee bit. Not including rwankers bc they don't think.

[Cha]

14. I would not have thought of Douglas Brinkley

saying something like this but I'm very grateful..

"As the Nobel Committee knows, there is a huge battle being waged between the forces of light and darkness in the world."

[grantcart]

15. I saw him on Fox yesterday and he kind of mumbled his way through it

good to see he got some perspective

[Cha]

16. Brinkley hadn't come to the

conclusion that it was "an inspired choice", yet?

[tomp]

17. not in my book. nt