My thoughts on the Obama Nobel Prize

(Like my last few posts, this is a response I had written for comments on Facebook)

I agree that Obama hasn't done anything in particular to garner the award. I think the Norwegians gave him the award to show that they encourage and praise the steps forward he has made toward preventing nuclear proliferation, finally giving those in Guantanamo the legal rights they deserve, enacting more peaceful policies in Iraq, and enormously repairing the US foreign relations that were nearly destroyed by the previous administration.

If the goals of the Norwegian Peace Committee were to promote peace and award "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses," then it seems they have every right to give it to Obama. Who else has a more powerful voice for the potential engendering of peace today.

While he may not have deserved it yet, shouldn't we as American's be proud to be seen as making progressive steps in promoting peace?

Though, I think Bill Clinton should have gotten it this year.

**UPDATE**

Obama said that he didn't deserve the award and sees it as a call to action for him and other governments to push for peace and nuclear non-proliferation. Can we just move on now.