Story By Saliho A. Donzo

Photo on Flickr by Transplanted Mountaineer

“Every action has an equal and opposite reaction,” is one third of Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of physics, which we all accept today. But does this law of physics apply to every facet of life? A closer examination can attest to the fact that it does, or can, apply to every aspect of existence.

Hence, the recent honor bestowed upon  the president of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, by earning the Nobel Prize and its attendant confusion that has been expressed by many is very unfortunate. The argument by many who have expressed their dissatisfaction is that Mr. Obama’s efforts are yet to bear significant fruits. Some even doubt whether his efforts will be successful.

The rule for the award states that the Nobel Prize should be awarded, “to 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…”

Mr. Obama, in all reality is yet to complete any of the requirements, and though he was among 205 nominees for this year’s award, and after a lot of back and forth among the selection committee members, he was unanimously selected. It is even suggested that since the nomination deadline was twelve days after Mr. Obama came to office as president of the United States , “the Nobel Prize to Mr. Obama is to supply momentum for his peace efforts rather than to celebrate his achievements.”

In support of this, we know of his peace building efforts from his visits to Egypt and Ghana, and his encouraging comments on the Israel/Palestinian conflict, and from the
reduction of his country’s military presence in Iraq to and his initiatives of peace from Iran to North Korea to Afghanistan.

However, despite the foregoing, many political observers are still asking themselves these questions: Is this award really good for him? Should he denounce it? Is he really
pleased with it?

Mr. Obama’s reaction after he was informed of the award indicates his humbleness. “To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize,” according to news reports quoting spokesman Robert Gibbs.

Yet I sincerely believe the award is good for him, and his cautious response is an indication of his sense of realism. I am excited about his response since he has shown how much
he wants peace and unity for the entire world. I also share the view by many that Mr. Obama deserves the award, and honoring him this way may go a long way to remind
him of the good work that he has begun for humanity. The world needs leaders who can help build bridges of peace so that mankind can live with each other. Mr. Obama’s efforts with the Muslim world, the situation in Iraq, Cuba, Venezuela and his actions on the reduction of nuclear weapons and the promotion of peace are wonderful efforts that deserve nothing less than the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize committee should be commended for their farsightedness, and having vindicated the opinion of the world for the love its people have shown towards the 42nd President of the United States .