On the Other Hand….
…Jackson Blair
The President Stood Tall
I count myself among those who felt that the Nobel Peace Prize came too early for President Obama. His selection was a controversial one. It wasn’t controversial with reference to what he has done, but rather to what he has not yet had a chance to do.
The President did not ask for the award, did not campaign for the award, did not encourage the committee and may well have been as surprised as others at his selection.
Nevertheless, it did present to him an opportunity to address the world from a very prestigious forum. The controversy surrounding his selection guaranteed that his words would be heard around the world and watched very closely.
Some felt the press and the president’s detractors would use the president’s speech to renew criticism of his selection and to criticize what he would say. Those that thought that way felt there was absolutely nothing President Obama could say that would seem appropriate.
There were others who wanted to focus on a man who is fighting two wars and just authorized the deployment of 30,000 troops to Afghanistan as a ridiculous choice for the Peace Prize.
Our president proved himself a fabulous public speaker during the presidential campaign. He is able to motivate, encourage, praise and inspire while delivering messages that some would prefer not to hear. He left nothing wanting in the speech he delivered for the Nobel attendees.
The president delivered an honest, timely and straightforward address in Oslo. I honestly cannot think of any reason an American anywhere in the world should not be proud of what he said and the way he said it. Newspapers around the world praised his remarks.
The president lauded peace. He decried bloodshed. He placed both in the historical perspective necessary to a balanced view of world affairs.
He was right to point out that historically bloodshed has actually ushered in lengthy eras of peace among nations. He knows that to free peoples around the world often requires dedicated military action. He is well aware that every effort at diplomacy deserves a chance before any military intervention but, in the world in which we live, sometimes the only way to free people is to remove those who oppress them.
The president has a four-year term. He may have a second four-year term. It would be premature to declare this the speech for which he will best be remembered. This writer will be very surprised, however, if it does not rank right up there with the best speeches this president will give.
