Dear Mark: Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel Surprise
by Hendrick Hertzberg
October 19, 2009

from the New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2009/10/19/091019taco_talk_hertzberg

Who: President Obama and Nobel.

What: Last week, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama for his attempts to open up diplomatic talks between Middle Eastern nations. Many people believe that it is too early to award Obama with a Nobel Peace Prize because he has only been in office for eight months as well as there is still conflict within the Middle East.

When: Obama was awarded with the peace prize just over a week ago. However, the Nobel Pace Prize has been awarded since 1901 and there have been changes to the requirements of why the prize should be awarded. The award was first given out as according to Alfred Nobel's will, “for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” After the Second World War the judging committee evaluated recipient’s actions based on more of a "political art."

Where: The article has no focus on one location. Hertzberg mentions numerous places around the world, such as Norway, the Middle East and America. The article has interests that concern the world.

Why: The "Why" is an important question with this article. It questions whether Obama is worthy of receiving the Nobel Peace Prize when there is internal struggle within the United States.
Obama acknowledged the critics concern in his acceptance speech:

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honoured by this prize—men and women who’ve inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honour specific achievement; it’s also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the twenty-first century.