Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” The announcement was greeted with mixed reactions. Some argued that the President has done nothing to earn this prestigious honor. But others felt that he was the most deserving candidate.
The selection of Obama has stirred a lot of conversation. Many people have suggested that he hasn’t done anything to promote peace. And some have claimed that his actions have actually extended the length of one war and helped start another. People who feel he was the right choice think that he has opened the door to bring about international peace. Plus, he has generated a new feeling of hope that has been absent from the world for far too long.
One thing many debaters do agree on is that the prize may have been intended to encourage future behavior from Obama instead of rewarding his actions since taking office. The President himself admitted that to being surprised and deeply humbled at being chosen. And he said he thought of the award as an affirmation of American leadership and a call to action.