BLACK HISTORY MONTH - WHY WAS BARACK OBAMA GIVEN THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE?
February month is History month in the United States. Normally it is called Black History Month, but I say simply "History Month" because "Black History" is "American History", and part of "World History". One question came to my mind today in connection with this year's History month, particularly when looking at the state of affairs in today's American politics:
"Why was Barack Obama given the Nobel Peace Prize?".
It is a question which many still seem to grapple with, and even President Obama himself wondered why he was given one when he once was asked by a journalist. In order to answer this question let us go not far back in our recent piece of American history.
Just twelve years ago, while the entire world was hurting because of one of the deepest economic depressions ever experienced by mankind, and while blood was being shed during the two wars in the Middle East with millions of lives lost and thousands of dead American and ally troops, in the midst of hopelessness and increasing threats of terrorism, Barack Obama lit the flame of hope with his many speeches that resounded across the globe, reminiscent of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F Kennedy. He focused on bringing a positive message to the world and laid out his "Yes We Can" vision of peace and to end the two lasting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Millions were losing their homes and their jobs. People were looking for a fresh start, longing for someone who could turn things around and steer the ship to a recovery course.
Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, received the largest share of the popular vote won by a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. His message transcended across people of all races, gender, age, religion, and ethnicity. With his background and his message of hope, and being the first black family to be elected into the White House, the Obamas embodied Dr Martin Luther King Jr's dream, that you must be judged not by the color of your skin but by the content of your character. The Obamas were a sign of social progress, racial acceptance, of reconciliation, unity, and the start of a new era.
However where there is progress adversity often lingers around the corner. Obama's presidency became one of the most troublesome in American politics and the country's history. We saw the rise of the Tea Party Movement with a slogan that called to "Take our country back!". They took to social media and led a smear campaign against the Obamas, even calling First Lady Michelle Obama some of the worst and most insulting and disrespectful epithets one would ever call a First Lady of the United States. Because of his ethnicity and biracial background all Obama's motives as president were put into question, including his religious belief, his place of birth, his patriotism. And for the first time in American history and politics a sitting president was forced to publicly reveal his birth certificate. Even though Obama's mother, the woman who carried him for nine months in her stomach and gave birth to him in an hospital in Hawaii was a white woman and American through and through, that didn't seem to count to the partisans of so-called "birther movement ". As if Obama's dad, a man from Kenya, was the person who had given birth to Obama and therefore Obama must have been born in Kenya. This is how trivial this piece of American history will ever be remembered.
Meanwhile the Republican led Congress made it their mission to make Obama a "One term president". They obstructed and focused most of their effort in their attempt to cripple the Obama presidency. However the will of the people always prevails. The Obamas' likability did not dwindle. The flame of hope was still alive and burning. Millions of men and women of all races took to the voting booths. And as of the 2016 presidential election Obama's total count of 69.5 million votes still stands as the largest tally ever won by a presidential candidate.
And against all odds President Obama and his administration, with Joe Biden as Vice President, managed to steer the ship out of stormy waters and led the country on a path to economic recovery. From nearly 10% unemployment rate when Obama took office to 4.6% when he left after eight years. Created 16 million jobs, bailed out Wall Street, bailed out the auto industry and saved one million jobs, gave health care to over 50 million Americans, brought troops home from ten years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, signed the Paris Climate Accord, signed the Iran Deal to curb Iranians' nuclear ambitions. He literally saved the country from the brink of economic collapse and laid a foundation for a recovery that is giving results till today. He passed on a healthy economy to his successor, though he is not being given credit for any of his achievements.
In a country that believes in heroes Obama would have been a hero in the eyes of all Americans, especially Republicans, had he been white and Republican.
But not all heroes are celebrated at home. Obama's flame of hope and message of peace was recognized abroad.
And did he deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?
In my view, Yes, he did.
This is not black history. It is American history, World history.
We have just been in the brink of another war in the Middle East, with Iran. America is deeply divided politically, and some in the business world are starting to predict a nearing economic recession. Will the world soon be longing for someone to light a new flame of hope?
Happy History Month!
