First Gracefully Accept

For those who believe world peace is possible only through a process of international engagement and consensus:  “Thank you Nobel Peace Prize committee.”  Their decision is as stunning as November’s American decision to turn 180 degrees.  The Nobel Peace Prize for Barack Obama is a formal international recognition of the courage of America’s electoral act.  It is an international acknowledgement of the promise our decision contains.

As stunning as the awarding of the prize is the reaction in the United States.  Traveling recently in Europe took me out of our current national context.  We have become a nation of wildly opinionated critics who relate to life through the context of the negative.

I am one among most who greeted news of the award with disbelief.  Stunning surprise for me does not result from a sense of undeserved.

What has Barack Obama accomplished?  Let’s start with his election.  He played no small part in it.  That America chose such a radically different course last November brings historic consequence not only to our country.  Inviting the world to bring its dignity and join to resolve intractable problems is no small matter in the face of our recent past.  Establishing a national priority and beginning the work to rid the world of nuclear weapons is no small change.

Many nod to political fallout from this award with a sense of regret.  If we thus shape our actions we will forever cower in the corner from Rush Limbaugh and Michael Steel and their fellow travelers.

Let us celebrate this honor.  With humility, clearly knowing much hard work stands before us.  Before all great advances there was first their promise.  No small thing promise even worthy of a prestigious award.