The Weight on Obama’s Shoulder
Two years ago, Obama started his ambitious presidential campaign. A year later he was there, stepping into White House as the 44th US president and the first Africa-American to be hold the office. However, for twelve years he had been working for human rights NGOs. His autobiography reads that after graduation from Harvard University with straight A’s, large enterprises had offered him tempting job opportunities. Obama, however, rejected the offers and decided to cooperate with NGOs which paid him much less, while he pursued political activities.
So, it would not be far from reality if we said that the Nobel Peace Prize he received last week was not for his too-early-to judge record as the president, but mostly due to his socio-political resume that became more and more commendable from the day he graduated from Harvard and decided to engage in human rights activities. His campaign slogan, ’change’, and issuing an order for the closure of the Guantanamo bay detention in the early days of his presidency have also definitely influenced the Nobel Committee decision. President Obama definitely deserves the prize with a respectable resume he has attained as a senator, a presidential candidate and the U.S. president.
Awarding an incumbent president with the Nobel Peace Prize has a deep impact. It is the third time that an American president receives the prize while in power. The importance would be better appreciated if we know what authorities the United States constitution has granted the president. The U.S. president is the most powerful executive official of a country with the most powerful economy, military forces, political and diplomatic structures in the world. Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Jimmy Carter had also received the prize, but Obama is the first to be honored with the award in his first year in the office.
So what is the significance of prize? The answer is: it has burdened Obama with moral responsibilities. The prize adds to Obama a new personality. From now on he has to take on the role of a Nobel Prize winner who has the powers of an American president. Many of the laureates have not had a limited power and the prize just lent them prestige. But it has given Obama the best opportunity.
Granting the prize to Obama is actually a shrewd act from the committee. They selected the most powerful person in the world who is still a charismatic figure in many countries. From this day forward, Obama cannot take measures without considering the responsibility put on his shoulders. No more could not put his hand on the trigger or press the fire button. The Nobel Prize has put Obama in an exceptional situation.