We Stand By Our Words

The Nobel Prize has become a meaningless honor in just about every category in which it is given. In no area has this award been more besmirched than in that of world peace. Ever since President Obama was chosen as the Nobel Peace Laureate in October 2009, the committee has been making even more absurd, craven and irrelevant choices. We all know who deserved the prize in 2010: Julian Assange. And a year later it should have gone to Bradley Manning, followed by Edward Snowden. These men are the greatest peace activists in the world today. God bless them, keep them safe and secure their freedom from imprisonment.

Shortly after the announcement of President Obama as the Peace Prize recipient, Monique Frugier and myself wrote and circulated a petition to rescind the award to Obama. Only 134 people signed. When our commander-in-chief gave an acceptance speech that was comprised largely of a lecture on the necessity of "just war," he ridiculed the prize he was given and the people who gave it. It was a disgraceful performance. And we knew then, as we know now, we were right to have begged Oslo to come to its senses. Just for kicks, here's the text of our petition:

NØbel For Obama

When on October 9, 2009, Barack Obama became the fourth U.S. president to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the world's most prestigious human affairs honor, it was viewed both by giver and recipient as an act of faith that would be justified by future actions. President Obama himself said it was more "a call to action" than a recognition of any specific accomplishment. In explaining its bold faith-based gesture, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said its unanimous decision was based on Obama's "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation among peoples." The Committee took special note of the president's restoration of "dialogue and negotiation" as the cornerstones of American foreign policy, lauding his leadership "on the basis of values and attitudes shared by the majority of the world's population" as well as "renewed US commitment to international organizations." We the undersigned believe that in the two months following this stirring announcement, President Obama has undermined the trust on which this award was made and by so doing sacrificed his eligibility for it. We cite two major violations of this trust: 1- the refusal to join the international Landmines Treaty five years after its ratification 2- the decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan by sending an additional 30,000 US troops to that embattled nation. In light of President Obama's failure to accept the Nobel Committee's implicit invitation to be a peacemaker, we the undersigned ask this august body to revoke this award and, instead, give it to someone who has shown by actions not just rhetoric repeated commitment to the principles on which this award is based. In asking the Committee to take this unprecedented action, we believe that this body will be acknowledging its premature and mistaken judgment and also defending the integrity of this momentous honor. Last, we believe that such a revocation will send a message to all future recipients that their most inspired words must be followed by significant deeds. Note: The following petition to cancel awarding the Nobel Peace Price to Barack Obama will be sent to Dag Terje Anderson, the current president of the Norwegian Parliament, to forward to Thorbjorn Jagland, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee which is part of the parliament. 

Sponsor

Monique Frugier and David Federman, activists for Justice and Peace.