“The Nobel Hope Prize?”

Wake me when they make it the peace prize again. Of course, they have been looking for a new name after they awarded it to Yasser Arafat.

As a tool for acknowledgement it works, as a tool for change, that is best left to the people.

Finding peace, or more importantly defining peace, is what is the issue here.

There is worldly peace, which is transitory and very, very precarious.
As Jeremiah exclaimed: “Peace, peace! And there is no peace.”
Awards for this can be given in abundance. They are as valuable as the peace which is applauded is as valuable - or as lasting.

And then there is the “peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding,” and which can vibrantly exist even in the midst of calamity, war and persecution.
Indeed, persecution only serves to augment, increase and form this peace in its highest capacity and greatest range.
St. Maximilian Kolbe thrived on it, and shared it in abundance amidst the horrors of Auschwitz in which he was exterminated because of the genocide (he was Polish) and extremes of Nazi anti-Catholicism.

This peace has already been given - but to the Church alone.

“Peace I GIVE you (not future tense), my peace I leave you. Not as the world gives do I give you.” This is a supernatural peace, the very epiphenomenon of sanctifying grace dwelling within the soul.
It is not a peace “to be hoped for” in the future, and most certainly cannot be conjured up materially with any permanence by the nations as a social or political reality.
It is here - now - persisting at the retail level of etitative virtue in action.

We don’t have to strive for THIS peace. Although it will be consummated only fully in Heaven, we obtain a needed portion on this side of that beatitude which will form the glory of the Beatific Vision.

“The Kingdom of God is within you.”

Why can’t we all just embrace the blessing that God has given Obama? This is obviously one of those unforseen blessings that come when you set out to do good and activate Love and Unity in the world. If God had so richly blessed us, wouldn’t we want the faith community to embrace the Gift as well?

According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the prize for Peace should go to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” In light of that, I challenge the world “If not Obama, then who?” The Nobel Peace Prize, unlike the other Nobel prizes, is NOT about a completed accomplishment!! In fact, many of history’s winners have failed to create sustainable peace (Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Mikhail Gorbachev, Yitzhak Rabin). It is about the process, the vision, the hope. If nothing else, I am thrilled that this “premature prize” puts the spotlight on our President and creates a structure of accountability for his future actions toward peace. In response to Another’s comment below, accountability is one of the best tools of change! Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama has made peace something that we all, at least for today, deem important. That fact alone makes this choice nothing short of sheer genius…premature or not.

I agree Rev. Wilson. Peace is an ongoing process that none of us may ever see fulfilled, but it is what we do with our time on earth to contribute to reaching that end is what counts. President Obama launched his administration, and even his candidacy with calls for us to come together; to leave our differences behind so that we might grow and prosper together. While he was criticized for apologizing for America around the world, he was laying a new foundation for peace and reconciliation by simply saying, “We’re sorry” with a commitment to engage in building, working and progressing together in peace. That is one fundamental thing we teach our children, if you have done something wrong to someone, tell them you are sorry. If we teach our children this, we need to begin to practice it. Apologies go a long way toward healing. I say, it’s the first step, probably the biggest hurdle to jump. At the very least, it allows the other person (the world) to know that they are valued and that peace with them is a desired goal. From there, it is possible to move toward making peace a reality. The President is not a miracle worker, but he has taken bold and necessary steps that inform peace and reconciliation. He’s set a great example. Now if individuals do the same, it will be clearer that he is most deserving of the Nobel Prize for Peace.

If that’s the criteria they should have given it to my mother!

Perhaps. I cant speak with any certainty of your mother’s efforts towards peace. Perhaps she unified a nation with chants of “Yes We Can.” Perhaps she apologized on behalf of a nation that has, in recent years and over time, systematically oppressed and silenced the weak. Perhaps she was in the best position in the world to enact change and create a foundation for peace to begin. Perhaps. Or, if she was anything like me, she stood in hopeful anticipation of a leader who not only believed in peace but would courageously speak out in favor of it… while in the meantime, doing the little bit she could to achieve peace on her local level. The prize has been awarded!! Let’s engage in activities that matter (supporting our president) instead of those that don’t (expressing criticism for an award that has already been given).

“If, with all these actions, peace on Earth is still in God’s future, any and every attempt at pointing to peace or the accomplishsments thereof for us will be premature.”

Yes and every single word of yours above are so accurate. Such things can truly only be understood by those who are spiritual. Many are very religious but not at all spiritual. Many who assume that they are spiritual are not and ones who others see as not being spiritual truly are and they are two totally different things.

There was nothing premature about Obama receiving this award, just as it was not premature for Obama running for President. Remember the “Nay Sayers” back then?

Perhaps my mother voted for Obama, and advised her family and friends to do the same.

My concern is not for Obama, he is clear in this, and this nation will hold him to account.

My concern is for the world’s view of peace.

Obama is the commander in chief of the world’s largest standing army. It occupies many places, and is currently engaged in 2 wars in 3 countries. He has promised to end a war already scheduled to end, and in the same speech promises to escalate a war that had been abandon for good cause. My “hope” would have been for him to end it as well. Instead, he has embarked on a course of nation building with the military at war promising peace through law and order.

I am concerned when this leader promises peace, what motivates international leaders to rush to bestow gifts?

Another view from history is Rome promising law and order as peace.

consider its name for a moment - “Nobel Peace Prize.” Prize - a reward for victory or superiority, as in a contest or competition.” I believe it also comes with “cash” for the “winner” to bestow in kind.

My hope would be for this award to shine the light on an international view of world peace that is not peace.