The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama stunned the world, including himself. At 5:00 a.m. on the day of the announcement, before going to the Missouri Zen Center as usual, I read the first email of congratulations to The Peace Alliance, an initiative to establish a U.S. Department of Peace. I wondered if this were another dream, like those we created recently in a brainstorming session at the Fourth Global Alliance Summit in Costa Rica.

It turned out to be real. The satellite TV news from Japan reported citizens’ voices from Hiroshima and other cities throughout the country: hope for humanity to make a world without nuclear weapons, etc. On the way back home from the Center, I listened to NPR conveying pros and cons and doubts from all over the world. The Global Alliance listserv posted joy and anger and calls for a realistic approach. Eventually, exuberance…

Obama on the campaign trail last year, courtesy of the NY Times

As we in St. Louis wake up this morning, the news is just breaking that President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  I’m not sure this is going to be a very popular decision here in the US. Already the naysayers are at work, ready to ridicule and deride.  What has he actually done to deserve this, anyway?  But it’s not going to be only the usual anti-Obama crowd who are concerned.  Even Lech Walesa, a fellow laureate, says this is “too soon” and hopes it will be “an encouragement” for Obama to do more. “Let’s see if he perseveres. Let’s give him time to act.”

The Nobel Committee cites “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Their statement continues, “The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world…

President Barack Obama delivers remarks on regulatory reform, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Hey Mom.  Sometimes there’s a reason for falling asleep with the television on.  This morning I was awakened by the voice of Congressman-turned-Talk Show host, Joe Scarborough, sharing the news that White House Press Secretary Joe Gibbs awakened President Obama this morning to inform him that he had won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Peace.  That’s worth a little extra electricity.

What followed was a little more challenging.  ”Morning Joe” then began to discuss with Mika Brzezinski, Lawrence O’Donnell and Savannah Guthrie his views that the President hadn’t earned the award.  The dialogue mentioned the possibility of the prize being given to put political pressure on the POTUS as he makes decisions about troop levels in Afghanistan.  And early Associated Press reporting suggests the award being given to Obama as a “slap at President George W. Bush…