I had two predominant feelings about the news this morning that President Obama had received the Noble Peace Prize: Pride and frustration.
First and foremost, I have to let you know that I very much support President Obama. His election was truly an historical event, and my generation will likely not see something this monumental during our lifetimes again.
So throughout my day, I listened to MPR, and was able to get a bit more insight into the reasoning behind Mr. Obama’s nomination with such a massive honor and privilege. The reasons given were Mr. Obama’s work regarding nuclear disarmament, his attempts at reconciling the East with the Wast, namely by reaching out to the Islamic world, howbeit as small as his Cairo speech might have been regarding mending those delicate and torn relations, it was a step in the right direction none the less.
It was also pointed out that Mr. Obama’s election to the American Presidency was seen around the world as a step by the America in finally righting some of its horrendous historical and social injustices regarding racism and slavery.
On these grounds, I would indeed have to agree, and for these reasons I am proud at what our current President has been able to do within his first eleven months in office. So yes, President Obama has indeed made great strides regarding these issues, and for that, I think we all should be grateful.
There is, however, the darker side to this current administration, and that is the fact that so many of the harmful and brutal missteps of the last administration still have to be corrected.
We are making our way slowly out of Iraq it would seem, but what type of presence will we leave there, since there is only a withdrawal of “combat troops”?.
We have floundered in Afghanistan for the past eight years, and the Obama Administration is attempting to find the best course of action to take, which at the moment seems to be a course that will narrow the U.S. Military’s role and objective there, which is promising. I can understand the Obama Administrations desire to take it slow when it comes to big changes in Afghanistan, the results of Mr. Obama’s choices regarding that country will not only effect the rest of his Administration and political career, but will also affect the American Military and safety for years and possibly generations to come.
And lest we forget, there is still the issue of Getmo and the continuation of Patriot Act articles.
So for now, I will continue to speak out, to write, and to pray for that elusive day when the wars will end and there are no more. Do I stand by the Obama Administration 100%? Heck no. but with that said, I will take pride in what I can from this administration while I remain engaged within the Peace Movement and continue to work for Peace and Justice, because after the last eight years, I will take whatever positive move I can from this country’s government that I can get.
