Abusing the noble prize

by Debra Bendis

Richard Cohen spins an entire column from one comment by his “love of lo these many years,” who insists that instead of citing President Barack Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize committee got it wrong—it should have awarded the Nobel to the people who elected him. Christine Pelosi nobly offers Obama’s Nobel to America’s military families—especially lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. Liz Cheney and Thomas Friedman echo Pelosi’s military tribute but with a different aim—accept the reward on behalf of the military because it’s “the greatest peacekeeping force in the world today.”

All of this posturing is expected and familiar. But in addition to the souping up of soapboxes, I hope for a quick end to a snarling and sneering rhetoric that is beginning to chip away at the integrity of the Nobel Prize itself. Yes, politics influence committee members, and yes, the view from Norway and a small committee is one particular view, but the Nobel is an international award that we need. (I agree with Fareed Zakawa, who suggests that the American view of the world has its own limitations. He notes that “people here [U.S.] underestimate how relieved the world is to have a more engaged, less bullying America.”)

The Nobel Prize sets and even raises standards of global civility for all of us—yes, even for a young, untried new President. Somewhere tucked in between the American political scene and the perspective of a Norwegian committee is an aspiration to peace, realized this year in part with an award to one man. Let’s agree to honor the prize, to respect the recipient—even if we disagree with the decision—and to honor peacemaking. The Nobel Prize is worth our greatest respect.