Nobel Peace Prize for Obama
Anyone can fault the timing of the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama as Dr. Reich and others have done with some valid comments. I prefer to look at this prestigious honor not as a symbol of Obama’s specific Achievements but as a recognition of his superb new Tone, Hope, and Voice for the Aspirations of world citizens seeking harmony in these chaotic, threatening times of change. His is a voice for refreshing open dialogue, a vision of unity in self-renewal in the face of discord and distrust. For Obama, it’s all about ``Letting go,´´ of the destructive blockages of the past. It’s about using the right side of the brain´s sense of awareness and reconciliation to open the space for fresh prospects.
In his calm and simple way, Obama is awakening us to the realization we cannot afford to be our own worst enemies to each other as well as an enemy to Mother earth …. given our scarce natural resources and inability to absorb waves of societal pollution from both verbal and industrial directions. He´s trying to tame our expectations of continuing “the things as usual lifestyle” of 4%
Obama subliminally is suggesting Ego driven societies unconnected with the “WE” or giving voice to the Collective cause humans to become arrogant, lost, selfish, and separated from what stands for real meaning, trust, and truth in their lives. For any society to be in harmony with its past, it must open up a lively dialogue and generosity of spirit. It must “Let go” of unsustainable attitudes and values. Negative energy -- where there is a dominance of the inflexible command and contro “I” or Ego -- destroys the ability to listen, to realize a Collective wisdom that opens up new sources of creativity, innovation, and values systems for sustainable economic growth and peaceful coexistence.
Obama resonates a new leadership paradigm of opening our eyes to how the “WE” (the Collective or Us) and the “I” (the Ego or Me) when merged speak deeper truths and cultural foundation of accepting each other to create a better living environment for all. This is in contrast to value systems and attitudes fostering mistrust and fear in order to feed man’s need to dominate and manipulate. In this transformation to a more open civil dialogue and engagement, Obama is saying that Hope is not an illusion or nasty word.
2
Let´s not forget the Hope lesson from Gorbechev who exposed and admitted the tyrannical, false premise of Communism, symbolized by the virtual reality of death camps and the Berlin Wall. Yet his successful Aspiration of laying naked the collapse of Russia´s inhuman and corrupt governing process would not be crowned by specific Achievements in transforming Russia institutionally into a more tolerant, open, non-authoritirian democracy. Nevertheless ,Gorbechev unleashed a powerful movement and energy for dramatic changes in Russia, having also a remarkably positive world dimension.
I’m of the opinion the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has the same impression of Obama’s innovative, embracing leadership style … . a style that activates a higher level of human consciousness captured in the words, “I am who I am as much through others as through myself.” This appeal and encouragement to a higher consciousness of shared values where it matters so much – protecting the environment and governing without fear of a nuclear disaster – is the main reason Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His modest acceptance words reflect a down-to-earth committment to match his aspirational vision and words with deeds, “I will accept this award as a call to action.”
