Smithies weigh in on Obama's Nobel Prize

October 2009 opened the door to a grandiose victory of the Obama regime in the U.S. The nation's president, Barack Obama, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and his "vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons," according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.Undoubtedly, it is a rare honor for President Obama that "elicited praise and puzzlement across the globe," as most of the newspaper reviews state. And, according to the New York Times, the award is "perhaps more burden than glory ... for Mr. Obama." Worldwide reactions have been widely publicized, from Talibans, Hezbollah, Democrats and Republicans alike; but it's time to hear what the Smith community has to say on this matter.

Unlike many other colleges, Smith does not have a history of unduly resisting freedom of speech and expression on campus. Therefore, it was easier for students to take their own political stances and voice their concerns.

Tasnim Islam '12, who is taking a government course this semester, said, "I'm very happy for President Obama. However, I would consider the prize-giving a hasty action since the president has just started his tenure and extended his ideas over the past nine months. Any real implementation is yet to take place. I think the prize-giving could have been delayed a bit further."

Even for registered Democrats like Libby Donovan '13, who voted for Obama last November, the news came as a shock. "I seriously thought it was a joke when my brother told me about it," she said. "By that I don't mean he doesn't deserve to win the prize eventually, but it could have been awarded after his first year as president or later on. "

Some like Iju Shakya '13 didn't take any political stance. "All these happened within a very short time and the president hasn't had the chance to do anything to bring peace to the world," she said. "But his speeches focus a lot a globalization. So, that might have been one of the reasons he actually was awarded the prize."

A self-professed Republican disagreed with the phrase. "I simply found that absurd," she said. "What has he done to deserve it so far? If for the speeches and the efforts, then it's simply not done.

"Even if I'm expressing myself a bit too strongly, it's still the truth. Does this mean he's going to win a Prize every year? But I think that the general dislike of Bush went so hard that any change was welcome."

She acknowledged Obama's charisma, but said that he has meandered his way around the Middle Eastern conflicts rather than attacking them head-on.

Obama's immigration policies are quite lax compared to past administrations. And, coming from the Muslim world, I believe that it's easier for people to relate to Obama because of his diverse background and the middle name "Hussein." Moreover, his motto "Change we believe in" is already a sensation all over the world, and his optimistic approach has a calming effect on the listeners. However, winning the Prize surely will mean a lot of pressure on him, since he will have to be cautious of every step he undertakes in the arena of international politics.

An intended government major, Cara Libman '12 follows a similar line of reasoning. "The new Obama administration has surely put a lot of spotlight on the U.S.," she said. "And, the awarding would most likely determine how the politics play-out in the future. But, something which intrigues me is that he didn't have sufficient experience or even exposure or background to international political affairs before the nominations took place. However, I really do appreciate his initiative in foreign affairs."

Several weeks have passed since the awarding of the Nobel, but that's not enough to assess the award's full impact on the operation of the present administration. However, the president may be opening doors to a promising future for the U.S, while we put our faith in it.