Obama’s Nobel Prize: How Does He Stack Up to Past Winners?

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It’s no surprise that critics of the President do not agree he deserves the prize. But even many of Obama’s fans are also left a bit speechless. While President Obama has accomplished quite a bit in his first 10 months in office, there’s still a long To-Do list he’s promised to get to: Middle East wars, getting rid of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military, closing Guantanamo Bay. And it’s because of the ongoing struggles in Afghanistan that may leave some people scratching their heads as to why President Obama received this award.

Although “Peace” is right in the name of the title, the prize isn’t always given out for the traditional idea of peace. Take a look at some of the recent and other interesting winners of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Most Recent Winners

2008: Martti Ahtisaari, a former President of Finland, awarded for his work in resolving a long-running dispute in Kosovo.

2007: Former United State VP Al Gore shared the prize for his work in environmental activism.

2006: Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi banker and economist, jointly won the Nebel along with the Grameen Bank for advancements in social and economic development.

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Other Notable Winners

Wangari Maathai from Kenya became the first African American woman to win the prize in 2004. She founded the Green Belt movement which focused on environmental issues and women’s issues.

In 1997 it was given to an American teacher, Jody Williams for her efforts abolish the production and use of anti-personnel mines.

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Nelson Mendela from Africa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

In 1990 it went to then current USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Writer and Political Activist Elie Wiesel won in 1986 for his contributions to the field of literature, especially in regards to his writing on the Holocaust.

Mother Theresa won in 1979.

In 1964, it went to Martin Luther King, Jr.

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The very first Nobel Peace Prize was given out in 1901, and actually given to two people: Henry Dunant (a Swiss business man and social activist) whose ideas were the basis for the Geneva Convention, and Frederic Passy (a French economist).

While Al Gore thinks the President was deserving of the award, other people are bringing up the names of people whom they believe have been “jilted”. Some argue other people are more deserving of the award, including Mahatma Gandhi & former President Bill Clinton. And surely Conservative Republicans argue that former President Ronald Reagan deserves the prize for his work in ending the Cold War.

As President Obama himself recognized in his acceptance speech, this award can be given as a symbol of “momentum”… as a call to action to continue on a certain course. The President says he accepts the award in that tone, not as in recognition of accomplishments he’s already achieved… but the ones he’s working to finish. The hope of change.