Barack Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize

Barack Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize, and this honor presented to him confounded people around the world. Within his nine months of sitting in as president, Obama was awarded one of the most prestigious prizes ( if not the most prestigious prize a few can get their hands on to in our lifetimes). The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Obama for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." Obama was given the prize for his vision rather than his accomplishments.


The Council in their quote on Obama refers to Obama’s vision on foreign policy. Obama has opened engagement with all countries and tried to put the US in the hearts of countries around the world again- a stark contrast to the previous presidency, where G.W. Bush’s administration used force, sanctioning and confrontation to get their way. One can argue that it is more important to engage with countries of threat and risk, rather than to engage with your allies. Remember that adage, “ Keep your friends close. Keep your enemies closer”? Well Obama’s foreign policy is kind of based on that quote.


Although I am a supporter of his new foreign policy, I can’t help but be suspicious of it as well. Republicans are wary of his policy because as the Obama administration opens talks with dictators of the most dangerous countries in the world, such as Myanmar or Iran, he can lose the trust of the people and even the voices of the people. The US is and has always been a great proponent of the people’s vote –but we may lose their hopes if we get so caught up in the dictators’ voices rather than the people’s.




Should Obama have been given the award? Yes and No. He’s a hard worker. Sure. But usually when the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, it is given to extraordinary people for their lifetime achievement and their bodies of work. Right now we haven’t seen Obama’s vision for peace and diplomacy turn into concrete results. Until we’ve seen some of his goals turn into reality, the Nobel Peace Prize should be on hold.

I was talking to my co-worker on what she thought about Obama being handed this prestigious award- she stated something that I thought was wonderfully put. She said that Obama has already received great recognition - he’s known and lauded internationally. His voice is heard by billions all over the world, and this prize does not add anything more to his fame. Obama is the President of the United States- the most powerful country in the world- he has enough power and distinction to separate himself from the rest. There are others around the world who have done so much for mankind, yet they do not have their voices heard- they don’t have their hopes met. But with the recognition as a Nobel Laureate, they could do so much and help the people that need to be acknowledged.



Nobel Peace Prize recipients also receive a large sum of money. Now does Obama need all that money to top off his fame? I’ll let you be the judge of that one.

China and India have their eyes on Burma

Experts on Burma came to Johns Hopkins University from all over the world to reflect upon Burma's political developments. Among the panelists, were representatives of both China an India. India and China both have their eyes on Burma.

Mukhtar Mai - Pakistani Woman seeks justice after Gang Rape

I wanted to write about a special woman named Mukhtar Mai. She’s an incredible lady who has gone through so much. In 2002, under a tribal council’s orders, Mukhtar Mai was gang raped in front of 200 witnesses for an alleged sexual crime her brother had committed. Mai was then forced to walk home, through the village with torn clothes (nothing to really cover her body). Women in Pakistan after being raped are expected to commit suicide as an act of honor for the “ indecency”. Mukhtar Mai did something about it, and she says, although she has the attention of the world, she does not have her justice from the Pakistani Judicial system. She says, “ Think about the common woman in Pakistan who have gone through rape, they are shunned.”


Pakistan has a significant problem in persevering women’s rights. The government wants to protect the country’s image and yet does nothing in context to women’s issues . It has been reported that in Pakistan, women are raped by the officials who are supposed to protect them. The Pakistani police are accused of raping women in the villages and in the towns. These women feel helpless, as they cannot go to the police for help.

As the government is not budging to secure the safety of these women, rape victims are seeking the media and international organizations for help. Mukhtar Mai is seen as a hero among many women, and she encourages women to voice their cases and to remain strong.

Click on the link to see how you can help Mukhtar Mai’s MMWWO- Mukhtar Mai’s Women’s Welfare Organization.
Help Mukhtar Mai ( NY Times Columnist, Nicholas Kristof has been following her story and its developments for years.)

Green Revolution and Saffron Revolution have a lot in common

The Green Revolution and Saffron Revolution

The Dalai Lama visits the US; Richard Gere supports His Holiness and Tibet

The Dalai Lama comes to the U.S. for a week long trip. He meets with lawmakers and politicians, but he does not meet with President Obama. Humanitarian and actor, Richard Gere shows his support for Dalai Lama and Tibet.

Marriage is so gay- make gay marriage legal

Gay Rights

I write this with love- and if love conquers all, then we should all open our hearts to be more accepting of one another. I think it’s obscene that people would use religion or the name of “ God” to convey their bigotry. There is nothing worst in the world than intolerance- we’ve learned it time after time. Throughout history we’ve seen just how evil ignorance can be.

In the United States, we fight for “ liberty”, but what is the meaning of freedom if every one is not considered equal? Gays are not allowed to marry in 29 states. Separate but equal? No such thing.


Gay is the New Black

There was a sign at the Equal Rights March that read, “ Gay is the New Black”. I thought that sign to be true in the sense that Blacks were segregated in the U.S. for a long time, and Gays are discriminated in the U.S. today; and the government is not doing too much to help end the discrimination.

In 1869, the lawsuit Plessy vs. Ferguson opened people’s ideas on what the true meaning of the phrase, “ Separate, but Equal” was. Blacks were entitled to the public services that White Americans had- but in different places exclusive to African Americans. Separate but Equal ? No such thing . The facilities given to Blacks were of lower quality than those given to Whites. And this gay rights marriage act is a lower quality than those given to straight citizens.


Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

As for a veteran from the crowd yesterday, I heard him shout that the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy was “Hell”. It’s unbelievable that people can’t talk about their real feelings or disclose their lives while they’re risking their lives for a country they believe to be so “ free”.



Marriage is so gay. Make it legal.

Can a Buddhist way of meditation make you a millionaire?