Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Barack Obama recently won the Nobel Peace Prize, marking yet another historic day and accomplishment in the life of our 44th president. With the award, Obama became the first sitting president in 90 years and the first president in history to earn the honor during his first term. In essence, Obama was awarded for "his work to improve international diplomacy and rid the world of nuclear weapons" in addition to other efforts. When I initially read the news on my iPhone (shameless plug) I was not only shocked but also slightly uncomfortable with the notion of him being awarded one of the world's highest honors. I shared his sentiments when he said "To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize." However, after giving it some careful thought, I realized that although his tangible accomplishments may not necessarily merit the award, he captured it perfectly when he said (of the Prize) "It's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes." Obama's election gave legitimacy to his cause, the Nobel Peace Prize will provide the necessary impetus to transform his ideas into the palpable, corporeal change that we need. Oh, and to all those who are upset that Obama won the award: remember, you don't apply for the Nobel Peace Prize. Don't be mad at him, be mad at the committee!