Friday, October 9, 2009

an open letter to Barak Obama

While I feel I should be offering you my congratulations on the recent announcement that you are to be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize,

I find I can't.

I would like you to understand that yours was the first campaign that I have found compelling.  I was profoundly relieved and delighted when you were elected President of the United States. 

As the European Union elections swung further to the right, I was relieved and delighted to see the United States swing away from the route they had been on for too long.

I am honestly filled with hope concerning what you aim to do, both on the international and the domestic level.

You ran a brilliant campaign. 

You filled a nation, and beyond that, a world with hope.

That is a mighty thing to accomplish and I DO congratulate you for that.

I urge you, President Obama, to use the stage of the Nobel Prize to speak to the world.  To speak to the world with the same astonishing bravery and forthrightness you displayed in Cairo.  To speak to the world with the same inspiring brilliance you offerd when you spoke for change.

Move the world.

Remind us all, as you did in your acceptance speech that you cannot do it alone. 

That it takes us all.

That we can.

Yes we can.




Once we have,

we can all accept the prize.

only then.


When we have,

with your help;

because we can.


if the prize is accepted before that, it will be awarded based on a campaign, not an accomplishment.


We can do so much more.

You can do so much more.


President Obama,


please.






You have offered hope.  That is powerful.  I am deeply grateful that you are in office.  I am deeply hopeful.


Do the honourable thing and decline the award until we have changed the world.


because,

you know

that indeed,


Yes.


We


can.

6 comments:

Boo and Trev said...

Really well said.

lillian said...

The honourable thing would be for him to decline the award. I can't believe he accepted!!!!

Beth said...

In complete agreement with you. While his diplomatic efforts are commendable, what has he actually accomplished? At least he had the decency to say, "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century."
Still...

Anonymous said...

yeah. if i had to bet who would deserve a nobel peace prize in the future, it would be him, but he's not there yet.

eldest

oreneta said...

Boo and Trev, thanks.

Lillian, I was disappointed too.

Beth, indeed. Still.

Eldest, he may well earn the thing, but you're right...he ain't there yet.

mmichele said...

oh so much more profound and well spoken than mine!!

i just happened to be watching the news with the laptop on my lap.