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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Obama’s aspirations are worthy of peace prize

The Nobel Committee is standing by its decision to award what some say is a preemptive peace prize to President Barack Obama, and I believe Americans should also stand by the choice. The peace prize is given to the person that has done the most to further peace during the year.

By being elected president by a pessimistic country and setting exciting goals for the future, Obama has already achieved so much in this realm. Some say the award will set up unrealistic expectations. That is not true. Our country already has all of its dreams pinned on this motivating man who has made so many promises to us in our time of need. We believed it then, and we should hold on to those beliefs now.

Obama has made us trust again that we can be a successful country. He has brought that hope where past presidents (or, one in particular) have failed. Americans may have noticed that other countries are pleased with Obama’s change in the way things are being done, particularly in regards to Muslim tensions, global warming and nuclear arms.

This award doesn’t have to represent accomplishments, but as Obama stated, should in fact stand for our aspirations for our country.

People seem to have forgotten that Nelson Mandela received this prize before apartheid actually ended and Henry Kissinger accepted the peace prize for a cease-fire agreement two years before the Vietnam War ended. according to nobelprize.org.

After what President George W. Bush has done to our country, seeing a president encourage and invigorate people like Obama does should make us proud. Other countries are taking note of that and may look more favorably upon us, which will only better serve everyone.

Some critics say this is clearly a jab at Bush, but I don’t see that. I see a spotlight being shown on a man who has given back optimism to people in a way that few others have.

If anything, this award should make Obama work even harder to prove to people he deserves this award and will make good on his promises. Although he has already done a lot for us, I believe there are a lot more positive things in store, and this prize will only encourage his agenda. Having the Nobel Committee support his work is a huge boon, and Americans should be honored that our president is so popular worldwide. That has definitely not always been the case.

I want to believe there are great things ahead for our country, and I think criticizing the Nobel Committee’s decision is simply not the patriotic thing to do. We are all in this together, and Obama has a long road ahead of him. Now is the time to pull together and encourage him as he has encouraged all of us. Hope is contagious and peace is the ultimate goal. Let’s help our president get us there by supporting this great honor he and we have been given.

Christi Aldridge is a senior strategic communications major from Hillsboro.

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