Martin Luther King Jr. would have been 81 years old this month. Among his many accomplishments, he was the second African American to receive the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize (Ralph Bunche was first in 1950 for his work as Middle East Peace negotiator.); Barack Obama was third. But, while King deserved the honor, Obama did not.
As much as I admire President Obama for his commitment to health care, ending poverty, developing green energy and fixing our failing environment, it would have been a classy move for him to have told the Nobel Committee: "Thanks, but no thanks." Clearly, he has not earned a peace prize.
President Obama, who is currently promoting an unwinnable war in Afghanistan, believes that war can and must be used to solve human problems. In his own words: "... the instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace. And yet this truth must coexist with another — that no matter how justified, war promises human tragedy. ... But war itself is never glorious, and we must never trumpet it as such. ...
"So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly irreconcilable truths — that war is sometimes necessary, and war is at some level an expression of human feelings."
On the other hand, King, who during his time was struggling to end two wars — a violent internal war against racism and discrimination, and a violent external war in Vietnam — never believed that violence was necessary. He spoke at his Nobel ceremony: "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality. ... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant."
While King accepted the Nobel Prize with a brief speech, Obama delivered a lengthy lecture in which he did his best to explain to his audience how fighting certain wars is the same as struggling for peace. "I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds," he said, "as it was in the Balkans, or in other places that have been scarred by war. ... That is why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace." It was not convincing.
King never believed in any excuse for a war, and, had he lived, would probably be a leading opponent of the cesspool in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never had a central government and isn't likely to have one anytime soon. The current U.S.-installed government is corrupt, and there is still no definition of precisely what constitutes a win in that desolate country.
King's words on Dec. 10, 1964, could have just as easily been said yesterday: "I conclude that this award which I receive on behalf of that movement is profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time — the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression."
Perhaps one day President Obama will have done enough to celebrate his quest for peace, but now is not his time.
(All above quotes from Obama and King are from their Nobel acceptance speeches.)
Ken Wibecan is a retired journalist. Once an op-ed and jazz columnist, later an editor of Modern Maturity magazine, these days he and his two dogs enjoy the country life in Peru. He can be reached at mistro817@wildblue.net.
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Peace Prize befit King, not Obama
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