A Prize for all Intents and Purposes

It was announced earlier today that President Obama had been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. It's also been announced that he had been honored with this prestigious award for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples”.

And a whole bunch of people went "huh?" And phones started ringing, and tv and radio commentators started commentating, bloggers started blogging, and people everywhere started talking - and I think if I hear one more person coming down on President Obama because he won this prize "without accomplishing anything", I will scream loud enough for them to hear me in Norway.

First of all, I am very "middle of the road" politically. I don't vote party lines, I read as much as I can to be able to make the most informed choices I can when it comes time to vote and the bottom line is that I like to think that I can see through a lot of what is campaign rhetoric, so none of my views are ever based on political "sides".

I think it only fair to put the responsibility where it belongs, so if anyone is going to find fault with the Nobel Prize committee's decision, that angst should not be directed toward President Obama. He did not nominate himself or vote for himself. If you have issues with the decision, blame the committee that gave it to him.

Since this prize is awarded to "the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses", there are many who believe that it should not have been given to the leader of a nation who is currently engaged in war. Perhaps not, but perhaps the dream of actually moving forward in any significant way to achieve "world peace" during a single lifetime is nothing more than a pipe dream - at least for purposes of the Nobel Peace prize. But consider the reality that the path to peace must start somewhere and is often laden with switchbacks and cloverleafs, and sometimes you even have to stop and back up a bit to make sure that the path you've chosen is the best one...and chances are good we won't ever get there, much less make it in the span of a presidential term. I would like to believe that after 8 years of unilateral diplomacy that left our country in a less than desirable state of affairs, a return to multinational diplomacy is a good direction to seek. My opinion for what it's worth.

The fact of the matter is that President Obama has been honored with this award, and sometimes being proclaimed "honorable" inspires one to be even more determined to achieve the goals that are expected of someone in his position. What I will say about this president is that I believe that the basic tenets of change that he seems to espouse are more down to earth and "of the common man's concern" than any president during my 50+ year lifetime... Is it just rhetoric? I honestly don't think so - because it's not always what we want to hear - it is what we need to hear. He challenges "business as usual", he ventures into areas of foreign affairs that many of his predecessors could not or would not, and he seems to have a sense of desire to do the best he can with what he has been given.

It is a small man who berates a man for winning an honor he did not seek or expect to win - and I have met and heard many small men today... I often wonder where all of these small minds were when politics opened the door for the best man to win. Why weren't they themselves in the running? Because from the sound of it, they all feel they could have done a much better job. I say - let them walk a mile in President Obama's shoes before they can comment on what should be done and how quickly and at what cost. Change takes time, and whether or not President Obama is up to the challenge - we can make it harder for him to do his job, or we can take an active part in trying to find solutions to the problem. That is our call to action.

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Filled with "Glee"

Have you watched the new TV show "Glee" yet? We finally got around to watching the latest episode that we had recorded on our DVR and I must admit that the show never ceases to leave me feeling good. While there are a number of offbeat storylines playing out in the background, the basic premise of the show is about a small town high school glee club, mentored by a teacher (who was once a member of the same high school's glee club when he attended the same high school years earlier), trying to help save the group from budget cuts by helping them place in "Nationals".

There are a number of things that I love about this show. One is that it shows a teacher who is willing to go the extra mile to help a group of kids achieve their dreams -and he's basically doing it on his own time, chipping in his own money to help with the extras, and trying hard to keep it "about the kids."

I also love these kids... an amazing mixture of lifestyles, backgrounds, social sets - and all with a passion for singing that transcends their lots or stations in life and ultimately teaches them that doing what they love is what will help them find their true happiness.

But I think what I love most is that hopefully this show will reach the eyes and ears of people across the country and show them that performing arts programs are still do-able in schools... and perhaps even out of schools. Funding cuts have done away with many school programs in increasingly higher numbers down thru the years. My kids were all fortunate enough to be able to take part in band and orchestra as they wished, but I can tell you from personal experience that the support from the community was definitely geared away from performing arts and funneled into sports programs. Now, unfortunately, even the sports programs are hurting.

And we wonder why so many kids today are turning to drugs, or crime, or sex, or any of the multitude of activities that they would be better off without... they're all easy-access. I'm a believer that kids who are involved - be it in a school band, or drama club, or sports team, or debate club, or whatever - have an outlet for their energy, learn valuable skills in teamwork and leadership, and in general are much more ready to take on life... but it needs to be easy access. And that means, that as parents and grandparents and community members, it's up to us to give them that access.

When I was in grade school, our local park district ran a drama club. It was staffed by parents who were volunteers, and the park district simply gave us an empty auditorium with a stage to practice in. Everything was donated or came from the funds raised by the small admission costs to the plays. It kept us busy, taught us confidence (well, some of us...lol) and beat the heck out of sitting at home alone.

I wonder how many of you take an active interest in childrens' activities. Even those of you who have full, active family lives surely have room for one of the neighborhood kids to join in your fun.

If you're out of work, do you sit in front of the tv or on the phone bemoaning your lot in life - or do you make use of that time to make a child's life better? Gather the neighborhood kids - teach them the basics of a sport, or take them on a literal "field" trip to a nearby park to find some bugs or birds and teach them about them. Gather the nieces and nephews and encourage them to put on a talent show for the rest of the family at your next family get-together. Show them the sense of accomplishment that comes with cleaning up a littered neighborhood (take before and after pictures to prove the point!) Volunteer at the school. Ask the local principal if there are any students that could use help in your area of expertise. Know a craft? Teach it to a child or group of children. None of these by themselves is a huge endeavor, but to a child who must make a choice between boredom and an activity, the opportunity for a positive activity can have a profound effect on their future.

And in the process, you'll find yourself changing. The world will seem a little more hopeful. The kids you come in contact with will look up to you and you'll know you're making a difference... and they'll know that there are people in the world who really care about what matters to them. You'll all be part of a team - a wonderful team that really can change the world!

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Believe

I thought I would share something today from my library of inspirational quotes and prose... To whomever wrote this, I hope you know that you have inspired at least one other spirit - Thank you...

To believe is to know that every day is a new beginning.
It is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true.
To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds,
To know the wonder of a stardust sky
and the wisdom of the man in the moon.
To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart,
The innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand,
for it is through their teachings we learn to love.

To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us.
When it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again.
To believe is to know we are not alone,
That life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it.
To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen,
And all our hopes and dreams are within reach.
If only we believe.

~Author unknown

Angel graphic courtesy of Free Fairy Graphics (http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/free/fairy-graphics.html)

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