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Since the end of World War I the world has looked to America for leadership in the pursuit of peace. The last sitting president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize was Woodrow Wilson in 1919 for his signing of the League of Nations Charter.
Unfortunately, isolationists in the U.S. Senate blocked ratification of the charter and we did not participate. This led to the failure of the League and World War II.
At the end of World War II, American influence and power were used to establish the United Nations, this time the Senate ratified the charter and the U.S. fully participated. The UN has proven to be imperfect at times, although a catastrophic world war of annihilation has been avoided.
In 2001 America and the world responded to Sept. 11 as allies focused on common needs and objectives. Somewhere along the way to 2009, in a storm of forgotten principles, unilateralism was hatched. A world vision where the U.S. acted alone and without diplomatic engagement for most foreign concerns, the new isolationism. Did the world rightly fear the chaos they saw on the horizon? Maybe; however, the U.S. election of 2008 gave the world hope that a new era of 21st century peace, through strength and diplomacy, is possible.
Now the world has again turned to America to rekindle our role as peacemakers. Through this 2009 Nobel Peace Prize the world has loudly proclaimed their expectations and support for an engaged United States. We can accept the challenge and reap the benefits or we can condemn the opportunity in a blaze of negative rhetoric and saber rattling isolationism. This award was meant for more than a man. It was given to all Americans and the President of the United States, to inspire us to our greater ideals.
Let's not squander chance.
Michael Ray
Incline Village
Unfortunately, isolationists in the U.S. Senate blocked ratification of the charter and we did not participate. This led to the failure of the League and World War II.
At the end of World War II, American influence and power were used to establish the United Nations, this time the Senate ratified the charter and the U.S. fully participated. The UN has proven to be imperfect at times, although a catastrophic world war of annihilation has been avoided.
In 2001 America and the world responded to Sept. 11 as allies focused on common needs and objectives. Somewhere along the way to 2009, in a storm of forgotten principles, unilateralism was hatched. A world vision where the U.S. acted alone and without diplomatic engagement for most foreign concerns, the new isolationism. Did the world rightly fear the chaos they saw on the horizon? Maybe; however, the U.S. election of 2008 gave the world hope that a new era of 21st century peace, through strength and diplomacy, is possible.
Now the world has again turned to America to rekindle our role as peacemakers. Through this 2009 Nobel Peace Prize the world has loudly proclaimed their expectations and support for an engaged United States. We can accept the challenge and reap the benefits or we can condemn the opportunity in a blaze of negative rhetoric and saber rattling isolationism. This award was meant for more than a man. It was given to all Americans and the President of the United States, to inspire us to our greater ideals.
Let's not squander chance.
Michael Ray
Incline Village
