Barack Obama's speech

Obama won the Nobel peace prize in 2009 and we have been focusing a lot on Obama this semester, so we analyzed the speech and answered some questions about the speech. He is a very good speaker and people says that the speech he held in due to the peace prize is the best speech he ever held, so far.

What was the Marshall Plan?

The Marshall Plan was the primary program, 1948-52, of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger economic foundation for the countries of Western Europe, and repelling the threat of internal communism after World War 2.

Why is Obama humbled by this award?

He feel humbled because he haven’t really done anything to deserve the price yet, and the fact that he is actually the Commander in chief in two wars is also very special for a peace prize winner. He is very humbled by this award, I think, because he doesn’t feel that worthy to be in the same category as many of the peace prizes previously winners – at least not yet.

Who was Woodrow Wilson and why was he awarded the Nobel peace prize?

He was the 28^th President of The United States. In the late stages of the war, Wilson took personal control of negotiations with Germany, including the armistice. He issued his Fourteen Points, his view of a post-war world that could avoid another terrible conflict. He went to Paris in 1919 to create the League of Nations and shape the Treaty of Versailles, with special attention on creating new nations out of defunct empires. Largely for his efforts to form the League, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Who are some of the previous winners that he mentions?

Nelson Mandela, Marthin Luther King, Aung Sang Suu Kyi, Schweitzer, Marshall, Henry Dunant, Dr Henry Kissinger og Mr Le Duc Tho.

According to Obama, what is a just reason for war?
That sometimes you have to fight for peace, and that even though Ghandi and King’s non-violence plan is admirable, that’s not always enough and war might in some cases be necessary to gain peace. He explains the war in Iraq and Afghanistan as a war for peace because the war against terror will provide a possible World War 3.

What are Obama’s 3 ways to avoid war and keep the peace?

- We need a common law and defend those who suffer when these laws are not obeyed.

-Human Rights have to be central in every country, and it is important that every nation is a part of it.

-Obama sais that peace is not just the absence of war - and it is important to get this complete peace. “For true peace is not just freedom for fear, but freedom from want.”

What “old architecture” is buckling?

Old kinds of threats isn’t that intimidating anymore as the new threats such as nuclear weapons facing the world today.

What does Obama mean by a “gradual evolution of human institutions”? Where is this quote from?

This quote is from President Kennedy and he means that they want to achieve peace by gradual evolution of human institutions and not by a sudden revolution.

Why can’t Obama be guided by the example of King and Gandhi alone?

Because he says that war sometimes is necessary to gain peace.