To the editor:
Recently, a group of conservative Republican Trump supporters from the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee nominating Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Notwithstanding the fact that nothing substantial has been accomplished yet, the intrinsic role of the President in the recent North Korea peace initiative is still unclear. Leaders from South Korea and North Korea have played more constructive roles. Based on previous examples, the ultimate result may take years to fulfill.
How does Trump’s diplomatic stature compare to previous Nobel laureates and goals of the Peace Prize to justify his consideration? According to Alfred Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who “shall have done the most or the best work for the fraternity between nations, for the abolition of standing armies, and promotion of peace congresses.”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee specifically invites “qualified people” to submit nominations, and the Nobel Foundation specifies categories of nominating individuals. Examples of such nominators include international organizations for peace and justice; university professors of history, law and social sciences; directors of peace research and international affairs institutes; former recipients; and members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Norwegian Nobel Institute.
I wonder how a few U.S. House of Representatives conservative members fit on that list, particularly those running for higher office this election year?
The 110 past international laureates include Malala Yousafzai, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, the Red Cross (1917, 1944 and 1963), and United Nations Commission for Refugees (1954 and 1981). The 21 past U.S. laureates include four Presidents and one Vice President, Martin Luther King Jr., Elie Wiesel (chair of the Holocaust Commission), Linus Pauling (author of No More War!), and Nicholas Murray Butler (Columbia University president and head of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace).
Taken as a whole, I wonder how the Nobel Committee, the Nobel Institute, and the 131 Nobel laureates might consider the overall fit of Trump’s “unique” style, attitude regarding norms of international respect and diplomacy, and political motivation and standing of his nominators as “qualified people.”
Lastly, when it comes time to consider his nomination, I also wonder how Norwegians will remember Trump’s offensive comments on immigration last January following the visit of Norwegian Prime Minister Solberg. The Norwegians didn’t think his standing was so worthy at the time.
Sincerely,
Gary Davis
20R Indian Camp Lane, Lincoln