Good Intentions Pave the Way to the Nobel Peace Prize

As you may already know, President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize yesterday. I must admit, that at first I was irritated by the whole thing. I mean, he hasn't DONE anything! In fact, he was president for less than two weeks before the nominations deadline! My irritation was solidified by the fact that the Nobel committee based their decision on "... Obama's initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism," all of which have yet to be determined as successful. Apparently, I misunderstood the award- you don't have to DO anything, you just have to have good intentions. In the words of Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's, "The exciting and important thing about this prize is that it's given to someone ... who has the power to contribute to peace."

My irritation did not last long. As I pondered the ludicrousness of it all, I soon found my irritation replaced with a new feeling. Hope. You see, the committee has "...expand[ed] the prize beyond peace mediation to include efforts to combat poverty, disease and climate change." I have come to understand that this expansion means I actually have a shot at this once seemingly unattainable prize!

So... without further ado, I would like to formerly request that I be considered for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. What credentials do I have? Let me start with my "initiatives" or ideas:

• World Peace.
• Eased tension with the Muslim world.

Going a step beyond just plain initiative, here is my actual day-to-day work that helps to contribute to peace. On a daily basis I... :

• Feed the hungry.
• Clothe the naked.
• Combat poverty.
• Combat disease.
  
• Am an advocate for childhood literacy.
• Mediate conflict.
• Share one car with my husband (which some could argue that at times might not contribute to peace, but it could be considered green, no?)
• Don't run a drug cartel.
• Am not a member of a gang.
• Value other people's lives.

I think I would make a pretty strong nominee! Now... if only I had some good friends with TV networks and newspapers that could really get behind me and give me some serious hype.