Jeff Hurvitz: Presidential Prize

“I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.” That statement was once made by comic Steven Wright. Its irony brought laughter to many. And it came to mind after President Trump told Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store that Norway’s decision not to award Trump the prize was good reason to pursue a takeover of Greenland.

First of all, Greenland is controlled by Denmark and not Norway. Secondly, the government of Norway has had no say in decisions regarding the prize. And most importantly, why is Trump even considering a take over of our ally, Greenland?

The Norwegian Nobel Committee was established in 1897. Its founder, Alfred Nobel, delivered a will that the prize be awarded by a committee of five people. Those five are elected by Norway’s national parliament, for a term of six years and can be reelected. But they are separate from that country’s government.

When President Obama was awarded the prize in 2009, many were left to wonder why that nascent chief executive was the recipient. True, he achieved a U.S. milestone in becoming our first POTUS of color. But was that enough? As in that case, qualifications have often been questioned. But honking one’s own horn in soliciting support has been an oddity.

Trump has been engaged in self-promoting in hoping to achieve that honor. He claims to have done much to achieve world peace. Yet here he says that denial of the prize has reduced his desire for world tranquility.

“Considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize of having stopped 8 wars PLUS,” he reportedly said to Store, “……I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace…”

Trump’s obsession with buying or forcefully taking over Greenland is furthering a wedge he has been creating with NATO. Denmark has been a loyal ally of ours and is always open to allowing our armed forces to be working with that country. NATO, of course, has been a body that has prevented World War III for over eight decades. Trump has used his tough talk with NATO as a bargaining chip to increase the contributions of the member countries. But his abrasive tones send out the wrong signals to our true enemies.

With his eyes already on a possible take over of Venezuela, one wonders if our President’s expansive visions are for the prizes of natural resources in those countries along with a dominance of our hemisphere.

Trump has done some good things along the way, such as securing our border and helping to neutralize Iran. But they are being overshadowed by his inability to recognize the importance of a just America. 

His pursuit of Greenland following denial of a peace prize is no laughing matter. But just like Steven Wright’s line, the irony is unmistakable.

Jeff Hurvitz (jrhurvitz@aol.com) is a free-lance writer and native Philadelphian.