What is most remarkable when one speaks of “peace” as a humanitarian value that should prevail between people is that the more the word is used, the more wars, conflicts and disputes increase and peace is absent. Many are the awards carrying the name of peace that are granted to activists in various fields and to those who call for peace. And not a month goes by without some country holding a conference or more over peace, against wars and for achieving security among people. Today, US President Barack Obama receives in Oslo the Nobel Peace Prize he was awarded last October. To complete the picture, Obama will receive the prize a few days after his decision to send an additional 30 thousand US soldiers to Afghanistan to fight the war there. It is true that he was awarded the prize for other reasons and intentions, but circumstances have made him receive it immediately after this decision. It is only natural for a party to wage war against one or many other parties, as it is customary to pretext peace as the goal of war! Thus the word has spread and become used in other contexts and for other reasons, such that it has become a banner to be hung over butcher shops, grocery stores and shoe shops. Experts say that the cost of wars and the funds that are spent on military research and studies, as well as on the production of weapons, explosives and means of causing death, by far exceed what is spent on achieving peace on earth. Suffice it here to point out what was mentioned by news agencies yesterday about anti-war organizations in Norway deciding to organize protests today near the hotel in which the US President is staying while present in Oslo to receive the prize, and about the authorities there deploying more than two thousand policemen to ensure the security of his visit. The Norwegian government has set aside to this effect an exceptional budget, reaching 92 million kroner, equivalent to 10.9 million euros, an amount by far exceeding the value of the prize which Obama will receive. It is only natural for those who call for peace in protests held in world capitals from time to time to be confronted with violence that holds no peace, because the authorities in every country always consider them not to be peaceful to begin with, and consider that calling for peace does not require gatherings, demonstrations, banners, protests or chants. And it is not always true that the dire economic circumstances, poor social conditions and poverty that afflict many countries in the world are the reasons that drive people to protest against wars or to call for peace. Indeed, the people of Norway, for instance, do not suffer from financial difficulties. Moreover, the hungry do not always call for peace, but rather for food, and they often believe that wars can be a duty to defend land and pride. In fact, they always seem ready to become fuel for every war without protesting against them, instead accepting to participate in them with complete conviction. However, when they do practice protest, their motives are usually related to the right to live and to lead a normal life. Ever since the outbreak of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the eruption of the Palestinian issue, tens of thousands of people have died without the issue being resolved, yet dozens of leaders, officials and prominent figures have been awarded peace prizes on the background of their efforts to achieve peace between the Arabs and Israel, without the problem being resolved nor any peace being reached. The Americans invaded Iraq under the pretext of achieving peace in the world and of ridding mankind of Iraq's nuclear weapons, yet they have achieved nothing but destruction and devastation. Even during the Cold War years, the world's two poles fought over the world under the pretext of achieving peace, and instead spread wars everywhere! Obama will receive the Nobel Peace Prize because his intentions are “good”, even though his policies have so far not achieved any peace on the ground, and the world will continue to live on intentions in the minds, while in reality prizes will be awarded the more wars increase, blood is spilled and destruction prevails. And as is the state of the world, there is “cleverness in trade” and those who trade in peace today find their trade popular, especially that it takes place under the spotlight, achieves distinctions and wins prizes, even if by means of wars.
