I was a supporter of Barack Obama even before the election, and compared to the alternative, I still find him to be a great president.

Of course, in my opinion he deserves a lot of recognition for improving our country from the almost certain travesty we faced during the Bush administration. And I am sure that I am not the only one who believes he could have won the award for simply not being George W. Bush.

Now, for his work for nuclear disarmament, Obama is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. My question is, is it too early?

I think it might be. Now, I think it would be a great idea to nominate him later on when he actually accomplished something, rather than now in the early stages. There are so many more things he could do in that area.

Many people have a serious problem with him receiving the Nobel Peace Prize — I don’t necessarily agree. I believe that he deserves the award, just not yet. He has not been the president for even a year yet. Now, he is reaping the rewards for an achievement that is only in the making.

On the other hand, there have been many other instances of individuals receiving the Nobel Peace Prize based on individual achievements. Those times, the people who won the prize did not actually accomplish anything, but showed sincere effort in wanting to change an international problem.

Now, I can see, as I am sure others can, that this really cannot be the basis of credibility. How can we reward the winners for trying? And, more importantly, how many other people would get the prize for just trying?

I am proud of my president, and always have been an Obama supporter for him trying to achieve change and staying true to his presidential candidacy slogan. We all know we need change, and need it badly.

So maybe simply trying isn’t enough to win the Nobel Peace Prize (though it has happened several times before, to Desmund Tutu, former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Woodrow Wilson). However, he is our president. The committee realizes and recognizes his incredible contribution to our country, and some might even say the world, by being a president who is not George W. Bush.