Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: A most deserving winner

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 9:03 a.m.

NOT EVEN THE REMARKS OF GUNNAR BERGE, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, could take the shine off of this year's Nobel Peace Prize to former President Jimmy Carter. No other single person has done more to promote the health and welfare of people here at home and around the world.

The award announcement included, in part, the following words: "Through his Carter Center, which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2002, Carter has since his presidency undertaken very extensive and persevering conflict resolution on several continents. He has shown outstanding commitment to human rights, and has served as an observer at countless elections all over the world. He has worked hard on many fronts to fight tropical diseases and to bring about growth and progress in developing countries. Carter has thus been active in several of the problem areas that have figured prominently in the over one hundred years of Peace Prize history.

"In a situation currently marked by threats of the use of power, Carter has stood by the principles that conflicts must as far as possible be resolved through mediation and international co-operation based on international law, for human rights, and economic development."

Berge, when announcing the award, showed his smallness interpreting the last paragraph as a "kick in the leg" to the President George W. Bush-run White House. He also said that clause "must be interpreted as a criticism of the position of the administration currently sitting in the U.S. towards Iraq." So much for the promotion of peace being replaced by Norwegian domestic politics.

During my first term as governor of Nevada, I had the opportunity to serve with Georgia's Gov. Jimmy Carter. He was always a gentleman but very firm when taking a position that some people would view as controversial. We never had any doubt where he stood on issues affecting the welfare of people. Later, my final two years in office, Carter occupied the White House (1977-1981) during a time of turmoil in the world. May I add, that during my life of more than seven decades, there has always been more than enough conflict and suffering in some part of our world.

In 1989-1990 and in 1996 I had the opportunity to join Carter in his successful efforts to hold fair elections in Nicaragua. His Carter Center provided the funds, manpower and skill to hold fair elections that ousted and kept out of office President Daniel Ortega and his communist-inspired Sandinistas.

It was Carter's personal strength that sealed Ortega's doom in 1990. He was the man who made certain that fair campaign rules and the registration of voters preceded the election. Finally, the night of the election, Ortega refused to admit that he had lost the election. Again, it was Carter who stepped forward and told him he would tell the world of Ortega's defeat unless the defeated candidate made the announcement.

In 1996 Ortega again ran for the presidency, and he used Sandinista-owned newspapers to declare his loss at the polls a fraud. The man stepping forward to handle the situation was Carter, who had come to be recognized for his role as an honest-broker.

Although I wasn't a member of his contingent observing the Palestinian election, he again played the role of an honest-broker. I was in Israel during those days and was proud of the statements made by Carter because he only wanted a fair election.

My last time with the Carter Center was with Ambassador Gordon Streeb to observe the 1999 run-off election for the Cherokee Nation. This was a most pleasant and rewarding experience because of the quality of candidates and the voters involved. Working out of Tahlequah, Okla., and covering Cave Springs, Westville, Marble City, Stilwell and the backcountry gave me a fresh view of an important part of America. Carter's name on our assignment gave it legitimacy with those we were observing.

Carter, the man who has worked to help all of humanity, has received the Nobel Peace Prize he has earned several times over. Future Peace Prize winners will be receiving an award made more valuable because its recipient in 2002 was Jimmy Carter.