 My
best wishes for the New Year to you and your families.
The holidays have been a time of reflection, renewal,
and inspiration. I have just returned from Oslo,
Norway, where I attended the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony
honoring President Jimmy Carter, held on December
10, 2002. While the weather was exceedingly
cold, the warmth of the Carter family members and
their reception in Norway helped take off the chill.
At
the ceremony,
President Carter was awarded the Nobel Prize gold
medal, a diploma, and a $1 million cash prize.
The medal is now on display in Atlanta, Georgia,
in the Carter Center.
The former president was honored for his pursuit
of peace, health, education, and human rights
that began with the 1978 Camp David accords between
Israel and Egypt. During this time of unrest and
uncertainty, President Carter's words were especially
powerful, reminding us that "War
may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter
how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good.
We will not learn to live together in peace by
killing each other's children." 
Following this prestigious ceremony, I also enjoyed
attending a private luncheon the next day with
the Carters at the home of the U.S. Ambassador
to Norway, John Doyle Ong. This event was
especially memorable for me because the ambassador's
residence is located in the former home of my
grandfather. He built the mansion in 1911
after leaving Russia, where he had been the Norwegian
Consul General at St. Petersburg and the CEO of
Nobel Brothers Industries. My grandmother sold
the home to the U.S. government in 1924, when
it became the official U.S. ambassador residence
in Oslo.
It was particularly moving to me to be present
for this ceremony honoring President Carter, whose
dedication to making the world a better place
aptly embodies the spirit of the Nobel family
legacy for world betterment. This is a spirit
to which we all aspire. Many of you, our NSHSS
members, have been active in Habit for Humanity
efforts in your communities, a volunteer effort
which Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have worked tirelessly
to help flourish. One of the most
important goals of NSHSS is to encourage and connect
students with such community service opportunities.
And the start of a new year is the perfect time
to renew your commitment to volunteerism and humanity.
President
Carter's words from his acceptance speech ring
true: "We
have not assumed that super strength guarantees
super wisdom, and we have consistently reached
out to the international community to ensure that
our own power and influence are tempered by the
best common judgment." I hope to impress
on today's youth that this blend of strength and
wisdom applies equally to learning. It is
an absolute necessity for our survival that the
older generations endow you not only with knowledge,
but with the wisdom to make your education a powerful
force for good.
I
look forward to hearing of your progress, achievements,
and experiences as you move into the next exciting
chapter of your life.
Regards to All,
Claes Nobel
Honorary Chairman
The National Society of High School Scholars
Click
here for photo gallery of pictures Claes took
in Olso |
