The Nobels are in a way a lot like the Olympics. A committee gets to define itself as important and place blue ribbons on others while Executive Directors sit in offices and adjust name plates. So it is with some relief that I read that Mr Obama has decided not to play out the entire role in the morality play that the Norwegians have laid out for him:

Prize winners traditionally open the exhibitions about their work that accompany the Nobel festivities. “I totally understand why the Norwegian public is upset. If I could get a few minutes with the president, I’d say, ‘To walk through the exhibition wouldn’t take long, and I’m sure you would love the show. You have no idea what you are missing.’” Meanwhile, the Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet is reporting that the president has declined an invitation to lunch with King Harald V, an event every prize winner from the Dalai Lama to Al Gore has attended. (The newspaper’s headline: “Obama disses lunch with King Harald.”)

To be fair, Obama has indicated that he thinks he is not the most worthy of the peace prize so maybe he is simply being honest. His speech is starting in a second and he may elaborate on that point. But besides that - and as multi-blog Ben pointed out on FB but I don't know how to hat tip to FB so... - he is himself the equivalent of a king in the structure of his nation and the equivalent in a nation which threw off kings. Reminding others of the meaning of the republic is useful once in a while in the same way that we should be reminded that protestants in fact are protesting.