Several years ago, the Trib had the honor of working with Baylor University’s Mayborn Museum Complex to put on a photographic exhibit of images that we captured relating to President George W. Bush and his impact on Waco and Central Texas.

On opening night of the exhibit, a local television reporter interviewed me and asked why we would be involved in such a project when we didn’t even endorse him for his re-election.

We can disagree with his policies, I told the reporter, and still recognize — and in this case acknowledge — the historic significance of his presidency on Central Texas.

That moment came to mind last week upon hearing the shocking news that President Barack Obama was selected as this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

I personally was proud when I heard the news. But I knew immediately it would be a source of hot controversy.

The irony is that nowhere in the world is the controversy likely to be more contentious than in Obama’s own country.

Without reading or listening to a word from Obama’s steadfast critics, I can predict exactly what their talking points will be:

* He hasn’t done anything yet, particularly anything to deserve an award like this.

* The Nobel committee always has a liberal bent. Remember Al Gore?

* What did you expect? They awarded the Nobel prize to the terrorist Yasser Arafat a few years ago.

* None other that Adolf Hitler had been briefly nominated for a Nobel prize in 1939.

But all this criticism does not diminish the fact that the Nobel Peace Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious awards.

Several years ago, there was a lot of buzz that Waco’s own Ray Perryman had been nominated for the economics prize. Local civic and business leaders were ecstatic at the prospect.

Joining the company of Arafat doesn’t diminish the fact that Obama is also joining company of people such as Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr. and President Teddy Roosevelt.

In other words, whether we disagree with Obama’s policies or not, we can’t ignore — in fact, we must acknowledge — the historic significance of this award and of this year’s recipient.

I do take exception to reporting that suggests this year’s award, like the one that was awarded to Gore, is a direct slap at President Bush.

I’d like to believe that considerations by the five-member Nobel committee would transcend such politics, but I’m not that naive.

What I do believe is that the committee’s considerations transcend partisan politics — particularly the partisan politics of our country.

In fact, it would be arrogant of Americans to believe that the Norwegians who choose each year’s winner would even care about the incessant squabbling between Democrats and Republicans.

Every year about this time, the Nobel announcements for medicine, chemistry, physics, economics and literature roll out during the course of a week.

Then they’re topped off by the Nobel peace prize.

And every year at this time, I treat the week as a mini-Olympics, keeping mental notes when someone from the United States, and particularly someone from Texas, gets the recognition.

This year has been a banner year for Americans.

Of the 11 people who received or shared a Nobel so far (the economics prize will be announced Monday), seven of them, including Obama, came from the United States.

I consider that a point of pride.

And I would declare that everyone in this country should take pride in the achievements of Americans who won Nobels this year.

And I would say that even if you don’t like him, it’s OK to extend that pride to Obama as well.