Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Thread starter GlassOnion
- Start date
The best theory I've heard is that this is actually a slap at Bush. Look, they gave the darn thing to Arafat . . . and Kissinger for christsakes, and neither man exactly springs to mind when i think of "peace." For that matter, they gave it to Gore, who, regardless of what you think of him, is an environmental activist, which has only a loose connection to "peace."
Even taking that into consideration, when I saw this this morning, I had to check several times to make sure I wasn't reading the Onion by mistake. I'm actually kind of upset, not at Obama, but because I don't think this award should go to a sitting president (it has in the past, but it was a long time ago), and because he hasn't earned it yet. Its a flagrantly poltical move on the part of the Committee, but then, its pretty much a political award, unlike the other Nobel Prizes (Science, literature, etc).
I think he should decline to accept it, though I heard that he already has. Oh well, its not an easy thing to decline, and I'm not sure any one ever has.
Even taking that into consideration, when I saw this this morning, I had to check several times to make sure I wasn't reading the Onion by mistake. I'm actually kind of upset, not at Obama, but because I don't think this award should go to a sitting president (it has in the past, but it was a long time ago), and because he hasn't earned it yet. Its a flagrantly poltical move on the part of the Committee, but then, its pretty much a political award, unlike the other Nobel Prizes (Science, literature, etc).
I think he should decline to accept it, though I heard that he already has. Oh well, its not an easy thing to decline, and I'm not sure any one ever has.
OBAMA RESPONDS:
I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century
I think thats an appropriate and polite response
I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century
I think thats an appropriate and polite response
The Nobel Prize article on Yahoo said that the prize is often awarded in order to promote existing efforts at peace to continue. In that sense, the awarding of this prize to Obama is basically saying "Keep up the good work, we like how you think". And while a prize had never been awarded so early on in someone's peacemaking career before, I don't think he is completely undeserving.
I'm also of the opinion that we can't blame Obama for a prize he won that he couldn't have nominated himself for.
I'm also of the opinion that we can't blame Obama for a prize he won that he couldn't have nominated himself for.
OBAMA RESPONDS:
I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century
I think thats an appropriate and polite response
I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee. Let me be clear: I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women, and all Americans, want to build -- a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents. And I know that throughout history, the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action -- a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century
I think thats an appropriate and polite response
Edit: Notably, I am certain that Obama was as surprised as everyone else by this. There's no way to rig it, really, and if he wanted to rig something, the Olympics would have been MUCH more sensible!
Yeah, I guess you can't really blame Obama personally.
But.... (You knew it was coming.)
A look back at some of the people they have given it to.
US Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt - The original "pass the law and worry about it being Constitutional later" Progressive.
Woodrow Wilson - The man who imprisoned over 750,000 American Citizens, just because they spoke out about the Government. Funny how you don't read that in history books. Also, the wanna be dictator who gave us the income tax and the IRS.
Jimmy Carter - The most embarrassing excuse for a President we ever had. His awkward statements of him trying to not sound racist, but actually proves it are the best.
Barack Obama - The jury is still out I suppose. But so far, not so good. On the record as having the same mindset as Woodrow Wilson.
Then there is Yassir Arafat. Yeah, enslave your people so you can live the fat life. All the while killing as many Jews as possible.
Al Gore? :rofl1:
Koffi Annan - The, perhaps, most corrupt Secretary General of the UN, ever. And thats saying alot...
They even gave it to Gorbachev. "For helping end the Cold War." The Cold War would still be going on had not Ronald Regan won it. Ronald Regan walking away from the SALT II table in 1987 was the final straw that won the Cold War. But they give it to Gorbachev?
So yeah, there might be just a teeeeeeennnssssyyyyy bit of bias on the Nobel Panel. But only a little bit.
Being awarded a Nobel Prize, especially the "Peace" Prize... Is, nowadays especially, a pretty damning declaration of a persons world view.
But.... (You knew it was coming.)
A look back at some of the people they have given it to.
US Presidents
Theodore Roosevelt - The original "pass the law and worry about it being Constitutional later" Progressive.
Woodrow Wilson - The man who imprisoned over 750,000 American Citizens, just because they spoke out about the Government. Funny how you don't read that in history books. Also, the wanna be dictator who gave us the income tax and the IRS.
Jimmy Carter - The most embarrassing excuse for a President we ever had. His awkward statements of him trying to not sound racist, but actually proves it are the best.
Barack Obama - The jury is still out I suppose. But so far, not so good. On the record as having the same mindset as Woodrow Wilson.
Then there is Yassir Arafat. Yeah, enslave your people so you can live the fat life. All the while killing as many Jews as possible.
Al Gore? :rofl1:
Koffi Annan - The, perhaps, most corrupt Secretary General of the UN, ever. And thats saying alot...
They even gave it to Gorbachev. "For helping end the Cold War." The Cold War would still be going on had not Ronald Regan won it. Ronald Regan walking away from the SALT II table in 1987 was the final straw that won the Cold War. But they give it to Gorbachev?
So yeah, there might be just a teeeeeeennnssssyyyyy bit of bias on the Nobel Panel. But only a little bit.
Being awarded a Nobel Prize, especially the "Peace" Prize... Is, nowadays especially, a pretty damning declaration of a persons world view.
How about this guy instead?
The Man Who Prevented WWIII - DivineCaroline
Someone who actually brought peace to the world? Or rather, kept peace through a clear head under pressure?
The Man Who Prevented WWIII - DivineCaroline
Someone who actually brought peace to the world? Or rather, kept peace through a clear head under pressure?
