Obama got Nobel Peace Prize
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My first reaction to this was negative, and I felt embarrassed to be Norwegian. However, I tend to disagree that it is too soon if he should ever get the prize. The other Nobel prizes are considered a recognition for passed achievements, whereas the peace prize is more an encouragement to something that is taking place now. He has started out well in that he has chosen diplomacy instead of confrontation, and he is in the postion that he can make a difference in the years to come. At least, I assume that is behind the committee's reasoning.
I don't know. It seems to me that there are plenty of people out enagaged in significant, meaningful efforts to promote peace in various trouble spots. I'm not suggesting any other particular candidate - I'm not as well acquainted with different NGO's, etc, that might be suitable candidates, but I would think that the Nobel committee must be. And so why not give it to someone who is actually accomplishing something? Giving it to someone on the assumption that they MIGHT do something worthwhile in the unknown future is seriously flawed.
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My first reaction to this was negative, and I felt embarrassed to be Norwegian. However, I tend to disagree that it is too soon if he should ever get the prize. The other Nobel prizes are considered a recognition for passed achievements, whereas the peace prize is more an encouragement to something that is taking place now. He has started out well in that he has chosen diplomacy instead of confrontation, and he is in the postion that he can make a difference in the years to come. At least, I assume that is behind the committee's reasoning.
Haakon S. wrote:
He has started out well in that he has chosen diplomacy instead of confrontation, and he is in the postion that he can make a difference in the years to come.
But that is just wishful thinking. Any prize should be for achievement, what you have done, not what you might do. Otherwise I should get the Literature prize, or maybe Physics ...
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Yeah Im going for it myself next year on the grounds that Im not GW Bush either.
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
I heard that another strong contender was Michael Jackson.
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
I read about this in today's NY Times NY Times[^] and was also surprised. When Jimmy Carter won, we understood that it was because he'd spent decades working very hard at the peace process. I'm still not entirely sure I get it, but this quote from the article at least shines a little light on the perspective of the Nobel committee: He (Mr. Jagland, Nobel committee) compared the selection of Mr. Obama with the award in 1971 to the then West German Chancellor Willy Brandt for his “Ostpolitik” policy of reconciliation with communist eastern Europe. “Brandt hadn’t achieved much when he got the prize, but a process had started that ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall,” said Mr. Jagland. “The same thing is true of the prize to Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990, for launching perestroika. One can say that Barack Obama is trying to change the world, just as those two personalities changed Europe.” It seems to me that they're applauding Obama's attitude and intentions towards better world relations. In the citation from the prize at the end of the article, it specifically mentions creating a new environment in international politics. While I'm not qualified to say whether or not he deserves it and I'm certainly as surprised as most, I'm encouraged by the gesture. I take a dim view on anyone attacking my country (9/11), but the extremely aggressive and confrontational direction that the administration took the country for the subsequent years caused great damage to the image of the US. I don't see the up side of encouraging the entire world to hold us in disdain. If Obama through action or even just the recognition of intent is rebuilding some of the international goodwill that we've lost in the years since 9/11, what the hell, give him the prize. Even more so because while part of the discussion will be questioning why he got it after less than a year on the job, it shines a light on his efforts to repair US relations and walk us back from our confrontational international posture. Perhaps the more attention that we pay to that, the more the effort will bear fruit. We're supposed to be the good guys. I'd like to see our attitude reflect that.
Christopher Duncan www.PracticalUSA.com Author of
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Haakon S. wrote:
He has started out well in that he has chosen diplomacy instead of confrontation, and he is in the postion that he can make a difference in the years to come.
But that is just wishful thinking. Any prize should be for achievement, what you have done, not what you might do. Otherwise I should get the Literature prize, or maybe Physics ...
Richard MacCutchan wrote:
Any prize should be for achievement, what you have done, not what you might do.
But he has done something. For example, the missile shield deployment he put a halt to. And there are various initiaties around the world. I agree that it is not very much so far, but it is a good start.
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I totally agree. It must just be the contrast to GWB is so dramatic they momentarily lost their senses. But in truth, what on earth has Obama done to deserve this?
LunaticFringe wrote:
It must just be the contrast to GWB is so dramatic
That was the excuse for both Carter and Gore.
Jon 'When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.' ~ Montesquieu Soap Box 1.0: the first, the original, reborn troll-less
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
**yeah this is soap box material** Nobel got it for good intentions, but ended up giving man more destructive powers--gore's intentions have lead to cap and scam. In Obama's case: Russia, Chavez, Taliban, etc. will flurish due to his good intentions. This prize is the ultimate gift for being liberal. Good intentions, bad results.
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
Too early at best. Unless just considering that maybe you don't need to bomb everything right now is worth a Nobel Peace Price. OTOH, the NPPC may themselves question their rather passive nature, and have awarded this price more as a signal for the future than as a trophy of accomplishment. After all, Obama has given many people the hope that a peaceful solution is possible for many conflicts, which isn't a small feat.
Personally, I love the idea that Raymond spends his nights posting bad regexs to mailing lists under the pseudonym of Jane Smith. He'd be like a super hero, only more nerdy and less useful. [Trevel]
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Too early at best. Unless just considering that maybe you don't need to bomb everything right now is worth a Nobel Peace Price. OTOH, the NPPC may themselves question their rather passive nature, and have awarded this price more as a signal for the future than as a trophy of accomplishment. After all, Obama has given many people the hope that a peaceful solution is possible for many conflicts, which isn't a small feat.
Personally, I love the idea that Raymond spends his nights posting bad regexs to mailing lists under the pseudonym of Jane Smith. He'd be like a super hero, only more nerdy and less useful. [Trevel]
| FoldWithUs! | sighist -
MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
Well, he did prostate the US by apologizing for us being the only available world power capable of bringing civilization on the middle east.
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
Rage wrote:
what did he actually achieve in 9 months
Less than that. I've heard, but not attempted to verify, that the nominations were due about two weeks after he took office. Seems to me to be analogous to a trophy for participation.
BDF People don't mind being mean; but they never want to be ridiculous. -- Moliere
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
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MMmh... While I reckon he made a few good speeches, what did he actually achieve in 9 months to deserve a Nobel Prize ? Sounds a bit too ... soon for me. :confused: Link[^]
~RaGE(); I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
he got only because he's black and the first black US president. he certainly hasn't earned it. I mean seriously, after Arafat and Quadafi both got it I lost all respect for the nobel prize, especially since Arafat was given it over Mother Teresa. Give me a break.
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he got only because he's black and the first black US president. he certainly hasn't earned it. I mean seriously, after Arafat and Quadafi both got it I lost all respect for the nobel prize, especially since Arafat was given it over Mother Teresa. Give me a break.
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he got only because he's black and the first black US president. he certainly hasn't earned it. I mean seriously, after Arafat and Quadafi both got it I lost all respect for the nobel prize, especially since Arafat was given it over Mother Teresa. Give me a break.
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he got only because he's black and the first black US president. he certainly hasn't earned it. I mean seriously, after Arafat and Quadafi both got it I lost all respect for the nobel prize, especially since Arafat was given it over Mother Teresa. Give me a break.
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peterchen wrote:
Obama has given many people the hope that a peaceful solution is possible for many conflicts
Please enumerate the conflicts along with the associated thug leader/opposition group that is supposed to go gah-gah over this empty suit.
It's not about the leaders.
Personally, I love the idea that Raymond spends his nights posting bad regexs to mailing lists under the pseudonym of Jane Smith. He'd be like a super hero, only more nerdy and less useful. [Trevel]
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