![]() |
#1 |
Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 11,726
Karma: 8255450
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox
Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!
|
Nobel Peace Prize!
It was quite a shock to wake up this morning to hear that President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. I have never made any bones about the fact that I'm a Yellow Dog Democrat, but I think that this is a significant event inasmuch as it shows the people who look at these things on a global level want the United States to follow the path of engagement and discussion, rather than exclusion and aggression.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
Do you know that at the very latest, he was only in office for 12 days before they started considering him for the Nobel? And here I thought you were supposed to get awards based on past actions. He hasn't done anything yet.
Is the Nobel basically a popularity contest now? |
![]() |
![]() |
Advert | |
|
![]() |
#3 | |
The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 72,044
Karma: 307935764
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Norfolk, England
Device: Kindle Voyage
|
It seems a very strange decision.
Giving the peace prize to an outgoing politician when they have made an outstanding contribution while in office, and actually achieved things, would be the right thing to do. This seems to have been done in the hope of future actions based on past rhetoric. Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
When's Doughnut Day?
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 10,059
Karma: 13675475
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX, US
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad
|
I just woke up. I assume you're not kidding, so was there something substantive cited for the award?
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Murderous Mustela
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 10,194
Karma: 47842158
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: The other land of schnitzel and beer
Device: iPad M1 Pro, Kindle Paperwhite
|
"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples."
They forgot to add "By virtue of not being George Bush." ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Advert | |
|
![]() |
#6 |
When's Doughnut Day?
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 10,059
Karma: 13675475
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX, US
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 | ||
Bookaholic
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 14,391
Karma: 54969924
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Minnesota
Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +
|
Quote:
Quote:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/...nts/index.html ![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
When's Doughnut Day?
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 10,059
Karma: 13675475
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX, US
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad
|
But an award as significant as this for words but no accomplishments? I don't see how that's at all credible. And it just feeds the flames of those who don't like him. The "right" will be understandably displeased and I wouldn't blame them a bit. I like Obama a lot but this strikes me as a very big mistake. I'm telling you, if everyone doesn't start being fully rational and leave our gut- and crotch-level reactionary behaviours behind us soon, we're all going up in a big ball of hatred.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
ZCD BombShel
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 4,793
Karma: 8293322
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA)
Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis
|
I was surprised myself. I like Obama, but as Nate said, "He hasn't DONE anything yet!" At least not anything to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize.
We're still in Iraq and Afghanistan - I'm afraid we're about to be in Iran again, if they keep rumbling about their nukes - and who knows what someone else might have in store? We've been "at war" so long, it seems normal now. And this deserves the Nobel prize for Peace how? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Wizard
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 1,305
Karma: 1958
Join Date: Jan 2009
Device: iPod Touch
|
It was a "He's not George W Bush" award I think. The world breathed a collective sigh of relief when Obama won. The US under republicans was increasingly disliked by the world as they continued to invade countries, make hostile statements towards other countries, build up the military to unprecedented levels and violate human rights. Quite frankly they were not helping world peace in any way, only lining the pockets of the industrial military complex and killing a lot of people with bombs.
But what has Obama done? - Guantanamo is still open - CIA torture camps still exist - Still in Afghanistan, with a worsening situation and we all know it will never end (see Russians in the 80s). - Still in Iraq - Patriot act just got it's extension as did the warrantless wiretaps and detention of American citizens - Still throwing ludicrous amounts of money at the military, haliburton, blackwater - Hasn't found the BILLIONS 'lost' by the department of defense in Iraq. - Still mechanations about invading Iran floating around, after that probably Syria and Pakistan and so on. While Obama has been speaking about peace, he hasn't achieved anything yet, the financial crisis saw to that. IMO he should have held back on health care, the lobbyists are controling that discussion and FOX news are spreading too much FUD to have an adequate debate. Many people are also too focused on their self interest to pay another 2% tax to cover health care for all Americans. The health care debate has slowed Obama down, I want to see movement in other areas and a less authoritarian America. I want financial sector action, the crooks took the public money and are back to their dodgy ways already, Obama needs to address this before people forget how devastating the financial crisis was. More action, less talk. Last edited by fugazied; 10-09-2009 at 05:15 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 |
Beepbeep n beebeep, yeah!
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 11,726
Karma: 8255450
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin, aka America's IceBox
Device: iThingie, KmkII, I miss Zelda!
|
I hate to characterize it as being the "Not W" prize, because I'm really tired of all the rancor. It was, as I said, very surprising. Political leanings aside, I am not sure he deserves it at this stage. Carter won it for his work on middle east peace, Wilson for staying out of WWI, and Roosevelt for developing the Panama Canal. Obama seems to be getting it for promoting something. Something I feel is quite important, but I would have liked to see it happen after a while when he stayed the course to his convictions. I fear that this will be seen by others as being insignificant due to international politics, rather than the message that the committee seems to be trying to put across.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Illiterate
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 10,279
Karma: 37848716
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: The Sandwich Isles
Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro
|
Mr. Obama has joined an exclusive club, populated by the likes of Yasser Arafat, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, Al Gore, Woodrow Wilson, Anwar El Sadat, Menachem Begin, and Henry Kissinger.
Most of those actually did something, either for good or ill. I can't quite see how "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." qualifies as actually having done done something. All of his major endeavors remain unfulfilled. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#13 |
Zealot
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 134
Karma: 994
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Maine, United States
Device: Ectaco Jetbook
|
its my understanding that the award is given to people who havent done anything a lot. I would go into more detail, but Im posting from my zune =)
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#14 |
Member
![]() Posts: 10
Karma: 20
Join Date: Sep 2009
Device: ebookwise, prs300
|
I am disappointed for the people that might have been legitimate contenders for this year's Peace Prize.
I do not agree with Obama's politics, but that has nothing to do with this. He hasn't accomplished anything worthy of this prize yet. I feel that this is a blatant effort of the Nobel Committee to proactively influence policy rather than reward those who have accomplished 'great things'. I feel that they hoped this would stimulate a complete withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a sad day for the Nobel Prize, IMO. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#15 |
Wearer of Pants
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posts: 1,050
Karma: 7634
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Norman, OK
Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone
|
From the coverage I've seen of it today from the more.. nuanced news services (NPR, etc) I see why it happened, even if I'm a little skeptical. I'm with Fugazied.. he's not done jack here yet and I'm not happy about it. My short hopes of some of the "everything that can be screwed up in this country IS screwed up" (economy, health care, education, etc.) being resolved is pretty much entirely gone.
But, at the same time... I do see their point. We're still the 'superpower' (kind of) and Obama is attempting to provide the leadership that we should be providing in a number of ways, and I think the Nobel prize is very much a vote of confidence in that direction. So, yes, a lot of it is simply 'you're not George W' but it's also about the hopes for something new and the hopes for something better. So, while I don't agree he's done anything to deserve it yet, and he's certainly not my favorite person right now, I can see a legitimate point of view in him winning the award. It's not the first time someone has won the award for what they are trying to accomplish before they accomplished anything. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
China objects to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident | kennyc | Lounge | 7 | 10-08-2010 06:16 PM |
2010 Nobel Prize in Literature | Scott Nielsen | General Discussions | 5 | 10-08-2010 06:19 AM |
Internet nominated for Nobel Peace Prize | Nate the great | Lounge | 8 | 03-13-2010 12:14 AM |
Lessing, Doris. On not winning the Nobel Prize | Nate the great | News | 4 | 12-10-2007 03:42 PM |
Guess who just won the Nobel Peace Prize? | Nate the great | Lounge | 127 | 10-20-2007 07:17 AM |