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Seabound · 10-10-2009, 02:41 AM

I was surprised by the news. But, after thinking about it, I figure that if Obama could be elected president without accomplishing anything significant, and solely under the banner of hope, change, and not being George W. Bush, then it is really no longer that unusual for this accolade to be given him under the same recognition of hope, change, and not being George W. Bush.

And then a further thought. What does it matter, really? Why should it matter to me what these people think? Who are they, anyway? I am not even familiar with the politics of Norway, and this was definitely a political statement:

http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/nom...ittee/members/

Out of this day a sobering lesson returned to me, a lesson learned while younger, but sometimes forgotten when focused on ambitions. Right now, I cannot express this lesson much better than quoting Elizabeth Gaskell's words from her novel, "Ruth":

"The world is not everything, Ruth; nor is the want of men’s good opinion and esteem the highest need which man has."

I also read an article on NPR today. It said Gandhi did not win the Nobel Peace Prize despite being nominated thrice.

10-10-2009, 02:41 AM	#16
Seabound Steerage Class Posts: 711 Karma: 505995 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest, USA Device: Won't fit here anymore, see sig for a list of liseuses.	I was surprised by the news. But, after thinking about it, I figure that if Obama could be elected president without accomplishing anything significant, and solely under the banner of hope, change, and not being George W. Bush, then it is really no longer that unusual for this accolade to be given him under the same recognition of hope, change, and not being George W. Bush. And then a further thought. What does it matter, really? Why should it matter to me what these people think? Who are they, anyway? I am not even familiar with the politics of Norway, and this was definitely a political statement: http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/nom...ittee/members/ Out of this day a sobering lesson returned to me, a lesson learned while younger, but sometimes forgotten when focused on ambitions. Right now, I cannot express this lesson much better than quoting Elizabeth Gaskell's words from her novel, "Ruth": "The world is not everything, Ruth; nor is the want of men’s good opinion and esteem the highest need which man has." I also read an article on NPR today. It said Gandhi did not win the Nobel Peace Prize despite being nominated thrice.