Seriousness Nobel Peace Prize! - Page 2

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.

HarryT · 10-10-2009, 06:42 AM

It has always slightly disturbed me that it's the Nobel Peace Prize which makes all the headlines, while the ones that really matter - the prizes for medicine, physics, etc - go largely unnoticed.

I have to agree with the previous posters that this is an award "for not being George Bush".

Sparrow · 10-10-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It has always slightly disturbed me that it's the Nobel Peace Prize which makes all the headlines, while the ones that really matter - the prizes for medicine, physics, etc - go largely unnoticed.

I think Peace matters to most people Harry, so you may be in a minority there.

I also think the Nobel Prizes have long held more credibility than they really deserve.
(Although I might change my tune when I win one. )

HarryT · 10-10-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I think Peace matters to most people Harry, so you may be in a minority there.

I also think the Nobel Prizes have long held more credibility than they really deserve.
(Although I might change my tune when I win one. )

Certainly peace "matters", Sparrow; I'm certainy not saying that it doesn't. I do think, though, that the "science" prizes are very often for discoveries which directly benefit everybody a lot more - fundamental advances which have led to whole new fields like genetic engineering and microelectronics - and that the people who make these discoveries tend to be "overlooked".

WT Sharpe · 10-10-2009, 08:21 AM

I agree with fugazied that it was most likely a "He's not George Bush" award.

In my opinion this honor was bestowed way too soon. He hasn't even been in office one year!

For more of my thoughts on the subject, click here, and wait for the page to auto scroll, then scroll down two more posts.

NormHart · 10-11-2009, 02:38 PM

I see this as a surprise but also as a VERY GOOD THING.

I have been deeply depressed by the state of America in recent years and, while President Obama's election gave me some hope, he has not been able to accomplish much in his first few months. Partly due to the series of major crises that have hit his administration and partly due to the insanity that is our Congress.

I hope that this award will give the President sufficient leverage to move the Congress forward on many of his projects.

I think that Alfred Nobel would think this was a very good selection since, with any luck at all, the President will be able to move America back into a more centrist, internationally engaged, and civilized nation. This will hopefully lead to a more civil, rational, and free internal policy, something that I am very concerned about. Thus this award could lead to a more peaceful world, and that is the whole point.

WT Sharpe · 10-11-2009, 06:43 PM

Joe Cirincione, the President of the Ploughshares Fund posted perhaps the best defense of the Nobel Committee's decision in a post entitled "It's About the Bomb, Not Obama." You can read it here.

Then again, Andy Borowitz says that the Beer Summit sealed it for Obama.

Juliette · 10-12-2009, 01:44 AM

Euh, can I pipe in and add to "it's not W!" the "it's not bloody Silvio!" argument? No, you won't believe it, but some people proposed him since 1994. Regularly!

This said, even if I understand the political reasons behind this (the bomb, the change in at least some foreign policy attitudes), I still think that probably it would have been a better choice to wait and see what's done after, say, more than not even a full year.

6charlong · 10-12-2009, 07:07 PM

Here's what President Obama wrote in an email:

Quote:

<personal name>

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

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 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.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

hodad66 · 11-02-2009, 04:20 PM

An indication of the "Hope" that the rest of the world
sees in this regime change. "Not GW Bush" may be just
enough to get him into heaven......

10-10-2009, 08:21 AM	#20
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	I agree with fugazied that it was most likely a "He's not George Bush" award. In my opinion this honor was bestowed way too soon. He hasn't even been in office one year! For more of my thoughts on the subject, click here, and wait for the page to auto scroll, then scroll down two more posts. Last edited by WT Sharpe; 10-10-2009 at 11:24 AM.

10-11-2009, 02:38 PM	#21
NormHart Semper Carpe Bufo Posts: 537 Karma: 21676 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Napa Valley, California Device: Kindle2 & Kindle3	I see this as a surprise but also as a VERY GOOD THING. I have been deeply depressed by the state of America in recent years and, while President Obama's election gave me some hope, he has not been able to accomplish much in his first few months. Partly due to the series of major crises that have hit his administration and partly due to the insanity that is our Congress. I hope that this award will give the President sufficient leverage to move the Congress forward on many of his projects. I think that Alfred Nobel would think this was a very good selection since, with any luck at all, the President will be able to move America back into a more centrist, internationally engaged, and civilized nation. This will hopefully lead to a more civil, rational, and free internal policy, something that I am very concerned about. Thus this award could lead to a more peaceful world, and that is the whole point. Last edited by NormHart; 10-11-2009 at 02:39 PM. Reason: Arrrrg, brownies!!!

10-11-2009, 06:43 PM	#22
WT Sharpe Bah, humbug! Posts: 39,072 Karma: 157049943 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA, USA Device: Kindle Oasis, iPad Pro, & a Samsung Galaxy S9.	Joe Cirincione, the President of the Ploughshares Fund posted perhaps the best defense of the Nobel Committee's decision in a post entitled "It's About the Bomb, Not Obama." You can read it here. Then again, Andy Borowitz says that the Beer Summit sealed it for Obama. Last edited by WT Sharpe; 10-11-2009 at 08:12 PM.

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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.

10-10-2009, 06:42 AM	#17
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It has always slightly disturbed me that it's the Nobel Peace Prize which makes all the headlines, while the ones that really matter - the prizes for medicine, physics, etc - go largely unnoticed. I have to agree with the previous posters that this is an award "for not being George Bush".

10-12-2009, 01:44 AM	#23
Juliette I eat books Posts: 601 Karma: 5124 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Milan, Italy Device: Gen3 PRS-505 PRS-600 PB360 PB302 K2 Opus BebookMini OnyxBoox K3 KDXG	Euh, can I pipe in and add to "it's not W!" the "it's not bloody Silvio!" argument? No, you won't believe it, but some people proposed him since 1994. Regularly! This said, even if I understand the political reasons behind this (the bomb, the change in at least some foreign policy attitudes), I still think that probably it would have been a better choice to wait and see what's done after, say, more than not even a full year.

11-02-2009, 04:20 PM	#25
hodad66 Beachside Member Posts: 88 Karma: 134 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Indialantic, Florida Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3	An indication of the "Hope" that the rest of the world sees in this regime change. "Not GW Bush" may be just enough to get him into heaven......