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Friday, October 9, 2009

What Were They Thinking?


I cannot believe that the Nobel Prize committee chose Barak Obama to receive this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. I thought you actually had to do something to get the prize. What are they thinking? They think he’s changed the tone of foreign relations?? They should have given the prize to the American people for electing someone who professes an interest in creating peace in the world, not to him for what he might do. Lord knows we could use the money.

It could be that in the future President Obama will achieve great things. He’s off to s slow start, but we can hope, but right now he does not deserve to be in the company of previous winners such as the Dahlia Lama, Martin Luther King, Jimmy Carter, and Al Gore. The Nobel Committee has cheapened their prize in my opinion. I don’t think Obama deserves the prize just for not being George Bush as laudable as that accomplishment is.

18 comments:

Kim Thompson said...

I was completely baffled by this, as was The White House. Very strange move. My husband and I were discussing possible motivations for this decision. Thoughts?

Lorraine Hart said...

As much as I love the man's thinking...and my frustration with those fighting change on the scale we dreamed of...I too have to say this is not his time. I hope someday sooner than later, changes will precede his nomination for this honour.

I have to ask...has the whole world become about spin and not substance? Is this a trickle-down, faerie-dust theory of world peace?

I think distractions keep coming from every direction...from those against real change for peace in the world. The way things ARE is very profitable for some...and they're very used to it.

This resembles some stupid Punked telly show, methinks.

Kim Thompson said...

Lorraine, you hit smack between the eyes. It's all about spin (which I was fearful of).

Mizu Sugimura said...

In regards to the prize - and the last election, Barak Obama is totally a catalyst leader. He said he was running to bring change a task so enormous that one man (let alone one party) can will into existence on their own. Hope and inspiration are not concrete. But the ages have proved they can change a world. A catalyst plays their part by being there and in effect pointing the way. It is up to the people (whether we are discussing Congress, the nation, or relations between countries) to create it. Blessings to all!

Stephanie Frieze said...

I guess it's all about hope and change and I'm still hoping for change. My youngest says it's Bush v2.0. I hope he's wrong about that. The Right will have a field day with this.

Stephanie Frieze said...

Ladies, like my new hat? I'm on a broom.

Kim Thompson said...

I think your hat is awesome.

Leave it on!

Stephanie Frieze said...

Me, too, and the children had fun taking the picture.

JosephMcG said...

I think the award was most appropriate. Obama had the courage and the intelligence to run for office in America and win. He is a man of color... many parts of our country are still not ready for a man of color to have any decision making power.
He chose to run; he brought together new people in running; he won...
I think that is astounding...
In doing so he opened a new door, he broke down some parts of that glass ceiling... now children who are dark skinned can focus on being the best they can be and finding support in choosing to move into key leadership positions...
as for changing things... well, he needs the support of the House, the Senate, and state and local governments... if he gets that support, he may get some things done institutionally... if he does not, he has still changed our democracy forever...

Stephanie Frieze said...

Joseph, I agree with you about what Barak Obama has done for the citizens of this nation. I believe him capable of greatness, but it is too soon. I honestly believed that the Nobel Peace Prize was for an achievement in the realm of peace in the world and so far he's not achieved anything of substance in that arena.

JosephMcG said...

Martin King received the Peace Prize... following that wonderful honor, many people in this country were beaten, and killed... in India, the poor and dark skinned continued to be discriminated against, President Carter continues to speak out against injustices occurring in Israel; Al Gore continued to work to bring people together around climate change;
these men stood up for what they believed and they moved and are moving many people...
if their greatness depended upon their successfully bringing their causes to fruition, they would still be waiting to have that title applied to their achievements...
so... Barak Obama has helped people from around the world to hope again... because he chose to run for an office that very few people (including me) thought that a dark skinned person would ever win... he has changed my life forever and I am most grateful...

Stephanie Frieze said...

There is no doubt that the election of Barak Obama has been cause to hope.

Anonymous said...

all former winners have been slapped in the face by this. This seems to be a way to manipulate the thinking of a man that the npp committee seems to think has an ego that makes him easily manipulated. i hope not.
It would have understandable had he diplomatically declined, and suggested that when he accomplishes the feat he would gladly accept if they should offer. somebody must have actually deserved it.

Anonymous said...

the anonymous one is mine. just figuring out how this works

anrnmom@hotmail.com

JosephMcG said...

Archbishop Tutu and Nelson Mandella did not say they felt slapped in the face...
Would appreciate your offering quotes of those who said they felt slapped in the face..
Very often I find myself needing to say I am hurt, shocked, angered...
are you expressing their feelings or yours...

Gigi said...

When I heard on the car radio that Barak Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize I felt such happiness for him and for our country. What a wonderful honor for all, even if some don't agree. I felt that the world was embracing the US again after the cess pool of the Bush era. I'm proud of Obama and his potential. I believe he will do great things for our country. Give him a chance. He may have been in office 8 months but he has to clean up a lot of messes from the last administration. It may take a while. I'm willing to give him the rest of his term and another one besides to accomplish what he has set out to do. Please, don't be so quick to judge.

I loved what Joseph wrote and agree with everything he said!

Lorraine Hart said...

After a lot of reading (Leonard Pitts always makes good sense to me) including right here...I believe I have changed my mind and will celebrate this fragile hope still.

Good lesson in first reactions...and then informed reactions. I guess at first (which Obama himself seemed to agree with) he just seemed so young and new, next to the icons for peace...but we were once young and new too...and these ARE the ideas we began for world change that he stands up for.

That having been said...prizes and awards are very nice...please, everyone....think and work. Peace. Lox

Stephanie Frieze said...

I believe Obama is capable of greatness and getting elected is a great honor for him and all of us, I still believe that he has not accomplished any step toward peace. The Nobel is not about getting elected or about going tour to tell people he's not Bush. All good things, but not a real blow for peace. Age may be a part of it, but he hasn't been in office long enough. He was nominated 11 days into his administration so obviously it was all about getting elected. I didn't know the Nobel was an American prize.

Actually, I liked the explanation that Norway just wants him to come visit.

Sorry. I'm still not convinced even after doing a lot of reading, but am still hoping for change.