This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

[Emo_Saur_]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

I wasn't aware that it suddenly became a tool of political use only when the winners were involved in politics. I suppose Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, as well as other laureates, also accepted it to push their own political agendas.

Double post. Oh well.

No, they got it because they actually proved to the world they deserved it. Not to gain recognition and push their own views and actions.

[MrRubix]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

As they put it:

NYT: "The committee said it wanted to enhance Mr. Obama’s diplomatic efforts so far rather than reward him for events in the future.”

This is the saddest and most blatantly politicized excuse for giving a Nobel Peace Price. Ever. Awarding people for their *great potential* is done with gold star stickers, not Nobel Prizes.

At least Al Gore and Jimmy Carter had DONE things, even if I wasn't fond of them. The last sitting US President who earned a Nobel Prize (Woodrow Wilson) actually DID something, too (something about a World War, oh, I dunno). Don't forget Teddy Roosevelt who ALSO actually did something to earn it (brokering the Treaty of Portsmouth between Russia and Japan, ending the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War... actually causing peace, DOMINATED). Compare any of this to a man who has done nothing but spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from his airplane and his mouth around the world shows just how sadly debased the Nobel has come in recent times.

The Nobel Prize was supposed to be the neutral honor from the neutral country, awarding the finest accomplishments of man towards making the world a better and more peaceful place for his fellow man. That's what gave it meaning, and what gave it power. It was NOT meant to try and play a role in using influence to affect events as they unfold. It is too bad for these old European men, then, that they have so debased the Nobel Peace Prize that it doesn't have any influence left.

At least we can still take the Nobel Prizes in chemistry and physics seriously, until they start giving the prize to someone who *might* invent cold fusion or something. After all, giving a Nobel to someone who might do something is too silly to consider... hm, wait a second, there...

[GuidoHunter]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

I wasn't aware that it suddenly became a tool of political use only when the winners were involved in politics. I suppose Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama, as well as other laureates, also accepted it to push their own political agendas.

Okay, I admit that I overstepped a little there. How about, "It shows that the Peace Prize committee has turned the award into a politically charged instrument with only occasional regard to merit.

Sure, several laureates in recent history have been very deserving of the prize, but several have also fallen far short of any standard for it, even doing what they can to ensure a less peaceful world at times.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[GG_Guru]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

This is why I hate politics...

[GuidoHunter]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

I'd be willing to agree with you about winners being unworthy if I was able to see the other candidates and judge for myself, but the rules of the Nobel Peace Prize state that the committee keeps the records of the other candidates sealed for 50 years. So until then, even though Obama winning was surprising to me as well, I'm forced to accept that their decision was based on the best factors in mind and they made the best judgment possible.

You're never *forced* to plug your ears and shut your eyes.

Hell, just see Rubix's post above; the committee itself is telling you that the decision wasn't made on merit.

Also remember: ten days.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[Ground_Breaker]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

So what's the problem here? Are we just mad, as Rubix said, because we can't take the Nobel Peace Prize seriously anymore?

If this thread is still about Obama and not about the ethics of the committee members, then let me ask this: what is the harm in this situation? Are there not potentially many ways that Obama could use this to improve the global perception of the United States? Also, isn't it healthier for everyone if we don't assume that he will waste such an opportunity?

[Syhto]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

I'm just going to say a few things, I don't want to get in any arguments. First of all, in regards to broken promises, everything changes when a president enters office. No one president has gone in and done everything they said they would. Things change, opinions change, they become more educated as to how their efforts would play out. They choose what they think is best, based on the information they gather by all of the other experts helping them along. Honestly, I dare you do go find a president that didn't break one promise, in regards to campaign vs. presidency.

Notwithstanding, a lot of his claims were severely overblown. I don't even like Obama, I'm republican. I don't even really like him as a man. But what can I say? Are you going to flame me and convince me that he's amazing? No, I'll answer that for you. You aren't.

I personally think it's downright stupid that Obama has won the nobel peace prize. Once again, that's just opinion, and I really don't justify that opinion based on facts. I feel that way, but I don't go believe it based on logic. Obama is not the first president to earn the peace prize.

Many others have. I found one example: http://askgleaves.blogspot.com/2005/...residents.html

Look at what these presidents accomplished. Doesn't it seem like a rip off that Obama won, when all of these men did things such as go to war for several years, and actually accomplished amazing things in office? IMO, he's out of place.

There are a lot more social factors to the decision of the committee, personally, I think this is a rip off. Don't say anything dj shox! I read your article! But did you notice that is yahoo news, and did you not notice that for quite awhile yahoo has had a liberal bias?

Well... Obama speaks correctly when he says he doesn't belong there with past winners of the award. He's totally right, he's completely out of place. I think this is all ridiculous to be honest. Ridiculous.

[Syhto]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

everything has a bias

edit: shox, I read and understand the article. it doesn't matter. People will say what they will, but it doesn't lead me to believe any differently as to the means of obama's nomination. did no one ever teach you to leave well enough alone?

[Syhto]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

you don't even know my logic, gr8 logic. this isn't how you get people on your side.

[GuidoHunter]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

And apparently to you, when the news source speaks about positive events in relation to Obama it must be a liberal bias. Great logic.

Well, you've gotta put on a pretty heavy spin to make anything he does sound good. =)

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

[Syhto]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

that... isn't even what happened.

cya

[MrRubix]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

For all we know, Obama may indeed be instrumental in somehow promoting peace over the next few years or contributing something great. But right now, he has NOT earned the privilege of the Nobel Peace Prize. Look at what the Prize is intended for, how it's awarded, and who it's gone to in the past, and it's clear that Obama was awarded this thing prematurely. Again, they've even said themselves it was meant as an "enhancement." My point is that the Nobel Peace Prize loses its value once it's awarded as something to "enhance" efforts. It should be awarded to "reward" immense efforts and success, and that clearly has not happened yet.

This has really nothing to do with whether or not you like Obama.

[Anakinstepwalker]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

You guys are all idiots, Obama hasn't done anything besides broken pretty much every promise he's made.

U need to close your lips on that comment.. Try reading the news or actually watching CNN.. Obama has done lots already, and hasnt even been in office that long. Before u make a statement make sure you know what your talking about please!

[MrRubix]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

You claimed a bias from Yahoo supposedly, and I'm not sure what you think is biased information when they're reporting a factual event.

Every information source has a bias by its very definition -- the nature of the bias differs, though, and some people dislike certain biases.

[delossantosj_2]

Re: This year's Nobel Peace Prize winner is...

U need to close your lips on that comment.. Try reading the news or actually watching CNN.. Obama has done lots already, and hasnt even been in office that long. Before u make a statement make sure you know what your talking about please!

name five things he's done so far to CHANGE. he hasnt because he was just brought into presidency not even a year ago lol. not trying to hate on obama or nothing. i mean i like the dude. its just like what rubix said. its dumb because he didnt deserve it YET. maybe next year i would have given it to him.