The inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel, stipulated in his will that a huge part of his fortune would go toward a peace prize awarded “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses.” The five-member committee that chooses the prize’s winners is selected by Norway’s Parliament. It has over time liberalized the selection process by choosing those that are not necessarily peacemakers but poverty, disease, and climate change foes. In other words, they have granted awards to warriors in some of their favorite causes.
This year they really liberalized the process by selecting someone who has no accomplishments in any of the above. Of course I am alluding to the shocking news that Barack Obama has won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. Hence, the reason the Prize has become a politicized joke.
The selection is proof that the committee has also been caught up in the whole Obama hysteria. Give me a break. They nominated him for the prize just 12 days after he was inaugurated as president! Aren’t nominees based on outstanding achievement? Simply becoming president does not qualify – take George W. Bush as an example.
In its selection of Obama the committee said it “attached special importance to Obama’s vision of, and work for, a world without nuclear weapons.” The statement is clearly in reference to the President’s speech to the United Nations where he pledged to work for a nuclear free world. Apparently the committee believes that words speak louder than actions since the President has never acted to reduce nuclear weapons as either a senator or president. Besides, a nuclear free world is fantasy. Because of the fear of Armageddon nuclear weapons have prevented World War III. Giving up our nukes is politically impossible given his rhetoric that Iran and North Korea are out to get us with theirs. Why would we disarm and leave ourselves vulnerable to every bad guy come lately?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - whatsso4me
Should it be renamed the 'Nobel Passivism Prize'?
2 - roger nowosielski
Wait till Jordan gets hold of your article, Kenn. I've got a trashing merely for not being enthusiastic enough: he's of the opinion that we should all smoke a peace-pipe and do a ritualistic dance. But you're posing a frontal attack.
So brace yourself, is my advice.
3 - Christine
Good ONE!
"...performance but for his promise. This is ridiculous as well. It’s like me as a teacher prejudging a student and giving him an “A” before the term begins because he comes from a good family background and therefore has great promise".
4 - Jaimie Krycho
In any case, the situation makes for a proliferation of hilarious articles and SNL skits. Hours of fun!
5 - Arch Conservative
I think it became ridiculous when Arafat got the nod Christine. It's quite obvious that more than world peace, those nutty nordics needed some way of showing their appreciation for bringing that much more socialism to America.
6 - Michael
It's truly not about Obama: how you feel about this speaks volumes about YOU and YOUR attitudes.
Rationalization of your opinion is just rationalization. Time to look inside, critics!
7 - Arch Conservative
Why didn't you just scream "racist" Mike?
Don't beat around the bush.
8 - Michael
Arch: that's exactly what I'm talking about. Quit knee-jerking and telling me what I mean, and check yourself.
9 - Michael
Translation (because I'm not so sure you'll get it): you don't have to be racist to be prejudiced.
10 - Jordan Richardson
he's of the opinion that we should all smoke a peace-pipe and do a ritualistic dance
Still completely missing the point, I see. Good work, Roger.
11 - Jordan Richardson
Quit knee-jerking and telling me what I mean, and check yourself.
That's terrific advice for many people (including myself) around here to live by, Michael.
12 - roger nowosielski
I was still venting, Jordan. Just like you do sometimes. Now the venom is gone.
13 - Jordan Richardson
Understood. The image of you doing a ritualistic dance was a charming one, though. :)
14 - roger nowosielski
I'm sorry. But I've just posted an extended response on the other thread.
15 - Jordan Richardson
We're good.
16 - Irene Wagner
Peace pipes all around. :D
17 - Cindy
(wonders if there is anything good in Irene's peace pipe, hmmm :-)
18 - doug m
If the author thinks the prize has just now become politicized, it shows a bit of ignorance to the prize's history.
It's completely laughable that so many people are put off by Obama's win. Never once has the naming of a nominee had any impact on my life. Can the critics say any different?
I wonder if Kayne West thinks you are all acting foolish
19 - Jordan Richardson
It's completely laughable that so many people are put off by Obama's win. Never once has the naming of a nominee had any impact on my life.
Exactly.
20 - Kenn Jacobine
It's just that Obama is forever getting free rides - the media, pundits, unread Americans, and now the Nobel Peace Prize committee.
Besides the article is really anti-committee and not anti-Obama. Of course, all those caught up in his personality cult are too drunk on his Koolaid to recognize that.
21 - Clavos
I don't understand why anyone even cares...
22 - Jordan Richardson
It's just that Obama is forever getting free rides - the media, pundits, unread Americans, and now the Nobel Peace Prize committee.
Lolz, right. He's getting "free rides."
In all honesty, the things Obama should be criticized for aren't being addressed and the lame things he can't do much about are being dragged around incessantly. Where's the discussion about Obama upholding key parts of the Patriot Act? What about Obama's (lack of) handling of the whole torture issue? What about the fact that he's basically just followed the policies of W's second term with little more than a rhetorical change? What about the fact that he repositioned the U.S. anti-missile systems in Eastern Europe to posture as first-strike weapons? And so on...
The fact is that Obama's been getting shit on for all the wrong reasons from the usual suspects from the Right. It's all about tea parties and health care and taxes with these people. They feel that socialism is on their doorstep, but they don't even know what socialism is. They launch these hollow critiques based on their own failures.
There is a cult of personality with Barack Obama, no doubt about it. He smiles. He shakes hands. He's charming.
But make no mistake about it: he's the same as the rest. He may want to do the right thing more often than the previous president, but he's still playing the same game.
All these lame articles about Nobel Prizes and the perils of so-called socialism don't do any justice to righteous criticism of Obama and of U.S. policies on a host of issues.
Hell, maybe he's getting a free ride after all...
23 - Jordan Richardson
Howard Zinn sums it up nicely.
24 - roger nowosielski
I'm certain the Right will agree with Zinn, just this time. And you, too, will be their darling for a day or two.
25 - roger nowosielski
I should have added "for all the wrong reasons."