Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Obama

[JollyBobber 0]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: blade2k5

quote>

Your link is broken, just like the other instances where you have posted this website.

Barbarossa

quote>

I can get to the link just fine.

But, on topic, yes it was a bit premature, but what he promised is Peace Prize worthy. I have no issue with it. Those of you who are in disagreement, who would you had rather won it?

[Z77 3]

 

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

Exactly Meg. 

I don't think Americans were fully aware of the incredible disgust and at times hatred that a very large majority of the international world held for America, its polices and general attitude. Especially its disrespectful stance to global institutions like the UN and seeming inadequacies at dealing with certain issues. 

I also don't think Americans understand how the Obama Presidency has completely and utterly transformed their international reputation and global standing. His speeches in Berlin, Prague and Cairo has been fundamental in this process. 

Most of the criticism is coming from American Republicans, on that count I'm not exactly surprised. Indeed most criticism is coming from America itself. 

While I'm not exactly thrilled it has been awarded to him, I do understand the reasoning, I also take offence to the comments that the Nobel Prize is now worthless, it displays a shocking and somewhat obnoxious attitude to something you clearly have no understanding of. Indeed it is such attitudes toward international institutions that resulted in the woefully weak international reputation Obama inherited.quote>

well said

I am american, so this isn't someone saying 'America is bad! Bad bad America!' i have to say that in my opinion, like JollyBobber stated, yes they did give it a bit too early, but he definately has earned it. Maybe if they had waited until his first 4 years was over to give it to him, or even 2 years. because honestly, how the american public 'THINKS' is extremely biased. news studios survey 1,000 people who are for this idea *points to random idea* then they air that the 'PUBLIC' is feeling this way. (hmm 1,000 people out of a country of OVER 300 million...) so honestly, i have definately seen a general happiness and encouraging of the people in my state and region. Yes, part of it could be b/c i live in Illinois....where the s is silent But a main reason is because 90% of people dont look at statistics and surveys. a lot of people i know are smart enough to realize that they are illogical and stupid, which is a main reason why almost everyone is still sighing relief that we finally have a president that is doing something wonderful for our nation and the world. And they do say that they are excited to hear that maybe finally, once troubled nations are going to be finally in peace with us for the first time since pre WWI times.

People generally feel relieved that obama is doing something right for a change, something that we havent experienced for a while. he has done a wonderful job boosting morale of the citizens and soldiers, and to be honest, those late night talk show gigs, when was the last president to do something quite like this? Mr. Franklin Delanor Roosevelt. With his 'Fireside Chats' and his exuberant speeches like "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself"

So yes, he may be doing some things that arent exactly peachy-keen, but he is working harder at his job than any other president since FDR and is pushing world peace issues further than any other president in history.

So, my fellow americans......STOP COMPLAINING, STAND UP, AND APPLAUD HIM!!!

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Originally posted by: Z77

but he is working harder at his job than any other president since FDR and is pushing world peace issues further than any other president in history.quote>

Um,okay... if you say so...

So, my fellow americans......STOP COMPLAINING, STAND UP, AND APPLAUD HIM!!!

quote>

Why? He was nominated 12 days into his term. 12 days. He was nominated for, and won, an award he didn't earn. There's no honor in that. No one can even pretend he had done anything at all to get it. Getting something you didn't even begin to earn isn't American, unless you're in politics.

It was a political group-grope, on an international level. A dog-and-pony show to make the other Lefties feel good about themselves, and how much they can care without actually solving any problems.

[torontosubway 11]

im a fan of  Obama, but i still thinks that he doesn't deserve this award. I don't know what he accomplished, that have given peace to the world, i rather that, he take the troops back from Iraq, since thats wasting money and i don't think war creates any peace. He's yelling at other countries to stop nuclear weapons, but the U.S. got the biggest, largest, and most powerful nuclear weapon in its Arsenal. And they never talk about that since they think they are the "international police." please don't get it wrong, im not blaming on Americans and being racist, im just saying that i don't understand this?????!!!!!

[Patricius Maximus 236]

When I first heard of it, I pretty much shaked my head. After all, he hasn't actually done much, although he does have peaceful intentions, and I think Obama was shaking his head as well. But considering what they had to choose from this year, the selection makes more sense to me.

[chicah 20]

I have to say that personally, I do not think Obama has done anything Peace Prize worthy - yet, at least. If travelling around the world holding nice speeches gets you the Peace Prize, I actually feel like the Peace Prize is failing. There are SO many others who could've gotten it, who fight every day to create peace and a better world - in the Middle East, in Iran, who fight for democracy in China - taking a stand for THEM would be powerful and gutsy. To be completely honest, as a Norwegian and citizen of Oslo, I think the main reason he won is because we'd really like to see him come to Oslo. Because it's EXACTLY what our politicians want, and Obama is a rather popular guy in Norway because he's promised an Iraq pullout and he's trying to better your health system, etc. But he hasn't done enough, in my opinion at least, to deserve this Prize. In a year or two, if he'd actually DONE what he'd promised, it would be completely fine by me.

It says a lot that Obama was as confused and surprised as anybody when he got the message. But I think this might be an attempt to reach out to America, to say "we're over Bush, we trust you to make good decisions, and America is a respected country again" or something like that. But I still find the decision a little weird. Hopefully, this will push Obama to feel obligated to do something. I truly believe he's a good man with good intentions, but intentions aren't always enough...

One way or another, it's going to be COMPLETE chaos when he arrives. The city will be PACKED.

[Facco 0]

from what ive heard, the three membembers of the peace prize commity were all socalists (gasp!) Not trying to say anything bout obama or the rest of the world, but from what ive learned, most of the world hates america and would like nothing more then to see it fall. Thus, they like obama

[sixers33 3]

This is one or two years early, i don't think that Obama has actually done anything yet to deserve the award. He is making some strides in helping Americas image but i wouldn't say it's deserving of a Nobel Prize quite yet.

[dfwpike 0]

9.8% unemployment and rising... record budget deficit... government takeover of health care... etc... etc

So how's that Hope and Change working out for ya?

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Facco

from what ive heard, the three membembers of the peace prize commity were all socalists (gasp!) Not trying to say anything bout obama or the rest of the world, but from what ive learned, most of the world hates america and would like nothing more then to see it fall. Thus, they like obamaquote>

There are five members of the committee, and they are:

Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman. Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Used to be a member of Parliament for Labour, Parliament leader and leader of Labour, Prime Minister of Norway and lastly President.

Kaci Kullman Five, Deputy Chairman. Consultant. Used to be member of Parliament for the Conservatives, minister for trade in a Conservative / Centre / Christian Democratic cabinet, Parliament leader and leader of the Conservative party, and managing director of one of the largest industrial corporations in Norway.

Sissel M. Rønbeck, member. Deputy director of Directorate for Cultural Heritage. Used to be a member of Parliament for Labour, and Minister for Transport and Communications and Minister for Environmental Affairs.

Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, member. Main political advisor for the Progressive Party. Used to be a member of Parliament for the Progressive Party, and a member of a number of boards, committees and the Borgarting Lagmannsrett.

Ågot Valle, member. Used to be a member of Parliament for the Socialist Party.

So, out of five members there are three two social democrats, two conservatives and one socialist.

[Yoman3 5]

Originally posted by: torontosubway

im a fan of  Obama, but i still thinks that he doesn't deserve this award. I don't know what he accomplished, that have given peace to the world, i rather that, he take the troops back from Iraq, since thats wasting money and i don't think war creates any peace. He's yelling at other countries to stop nuclear weapons, but the U.S. got the biggest, largest, and most powerful nuclear weapon in its Arsenal. And they never talk about that since they think they are the "international police." please don't get it wrong, im not blaming on Americans and being racist, im just saying that i don't understand this?????!!!!!quote>

Russians acctually have the most.

Oh and Krbe, you listed 5 people, but in the last sentance it adds up to 6

[Meg 368]

The reasoning seems to be something like this . . ..

The world has spoken on Obama's hope, unity

The announcement shook up the world.

 

But the Nobel Peace Prize committee's decision to honor President Barack Obama should have come as no surprise.

 

Five years ago this month, the (London) Guardian's home affairs editor wrote about a poll showing that voters in eight of 10 leading countries, including some of America's closest allies, wanted President George W. Bush to lose in the 2004 presidential election.

 

Yes, people outside of America believed that the Iraq invasion and subsequent war were wrong, and that America was becoming increasingly isolated.

 

As a country, we didn't seem to care what they thought.

  

Our mantra during Bush's two terms was "Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead."

  

But the world has spoken again.

  

And the Nobel committee was its conduit, awarding the prize to Obama not so much for what he has done but for what he has made possible.

  

Thorbjørn Jagland, chairman of the five-member committee, said Obama has "created a new climate in international politics."

  

It was a reminder that the Peace Prize, in the past, has been given not to those who forge forward with guns blazing and arrogance reeking, but to those who encourage restraint, unity, democracy: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and former President Jimmy Carter.

 

Obama's critics, including an increasingly cartoonish Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, just don't get it.

 

Steele and other Republican and conservative critics are playing the dozens while Obama is leading America to live up to its Declaration and its constitution. His missteps are to be expected. Every president has had them. But can his critics really compare a rough ride to universal health care with ensuring world peace?

They don't get it. But Obama does.

 

He accepted the prize, in a modest Rose Garden speech, in which he made clear that he knows he was recognized not with a reward for what he has accomplished, but with an incentive to continue what he has begun.

 

The Nobel announcement was stunning and unexpected. But it should not have been a surprise. Our last president took us to the precipice of World War III. Obama has joined a pantheon of thoughtful intellectuals who believe in putting peace first.

  

And whether we pay enough attention or not, that is what most people around the world want, as well. quote>

I didn't know that you could get a Nobel Prize for hope but that seems to be what has happened

[crazychickensc12 84]

The Nobel Peace Prize nominations are kept secret for 50 years so in 2059 we will know who Barack Obama's 204 Competitors were, BTW I think its cool that they still do that and also Nominations were cut off Feb 1st less than 2 weeks after Obama's inaguration.

I completely agree with this quote

The Nobel announcement was stunning and unexpected. But it should not have been a surprise. Our last president took us to the precipice of World War III. Obama has joined a pantheon of thoughtful intellectuals who believe in putting peace first.

  

And whether we pay enough attention or not, that is what most people around the world want, as well. quote>

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Meg

 I didn't know that you could get a Nobel Prize for hope but that seems to be what has happenedquote>

But can you win one for Change?

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: Meg

I didn't know that you could get a Nobel Prize for hope but that seems to be what has happenedquote>

Frequently awarded in the medicine field.

 

[blade2k5 1,523]

Obama has joined a pantheon of thoughtful intellectuals who believe in putting peace first.
  
And whether we pay enough attention or not, that is what most people around the world want, as wellquote>

Good luck.  It'll never happen.  It is not in human nature to be nice and cozy with one another.  Just looking at history says it all.  The only way there will ever be 'world peace' is if it's  a forced peace, which isn't peace at all.  So again, nice pipe dream, but it's never going to happen.

[torontosubway 11]

Originally posted by: Yoman3

Originally posted by: torontosubway

im a fan of  Obama, but i still thinks that he doesn't deserve this award. I don't know what he accomplished, that have given peace to the world, i rather that, he take the troops back from Iraq, since thats wasting money and i don't think war creates any peace. He's yelling at other countries to stop nuclear weapons, but the U.S. got the biggest, largest, and most powerful nuclear weapon in its Arsenal. And they never talk about that since they think they are the "international police." please don't get it wrong, im not blaming on Americans and being racist, im just saying that i don't understand this?????!!!!!quote>

Russians acctually have the most.

Oh and Krbe, you listed 5 people, but in the last sentance it adds up to 6

quote>

than i guess the US is the second most, right?

[sneakeypete 16]

Originally posted by: Facco

from what ive heard, the three membembers of the peace prize commity were all socalists (gasp!) Not trying to say anything bout obama or the rest of the world, but from what ive learned, most of the world hates america and would like nothing more then to see it fall. Thus, they like obamaquote>

Honestly, i hate to derail a thread like this, however. Most of the world does not "hate american and like to see it fail". Most of the world dislikes they way that the US has acted, and is acting. but to go from that to wanting to see it fail is a rather big jump. Its comments like yours, however, generalizing the entire world, that make this negative view of the US happen.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: Kryptowhite

Mahatma Gandhi never won a Nobel Peace prizequote>

Damn, you're right, he didn't. Wow.

Anyway, I think its pretty obnoxious to start slinging around those annoying liberal conspiracies so quickly...is there anything in this world that people don't think is a liberal conspiracy?quote>

It's not a conspiracy. Nobody's conspiring to do anything. The award does seem greatly politically motivated, but nobody is (well, at least I'm not) suggesting that anything deeper, greater, or more sinister is going on.

Part of the problem I think is that in this day and age where everybody gets a gold star on their hopmework and everyone gets a ribbon on field day, we've bred a culture where people are used to getting awards just for trying and don't get that they're supposed to signify accomplishment, not aspiration.

Okay, so there is the argument that Obama, simply by virtue of getting elected president, brought about change to the global political climate because he's nothing like Bush and everyone in Europe loves him. But honestly, is that really an accomplishment we can credit him for? For one thing, it's purely superficial, there's no real substance of anything big happening in that alone (although there is potential, at least). For another... it's not like he elected himself. The American people (well, 69.5 million of the 200 million or so elligible to vote, at any rate) did.

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

I don't think Americans were fully aware of the incredible disgust and at times hatred that a very large majority of the international world held for America, its polices and general attitude.quote>

Maybe not explicitly, but there was more than enough disgust and hatred of the Bush administration here as well, so we're perfectly aware of the sentiment, even if not everyone agrees with it.

Especially its disrespectful stance to global institutions like the UN and seeming inadequacies at dealing with certain issues.quote>

There are quite a few people in America (I'm one of them) who view the UN as a useless beauracracy that's all talk and no action, and is thus more of a barrier to being able to accomplish anything than a formal channel we ought to be expected to go through before engaging in any military action.

Most of the criticism is coming from American Republicans, on that count I'm not exactly surprised.quote>

Well, Democrats aren't about to go criticizing a Democrat, now are they?

Indeed most criticism is coming from America itself.quote>

This, I think, very few people realize - that outside our borders people who hate Obama and call him a "socialist", "hippie", etc, pretty much do not exist.

I also take offence to the comments that the Nobel Prize is now worthless, it displays a shocking and somewhat obnoxious attitude to something you clearly have no understanding of.quote>

...or have a different understanding of it than you do. Just because someone sees things a different way does not mean they're wrong nor does it mean they're stupid, obnoxious, or anything like that.

Originally posted by: Z77 So yes, he may be doing some things that arent exactly peachy-keen, but he is working harder at his job than any other president since FDRquote>

If somebody works 14 hours a day in a factory, busting their mass making stop signs, but they all say "SOTP", is that good for him or bad for him?

Obama can work as hard at his job as he wants, if he's doing it wrong, it reflects negatively on him, not positively.

and is pushing world peace issues further than any other president in history.quote>

Ah yes, peace. An admiarable ideal, but all too often an unrealistic one. D'ya think that we're going to peacefully negotiate a solution with Al Qaeda and the Taliban that's acceptable to everyone? Yeah right.

So, my fellow americans......STOP COMPLAINING, STAND UP, AND APPLAUD HIM!!!quote>

No.

Originally posted by: freep.com

Obama is leading America to live up to its Declaration and its constitution.quote>

Okay, now that's the best thing I've read all day. Has the guy who wrote that actually read what the constitution?

Our last president took us to the precipice of World War III.quote>

...then again, this one's a close second.

[Blazerhawk 162]

Best line I've read on this so far.

"Tim Tebow has just edged Obama for the Nobel Prize."

Considering the amount of chatter his concussion was generating, I would say Tebow has done more to advance peace (at least to those of us who are sick hearing about his concussion) than Obama has. I believe that this may be the biggest blunder in the history of this award. Not because they gave it to Obama, but because they gave it to him too soon. Last I checked Obama hasn't brokered any peace treaties or stopped any wars. If he goes on to be a terrible President, his award will become a stain on the prestige of this award. In my opinion giving out awards for non-quantifiable actions is a mistake. Awards should be given solely on quantifiable actions. Hope is not quantifiable. In football terms this is like giving the Heisman to *insert favorite CFB player here* before he has even stepped on the field. Very poor decision on the part of the Nobel Prize committee.

[belfastuniguy 18]

Barack Obama's peace prize starts a fight

Gasps echoed through the Nobel Hall in Oslo yesterday as Barack Obama was unveiled as the winner of the 2009 Peace Prize, sparking a global outpouring of incredulity and praise in unequal measure.

Mr Obama was sound asleep in the White House when the Norwegian Nobel Committee made the shock announcement. It said that he was being honoured for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and co-operation between peoples”.

In a clear swipe at his predecessor, George W. Bush, the committee praised the “change in the international climate” that the President had brought, along with his cherished goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future,” it added.

 

International reaction ranged from delight to disbelief. The former winners Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu voiced praise, the latter lauding the Nobel Committee’s “surprising but imaginative choice”.

But Lech Walesa, the dissident turned Polish President, who won the Peace Prize in 1983, spoke for many, declaring: “So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far.”

Mr Obama’s domestic critics leapt on the award as evidence of foreigners fawning over an untested “celebrity” leader. Rush Limbaugh, the US right-wing commentator, said: “This fully exposes the illusion that is Barack Obama."

Speaking later, Mr Obama said that he was “surprised and deeply humbled” by the unexpected decision and announced that he would donate the £880,000 prize, due to be awarded in December, to charity.

“Let me be clear. I do not view it as recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations," he said.

The Nobel Peace Prize is a notoriously difficult award to predict, but yesterday's decision was clearly a political choice, with three of the past six peace awards going to Bush adversaries.

In 2002 the prize went to Jimmy Carter as an explicit rejection of the Bush presidency in the build-up to the Iraq war. In 2005 Mohamed ElBaradei, the UN atomic agency chief who had clashed with Washington over the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, was honoured. In 2007 Al Gore received the prize for his warnings on climate change, denounced by President Bush as a liberal myth.

The award is also an example of what Nobel scholars call the growing aspirational trend of Nobel committees over the past three decades, by which awards are given not for what has been achieved but in support of the cause being fought for.

Thorbjørn Jagland, the committee chairman, made clear that this year’s prize fell in that category. “If you look at the history of the Peace Prize, we have on many occasions given it to try to enhance what many personalities were trying to do,” he said. “It could be too late to respond three years from now.”

But Bobby Muller, who won the Nobel Prize as co-founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, told The Times: "I don't have the highest regard for the thinking or process of the Nobel committee. Maybe Norway should give it to Sweden so they can more properly handle the Peace Prize along with all the other Nobel prizes."quote>

The Times of London 

 

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

I was pouring my breakfast cereal, and the little toy surprise fell out. It was a Nobel Peace Prize! So that's how they award them...

[blade2k5 1,523]

Originally posted by: manticorefan

I was pouring my breakfast cereal, and the little toy surprise fell out. It was a Nobel Peace Prize! So that's how they award them...quote>

And here I thought they came in a Cracker Jacks box

[bluemoose 223]

I think that no peace prize should never be given to an in-office government official.... i mean, how does that promote peace....

[Duke87 1,070]

London Times

Speaking later, Mr Obama said that he was “surprised and deeply humbled” by the unexpected decision and announced that he would donate the £880,000 prize, due to be awarded in December, to charity. quote>

To clarify something here...

US Constitution, Article II, Section 9

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.quote>

He's constitutionally required to either give it to charity or outright reject it. He's not allowed to just take it and pocket it.

So don't interpret this as a gesture of generosity, because it's not.

 

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Duke87

To clarify something here...

US Constitution, Article II, Section 9

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.quote>

He's constitutionally required to either give it to charity or outright reject it. He's not allowed to just take it and pocket it.

So don't interpret this as a gesture of generosity, because it's not.

 quote>

But, could Congress vote to apply it towards the deficit?

 

 

[JollyBobber 0]

Originally posted by: dfwpike

9.8% unemployment and rising... record budget deficit... government takeover of health care... etc... etc

So how's that Hope and Change working out for ya?quote>

I don't think those are all Obama's fault. When he took over, things were pretty bad.....

[hym 358]

Originally posted by: Meg

But, could Congress vote to apply it towards the deficit?  quote>

Considering the gift is worth about 0.0000009245647142857 of the national deficit for 2009, I think it makes more sense to give it to charity.

[belfastuniguy 18]

Originally posted by: JollyBobber

Originally posted by: dfwpike

9.8% unemployment and rising... record budget deficit... government takeover of health care... etc... etc

So how's that Hope and Change working out for ya?quote>

I don't think those are all Obama's fault. When he took over, things were pretty bad.....

quote>

That's accurate.

He inherited the largest trade deficit in US history, falling living standards, a recession, an ever increasing number of Americans dying from preventable diseases and two wars.

Do love how the Republicans like to shift the blame for their failure over 8 years.

[Ntq€310 1]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

That's accurate.

He inherited the largest trade deficit in US history, falling living standards, a recession, an ever increasing number of Americans dying from preventable diseases and two wars.

Do love how the Republicans like to shift the blame for their failure over 8 years.

quote>

Oh please, lets be balanced here. The Democrats have controled congress since 2006, riding on the message of anti-bush and anti-war. What have they done since 2006, have they done any action that shows how strong they are in facing the other side and pushing for the agenda they were elected on?

Lets see. Were still in Iraq, Afganistan, the economy completly collapsed, partly due to the corruptness of the democrats and democratic allies, they after all are the party of 'homes for everyone!'. Federal Budgets and debt, already huge enough before 2006, have done nothing but go up! The President has a wide range of powers, but Congress also has a large amount of power, which in many cases could change the direction of the country.

Where the Republicans and Bush have left off, the Democrats have picked up.