Regarding the Peace Prize for President Obama

[bigmacbear]

gmjambear and I got to talking about President Obama's award of the Nobel Peace Prize. Gary suggested he received it, in part, because of his address to the Muslim world some months ago. I said he's got a gift for diplomatic public speaking, now let's see him get the opportunity to use it.

Gary reminded me that just as poverty was not wiped out in India when Mother Teresa received her prize, nor was civil rights a done deal in the US when Martin Luther King was awarded his, nor was the eternal conflict over Israel and Palestine settled when Yassir Arafat and Shimon Peres received theirs, so too is there much work yet to be done on the issues for which President Obama spoke so eloquently and thereby made himself a candidate for the prize.

And yes, it certainly helps that Obama is not Bush, as much as he might wish to hold on to the power that Bush left him during his eight disastrous years.

But in a field of endeavour in which progress comes, when it does at all, in painfully small increments over an excruciatingly long time, these awards are not so much for achievement but to promote whatever progress can be made. In other words, these are not laurels to be rested upon.

Comments

[fuzzbearmark.livejournal.com]

I think his loft rhetoric may point to change, but until he (and all his administration) show real desire to put that rhetoric into action, I think it is premature.

He may be onto something {which would make me wrong} -but why now?

--
One must wonder if they are trying to meddle in his difficult decision to follow the wisdom of his Generals instead of the ignorance of others and Do The Right Thing in Afghanistan. I fear now he will have no choice but to back away...

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

that's an interesting take on it - bestowing the prize to add momentum to people they expect to do great things.

Also I don't think most Americans can appreciate what a very real and important difference he has made in the perception of your country elsewhere. But please take my word for it, he has done much already to make America look like less of a threat to the rest of us; and even, to return it to the leadership position it should naturally occupy.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

(Points finger upwards) What bitterlawngnome said.

And what gmjambear brought forth, both make good sense and I recall in a discussion with some suited fellows down in Portland when Brad, a Canadian of Vancouver BC asked why was George Bush so reviled and well, he got his answer and while many dislike Obama for what he is perceived to be or has done to some degree, he's done much to repair the damage to the outside world that Bush created and that's a positive in my book.

What had he done in Twelve Days?

[fuzzbearmark.livejournal.com]

I discovered that the nominations were due only Twelve Days into his Presidency. What had he accomplished in nine days?

It's not that he had a history of working for Peace in the US or around the world. He came from obscurity, was catapulted into being a Senator under questionable circumstances -then uplifted to The Presidency.

Was someone So Inspired by his Inaugural Address to feel he deserved this honor?

Yes, many countries like us right now due to his rhetoric. Is that a good thing? Presidents throughout our history have governed under the motto:
"Peace Through Strength". How is apologizing to the world and appeasing foreign entities improving our relations?

Simply because Obama calls for disarmament doesn't mean that Iran and North Korea will put away their dangerous toys -they've already shown their defiance.

Many many questions remain unanswered.

Climate Change

[poodler.livejournal.com]

I suppose one can make the argument that Al Gore and his panel have not accomplished a reversal of climate change. But he's been at it for over 30 years.

My concern with Obama getting a nobel prize not even one year into his presidency is how this will color his reaction to situations in the future which might require that the US engage in additional armed conflict.

Re: Climate Change

[bigmacbear]

My concern with Obama getting a nobel prize not even one year into his presidency is how this will color his reaction to situations in the future which might require that the US engage in additional armed conflict.

I don't think that stopped Arafat from waging his war on Israel. It just went underground for a time.

But I think a bit more deliberation before committing scarce resources to an armed conflict is a Good Thing.