First things first: Congratulations to President Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. That having been said, a lot of people are scratching their heads and wondering if the Nobel committee should have waited for more definitive accomplishments in the area of world peace before giving Obama the award. The committee, however, made it clear that the award is for Obama’s role in changing the terms of international relations, emphasizing diplomacy and international cooperation rather than dropping bombs on all our foreign problems a la Bush & Co. In effect, the award is being given to the American public for electing a President who doesn’t scare the hell out of them.
It’s an understandable reaction from a European viewpoint, but, to this writer, a Nobel Peace Prize should go to someone who’s achieved more concrete results. But, this certainly isn’t the first time the Peace Prize selection has raised eyebrows — such as the times peace-mongering hippies like Henry Kissinger, Menachem Begin and Yassir Arafat won.
Naturally, we’re already hearing the standard shrieks of outrage from the usual gang of howler monkeys on the right, but that’s to be expected. I just hope Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele is proud to share his disdain for Obama’s award with other notable Nobel critics today, such as the Taliban.
This article appears in Oct 6-13, 2009.
The fact of the matter is that the award was not given to the public who voted Obama as president – it was given to him and him alone. I sure as hell don’t feel like I received a Nobel prize.
The problem I have with the Nobel committee recognizing Obama is not because he won’t deliver on the promises he made, it’s because he hasn’t accomplished those things. He got up in front of the UN and said he had closed Gitmo, which is still open. They are giving him an award in the hopes that he will put action to his words, which is a bit premature. Wait until he makes significant steps towards world peace, then award the prize.
I am glad that you are keeping your head on this Grooms – except for the fact that just because someone criticizes the Nobel prize that he is associated with other critics, such as a terrorist regime. You can find similarities between any two things, and making this association is ignorant. Just criticize Steele and get on with it.
The republicans are blowing hot air. They’re against anything Obama does EXCEPT in bombing middle easterners. They only wish it was a GOP president, then once again it’d be vice versa.
This “cracker jack” award is basically saying, thanks for not going alone in your wars. Thank you for including the UN and NATO in your wars in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Thank you for speeding up the NWO even faster than your predecessor.
The productive American taxpayers and the American soldiers being killed and maimed for nothing LOSE again.
I think if you love Obama, you love he got this award. If you dislike Obama you dislike he got this award.
If you’re like me and think it’s a cracker jack award anyway, you’re like “ho hum.”
It took 8 years for folks to realize they screwed up with Bush, some still say he was a great president. I think it will take longer for Obama’s supporters.
Of course, even Obama’s die hard supporters will disagree with him on some issues.
I remember alot of Bush’s diehard fans starting losing faith when he wanted to give “illegals” amnesty.
It’s never uniform on either side.
It’s really not healthy to be so blindly infatuated with a mere mortal.
I like Ron Paul alot, but I disagree with him on certain issues.
“Something I have yet to hear in the main stream media is that the award was voted on 11 days after Obama became the president.”
Of course you haven’t heard that in, “the main stream [sic] media.” It’s not accurate, so why would you? The deadline for nominations was eleven days after Obama took office; the actual voting took place early this month. Don’t let little things like facts and the truth get in the way of spouting off nonsense, though.
“Its funny how Grooms does not also mention that groups like the Taliban agree with Obama on 90% of everything else he does.”
Interesting. Would you care to share sources that would support this claim?