# Annual Nobel Peace Prize outrage **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 12, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524 "2012-10-12T15:23:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/21 "2012-10-12T17:05:30Z")
The timing on this is obviously political. With all of Europe squabbling with one another, they’re trying to remind everyone of the original goals and ideals of the European Union project, which was primarily supposed to be about peaceful integration. But the single currency combined with the lack of a central bank with authority over everyone has undermined that. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/22 "2012-10-12T17:05:46Z")
I’m part of the EU and of course very proud for this acknowledgement of my contribution to world peace. I expect the check that goes with the prize will be in the mail any day now. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/23 "2012-10-12T17:07:12Z")
I would have given the prize to North America. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/24 "2012-10-12T17:10:34Z")
If you find the awarding of the Peace Prize to be an annually aggravating event, it may be time to stop paying attention to said award. ---
**Author:** ![newcomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e5b9ba/32.png) [@newcomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcomer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/25 "2012-10-12T17:14:40Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > If you find the awarding of the Peace Prize to be an annually aggravating event, it may be time to stop paying attention to said award. I switched to Nobel Prize Economics channel and was happy not see EU there 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/26 "2012-10-12T17:20:04Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Of course nobody said the E.U. _caused_ the peace after World War II. But if no-one is drawing a causal link then that makes the Nobel peace rather arbitrary and rather pointless and…oh! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/27 "2012-10-12T17:20:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I would have given the prize to North America. Mexico doesn’t deserve a Peace prize. What about Canada though? They hardly ever do anything really bad. I guess it is like the partially reformed convict versus the Boy Scout. All the convict has to do is just not screw up everything completely and he gets rewarded for it. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/28 "2012-10-12T17:28:09Z")
I think its reasonable. While certainly Europe’s half-century of relative peace can’t be attributed soley to the EU. Specifically, I think the carrot of EU membership went a long way towards insuring that most of the former Warsaw pact countries transitioned into more or less liberal democracies, as opposed to disfunctional autocracies, as happened in Central Asia. > [@Saint Cad](#): > > How the fuck did they not revote yesterday to give it to Malala Yousufzai? Has she “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” I don’t see how. The fact that she’s doing good work doesn’t automatically mean she should get the Peace Prize. You mind as well give her the Nobel Prize for Chemistry if you just feel she warrants a meaningless “feel good” measure. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/29 "2012-10-12T17:28:25Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > But if no-one is drawing a causal link This is getting silly. I have no vested interest in the choice and I was underwhelmed when I heard it, but if you’re going to criticize the pick, do it for reasons that make sense and that actually apply. You already said the EU didn’t bring about the peace that followed World War II, now you’re saying there has to be a casual link for them to deserve your prize. The basis for that statement is what, exactly? Nobel’s will says the prize should to go whoever “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” There’s nothing in there about turning war into peace or casual links. It’s about working for peace. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/30 "2012-10-12T17:56:23Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This is getting silly. I have no vested interest in the choice and I was underwhelmed when I heard it, but if you’re going to criticize the pick, do it for reasons that make sense and that actually apply. You already said the EU didn’t bring about the peace that followed World War II, now you’re saying there has to be a casual link for them to deserve your prize. The basis for that statement is what, exactly? Nobel’s will says the prize should to go whoever “shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” There’s nothing in there about turning war into peace or casual links. It’s about working for peace. My first post was simply addressing the fact that, contrary to what E.U. leaders would like you to think, the E.U. didn’t bring about peace in Europe and that it doesn’t deserve a peace prize. My second post was an obvious tongue-in-cheek recognition of the arbitrary nature of the Nobel peace prize. I didn’t say that there _has_ to be causal link, I’m well aware of the criteria used by the committee. I’m well aware of the bullshit decisions previously made that have made even more of a mockery of the title “peace prize”. This is par for the course, this is what passes for a “good” decision by their standards. It remains bullshit though. You are right in one respect though. Were I awarding a peace prize then, yes, I would like to see a causal link demonstrated. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/31 "2012-10-12T18:10:03Z")
**Malala Yousafzi** was brave and did good work, but grassroots campaigns for basic social justice is not exactly a new concept. The EU is a new and unique method of political and economic organization, and is on the way to becoming a model for building long term institutions that have peace and prosperity built in to them. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/32 "2012-10-12T19:06:59Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > The EU is a new and unique method of political and economic organization, and is on the way to becoming a model for building long term institutions that have peace and\*\*\* prosperity \*\*\*built in to them. :dubious: The jury is most definitely out on that one. You are correct in that it is unique, as such we really can’t say what the end result is going to be can we? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/33 "2012-10-12T19:25:46Z")
> [@mozchron](#): > > Does this mean that every citizen of the EU can now call themselves a Nobel Prize winner? > > Because I would so do that if I could. Will your share of the prize money be enough to buy yourself a beer? 😉 I think they did this to discourage the breakup of the EU. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/34 "2012-10-12T19:39:37Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > This year it went to the European Union… I didn’t have to read another word. I just exploded with laughter. They’ve made some questionable choices before but this is just so ludicrously insane that it’s like the Nobel committee has become a satirical newspaper. There’s got to be a HUNDRED people out there who’ve done noteworthy things for the human condition in the last year. At least make a fucking effort to get your fat pie holes out of your lutefisk aand maybe surf the 'net for ten fucking minutes to find someone worthy of the award. > [@](#): > > Even if you claim they couldn’t convene that quickly there has got to be people/organizations more deserving than the EU. What about those celebrities that without all that hype go to Africa and save babies like George Clooney and Boner from U2? The thing is that you’re joking, but you’re serious. If they’d given it to George Clooney everyone would have laughed, but Clooney legitimately makes an effort to help people and bring attention to the less fortunate. Why not give the award to Bill Gates? Dude does a lot to help people. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/35 "2012-10-12T19:41:33Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > At least make a fucking effort to get your fat pie holes out of your lutefisk aand maybe surf the 'net for ten fucking minutes to find someone worthy of the award. I think you just cost Canada a Nobel Peace Prize. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/36 "2012-10-12T19:45:45Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Will your share of the prize money be enough to buy yourself a beer? 😉 The prize is $1.2 million or so, there are about 500 million EU citizens; comes to about 2/10 of a cent per. Don’t spend it all in one place. I’m eagerly anticipating the year when “you” win the peace prize. (It is very sad how far far down the prize has come since recognizing notable man of peace Teddy Roosevelt.) ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/37 "2012-10-12T19:52:06Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > Mexico doesn’t deserve a Peace prize. What about Canada though? They hardly ever do anything really bad. I guess it is like the partially reformed convict versus the Boy Scout. All the convict has to do is just not screw up everything completely and he gets rewarded for it. I meant to the continent itself, not the people in it. Mostly to recognize the fact that the Yellowstone supervolcanoe hasn’t killed us all, when you know that it wants to. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/38 "2012-10-12T19:55:25Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > The E.U. did not cause 60+ years of peace, it happened at the same time due to realisation that post WW2 mechanised, industrialised, remotely controlled annihilation was now possible. > That being the case, wouldn’t it be a good idea to be a little more friendly? The peaceful intent came before the European Union. > It certainly doesn’t deserve a peace prize. \ We taught them a lesson In 1918 And they’ve hardly bothered us since then. \ Sure that was about Germany, but we’ve had wars to end all wars quite a bit. It is unlikely that a traditional France/Germany war would have gone nuclear. This is probably the longest stretch of peace Europe has had since the Cro Magnons zapped the last Neanderthals. Even if the Eurozone collapses, does anyone think there will be fighting? The peace predates the unified currency. And it is absurd to try to find a causal link. Wars have a cause - lack of wars don’t. You don’t go to war because of an accumulation of decisions and deciding on the side of reason and peace. No single thing prevented a war - thousands of choices did, and a new and correct attitude. I’m not saying this was the best choice, just a reasonable one. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/39 "2012-10-12T19:57:33Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Has she “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” As much as Muhammad Yunus, Al Gore and Barack Obama (when he won). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524/40 "2012-10-12T19:59:00Z")
> [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > The prize is $1.2 million or so, there are about 500 million EU citizens; comes to about 2/10 of a cent per. > > Don’t spend it all in one place. This year’s peace prize should be given in Euros, no? (I think it is valued in Swedish Kroner.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annual-nobel-peace-prize-outrage/637524.md?page=3)