Yes.
Yes of course.
THAT’s why everyone is puzzled.
It’s not because he hasn’t done anything substantial for peace yet, it’s not because one of his first acts ended up killing three children (although this was just carrying on previous policy), it’s not because worthier candidates didn’t get it, it’s not because he is involved in two wars, with some suspicion that he may take action of Iran.
It’s because he’s BLACK!!:smack:
Because of course, whitey owes the black man his fair share of Nobel prizes, and anyone who questions a black man winning a Nobel prize for no particular reason, simply MUST be racist.
So, instead of waiting until he actually does something on international issues (heads into Darfur, tries to end Israel-Palestine fighting), we’ll just give him a prize now, before he does anything, hope that the long list of luminaries who have recieved the prize before will somehow eclipse the fact that it is being handed out like a PR sweetie.
Seriously, is it that racist to think they should have waited until he actually earned the prize, then give it to him?
He probably will over the next two years, he could well do it.
But he hasn’t done anything yet to earn it.
He hasn’t even ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and that’s gotta be one of the smallest human rights issues he can tackle.
I think the Nobel committee should be commended for pulling off one of the greatest trolls of all times. I mean this is truly epic trolling on a worldwide scale, not just some measly message board. I fully expect the committee to come forth at some point and admit they did it for the lols.
That means absolutely nothing, especially since we don’t know who did the nomination. If the selection was done two weeks after the inauguration, this complaint would have a point.
I’d just as soon they waited for a few years also, but I also see the Committee’s point. While the other nominees are worthy, Obama is the one who turned the world’s only superpower 180 degrees. We went from being climate change deniers to being leaders. We went from UN hatred to UN supporters. We went from sending a dingbat from Texas to tell the Israelis and Palestinians to behave to Obama’s excellent Cairo speech.
It sounds like he is going to accept it on behalf of the country and the peace seekers of the world, not for himself. He said this morning that America is for peace, no longer for invading countries on false pretenses - which is different from pacifism.
Like I said I’d have waited, but it isn’t a totally irrational decision, unless one has a very narrow view of what is important for peace.
I was going to open a thread about all the whiners from the left and the right who are so upset because somebody else won a prize. Should I open a new thread for that, or just do it here?
He was given that chance by being elected President. If he succeeds, give him the 2013 Prize.
It’s a ridiculous selection; I find it amazing anyone is defending it. I honestly don’t personally know anyone who DOESN’T like Barack Obama, being here in super-liberal Ontario, Canada, and every one of them I’ve talked to about this is saying “Are you fucking kidding?”
At some point a thing is not about what it’s about, it’s about you.
Who do you want to be in this world? The one who says “congratulations,” when somebody wins something, or the one who shakes your fist and hollers that the thing is rigged?
You’re the only person I’ve heard say that. I just haven’t seen what President Obama’s done up to now, and certainly not up to a mere two weeks after his inauguration, to warrant the award.
And yeah, yeah, there’s that stupid Nobel fanwank about it being given to encourage a person to continue down a certain path, but that’s complete bullshit and everybody knows it. To quote Wikipedia’s quote, “According to Nobel’s will, the Peace Prize should be awarded ‘to the person who 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.’”
Are you referring to his local community work here in Chicago?
I like and respect President Obama and can well believe that the rest of the world breathed a huge sigh of relief when he was elected. But this just seems to be out of left field. Certainly not all winners are worthy, but not much has changed in the last 8 months. It’s a head scratcher for sure.
