At best, awards such as this can shine attention on something or someone that’s less than well-known. And frankly, Malala was already pretty well-known, at least in the West. But perhaps it will draw attention in the Islamic world in a positive way to the cause of the education of girls. (But I’m not hopeful; the crazies in that part of the world don’t seem to be easily shamed.)
At the 2006 Olympics, the speedskater Joey Cheek interrupted the press conference after he won the gold medal to announce that he was donating his $25,000 prize money to Right to Play, a humanitarian organization. It was a very clever use of his moment in the spotlight.
This morning I heard a BBC interview with a Pakistani newspaper editor decrying the decision, calling Malala and her family “tools of the West” and saying she hasn’t actually done anything, she just gets attention because her father is a “good salesman.” He even denied she was ever shot by the Taliban. And he says the majority of Pakistanis agree with him. Maybe they do.
Obama’s Peace Prize was really a prize awarded to the American people, just for rejecting the Pubs, and we deserved it just for that. A Peace Prize to Pope Francis would be a way of honoring the RCC for making a big change from Darth Pontiff.
I thought it was a blatant attempt to suck up to Obama, and an attempt to influence him to do things like end the conflict in Iraq and close the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
I’d say Malala is a worhthy recipient. I am concerned that the renewed attention is going to remind the Muslim fundies that they wanted to kill her, however. Dunno who the other guy is.
I didn’t know the nominations closed in February. I hope the people fighting ebola get the prize in 2015.