# Shireen Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [October 18, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223 "2003-10-18T19:01:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [October 18, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/1 "2003-10-18T19:01:36Z")
Shirin Ebadi winning the Nobel Peace Prize is perhaps the most positive development for Iran and the Muslim world in a long time.
Ausma Khan, writing in [_Tikkun_](http://www.tikkun.org/index.cfm/action/current/article/192.html), writes
> [@](#):
>
> It is clear that the Nobel Committee has deliberately chosen to intervene in the unofficial war between Islam and the West that has plummeted to new depths after 11 September 2001. By awarding Shireen Ebadi the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, the committee is sending a message to both the Western and Islamic worlds.
>
> To the West they are saying that a spirit of dialogue, non-violence and mutual understanding should inform Western policy toward the Muslim world. This is an implicit criticism of the recent US war in Iraq. The Nobel Peace Prize citation specifically states: “It is important hat the dialogue between the different cultures and religions of the world should take as its point of departure their shared values” and that “[s]he favours enlightenment and dialogue as the best path to changing attitudes and resolving conflict.”
>
> To the Muslim world the Nobel Committee has sent an equally strong message. In particular, that fundamental human rights and democracy are core values that both Muslims and non-Muslims share and that the way forward to realizing them is through a strategy of non-violent resistance. This is an effective condemnation of the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists within Muslim societies.
I endorse this point of view wholeheartedly. For a change, it’s great to see encouragement for people who promote liberal, humanistic values in religion and work for the common good of all humanity. It’s great to see acknowledgement of liberal trends in the Islamic world, which normally get no respect from either Muslim fundamentalists or Christian and Jewish fundamentalists. It’s great to see support for someone offering an alternative to fundamentalists of all types.
There are lots of threads on the SDMB debating this and that issue about the Muslim world, but there hasn’t been anything about Shireen Ebadi, and I thought she deserved more recognition. Her achievement is truly significant for the betterment of the whole world.
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### Author:  [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/2 "2003-10-20T00:31:00Z")
I completely agree with the OP.
I didn’t post for some weeks on SDMB, so today I looked at it again for the first time and this one post seems to be the only one paying attention to this Nobel Prize.
It truly surprizes me. Not in the least since so many members here talk about Islam and Muslims and Islamic countries whenever they find an opportunity.
Yet when something really important like this event happens, nobody seemed to even take notice and/or find it worth one line.
Maybe I must conclude that criticizing, screaming and ranting is so much more fun to come up with then an ovation for this courageous, intelligent, educated Muslim woman?
Ah… Such a cruel trap that is set up here… I can understand the difficulties of these members who stay away from this topic.
Thank you for the topic, JomoMojo.
Salaam. A
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### Author:  [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/3 "2003-10-20T02:07:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \*
> **Maybe I must conclude that criticizing, screaming and ranting is so much more fun to come up with then an ovation for this courageous, intelligent, educated Muslim woman?**
Yes, everyone hates Muslims here. What’s the view like from up on that cross?
It’s actually more likely that no one pays more than passing interest here to the Nobel Peace Prize and it’s not a very controversial pick. She’s certainly very worthy, just no real reason to start a GD thread about it.
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### Author:  [@Daisy\_Cutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Cutter)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/4 "2003-10-20T03:12:06Z")
And the noble peace prize has what significance exactly ?
It is merely some annual award which is chosen by a small, exlcusionary, bunch of _intellectuals_ in a socialist country, which have in the past awarded the prize to arafat.:smack:
If one is to believe the article in the OP, the committee is using the award to advance their questionable political beliefs.
So perhaps, not many people have mentioned it, because they don’t care ?
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### Author:  [@Daisy\_Cutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Cutter)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/5 "2003-10-20T03:17:50Z")
\*exclusionary \*\*
(forgive me for not using the preview button, but things are currently at a snails pace here at the moment. I feel like I’m on a 14.4 k modem or worse.)
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/6 "2003-10-20T03:35:32Z")
Ohmygod! They actually let _intellectuals_ decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize? :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@Daisy\_Cutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Cutter)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/7 "2003-10-20T04:17:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Czarcasm \*
> \*\*Ohmygod! They actually let _intellectuals_ decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize? :rolleyes: \*\*
Yes, it is quite ironic isn’t it ?
Those _intellectuals_ weren’t showing a great deal of intellectual prowess in 1994, which is why I mentioned the only person that I know of which has addressed the general assembly of the UN with a revolver around his hip
😃
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### Author:  [@Wake\_up\_call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wake_up_call)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/8 "2003-10-20T06:08:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \*
> \*\*
> Yet when something really important like this event happens, nobody seemed to even take notice and/or find it worth one line.
> \*\*
Quoting from [Ethan Bronner](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/17/opinion/17FRI4.html) editorial in NY Times of 17 October, please note that Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, formerly Burma, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. And yet, Myanmar remains a human rights nightmare, and she has mostly been held under house arrest during the past 12 years.
For Ms. Ebadi’s prize to have any impact, she will need help, not only from the reformers of Iran, but also from the Arab world, where you, **Mr. Aldebaran** , have many friends. The Nobel committee can do only so much. Will women in Cairo and Baghdad and Riyadh (or wherever your father was from) speak of Ms. Ebadi, help her, invite her to their countries? If they demonstrate to the Iranian leaders — and their own — that Ms. Ebadi’s work in human and women’s rights is not a tool of Western imperialism but central to all societies that seek justice, then the Nobel will have done its work.
So, **Mr. Aldebaran** , your work is cut out for you. Get your countrywomen to rise up and invite Ms. Ebadi to your Arab country to stand up for women. If you don’t, I’m afraid Ms. Ebadi’s future may end up being similar to Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar.
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### Author:  [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/9 "2003-10-20T08:16:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Daisy Cutter \*
> \*\*And the noble peace prize has what significance exactly ?
>
> It is merely some annual award which is chosen by a small, exlcusionary, bunch of _intellectuals_ in a socialist country, which have in the past awarded the prize to arafat.:smack:
>
> If one is to believe the article in the OP, the committee is using the award to advance their questionable political beliefs.
>
> So perhaps, not many people have mentioned it, because they don’t care ? \*\*
(1) The 1994 Nobel Peace Prize was split between Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.
(2) The prize was awarded for their work leading to the 1994 Oslo Accords.
(3) The Nobel is awarded for work in the preceding year to the man or woman who has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations”. _In 1994_, the split award was appropriate under this criteria.
(4) The Nobel is an intensely political prize; it is not awarded just to “reward” an individual’s achievements, rather it is given to highlight particular efforts in peace-making and to _encourage future development_ in the region. _In 1994_, the split award was appropriate under this criteria.
(5) Norway is not a socialist country. It is a constitutional monarchy which features a mixture of free market action and government intervention.
–
I never correct spelling, but the word is “capital” (re **Daisy Cutter’s** location field). A “capitol” is a building. Call it a pet peeve – sorry.
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### Author:  [@Daisy\_Cutter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Cutter)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/10 "2003-10-20T08:58:09Z")
\*Originally posted by Jervoise \*
**(4) The Nobel is an intensely political prize; it is not awarded just to “reward” an individual’s achievements, rather it is given to highlight particular efforts in peace-making and to _encourage future development_ in the region. _In 1994_, the split award was appropriate under this criteria.**
I think they made a grave mistake. Why can’t they revoke the prize ? If somebody argues that this is against the rules or hasn’t been done before, well they have changed their rules in the past, so there is no reason why they couldn’t do so now. They could admit they were wrong.
(5) Norway is not a socialist country. It is a constitutional monarchy which features a mixture of free market action and government intervention.\*\*
Yes, I’m aware they have a king there, however aren’t the scandinavian countries socialist welfare states ? That’s what I meant by socialist.
\*\*I never correct spelling, but the word is “capital” (re **Daisy Cutter’s** location field). A “capitol” is a building. Call it a pet peeve – sorry. \*\*\*\*
You’re correct. Thanks for pointing it out. I’ll fix it now.
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### Author:  [@Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Owes_Bess)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/11 "2003-10-20T11:10:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _originally by Aldebaran_
> It truly surprises me. Not in the least since so many members here talk about Islam and Muslims and Islamic countries whenever they find an opportunity.
I don’t want to hurt your feelings or anything, but there has been an incredible paucity of threads on Islam during your extended sabbatical.
Why do I now have this horrible feeling that … ☹
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### Author:  [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/12 "2003-10-20T11:23:49Z")
There were a few quick threads on the topic… some worried about what might happen to her too. If there might be a clerical backlash against a perceived judgement of the Iranian internal situation by a western (non-socialist) country.
As for Daisy Cutter’s remarks disregard. I suppose he thinks only gung-ho cowboys should determine peace prizes… and certainly Bush would deserve one for creating world wide havoc. Socialist isnt only about giving welfare either… and no I am not a leftie fucked up intelectual liberal scum.
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### Author:  [@Alan\_Owes\_Bess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Owes_Bess)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/13 "2003-10-20T11:33:10Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _posted by Wake up call_
> For Ms. Ebadi’s prize to have any impact, she will need help, not only from the reformers of Iran, but also from the Arab world, where you, Mr. Aldebaran, have many friends.
**Aldebaran** has many, many, many more friends on SDMB than he has in the whole of the Arab world.
I know I’m recklessly going out on a limb here, but I believe that **Aldebaran’s** influence would be just a smidgeonette smaller in the Arab world than it is on SDMB.
On a different matter, I agree with **Wake up call** on the point that it would be unwise to assume that the mere fact that someone has won a Nobel Peace Prize necessarily means that they have obtained some powerful protective shield.
It can only be effective if those who are the prizewinner’s opponents have a conscience.
To date, I have seen no evidence that the dictators of Iran have anything resembling a conscience.
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### Author:  [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/14 "2003-10-20T12:02:05Z")
Daisy Cutter, you keep saying socialist like its a bad thing.
of course, I doubt you’d be complaining if Bush had won.
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### Author:  [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/15 "2003-10-20T12:09:42Z")
**Daisy Cutter** by your reckoning then the UK is a socialist country since it’s got a socialised medical system etc. and Tony Blair is the leader of a “Left” wing party.
Do you have a problem with the UK as well?
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### Author:  [@Wake\_up\_call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wake_up_call)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/16 "2003-10-20T13:55:41Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \*
> \*\*Daisy Cutter, you keep saying socialist like its a bad thing.
> \*\*
I suppose one way to expand the mind of **Daisy Cutter** would be for **twistofFate** to start a new thread entitled:
Why and how a viable socialist party should be created/promoted in the US.
As a young and politically immature single party country, the U.S. has a long way to go (IMHO) to offer its citizens viable alternatives to its current single party: The Capitalist Party (Republicans and Democrats being two wings of the same party).
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/17 "2003-10-20T20:49:47Z")
Yeah, down with human rights, dialogue, nonviolence, and mutual understanding. :rolleyes:
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### Author:  [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)
#### Post date: [October 20, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/18 "2003-10-20T22:28:15Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Daisy Cutter \*
>
> Yes, I’m aware they have a king there, however aren’t the scandinavian countries socialist welfare states ? That’s what I meant by socialist.
Yes, they stand in queues with food stamps, smoking crack cocaine… while the communal kitchen stews a large broth of vegetables and hippie hair.
Ugh! Socialist Welfare States!
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### Author:  [@Aldebaran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aldebaran)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/19 "2003-10-21T18:52:01Z")
The remarks about what is called in the US “socialism” and on top of it the description of the scandinavian nations as being “socialist welfare states” makes me wonder once again about how it is possible that US’ers have such a strange twisted view on the world.
Thus Belgium is also a “'socialist welfare state” and so are the Netherlands and France and… and… and…
I suppose that it is because a funtctioning social security system on a such a high level, well devellopped, organized, fair and acessible for every one is unknown in the USA, that US’ers are a bit jealous and thus think they must start talking denegrating about it.
But for your information: socialism is also not what you seem to make of it; socialism is not equal to communism.
And even communism is not equal to what most US’ers make of it.
Now on topic:
Maybe one should let Bushy the Bush Cangaroo Cowboy preside a brandnew Nobel Prize Committee where he has a veto right?
(Does someone wants to take my bet on who is going to get the the prize then?)
Salaam. A
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### Author:  [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)
#### Post date: [October 21, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shireen-ebadi-won-the-nobel-peace-prize/208223/20 "2003-10-21T18:58:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Aldebaran \*
> \*\*Maybe one should let Bushy the Bush Cangaroo Cowboy preside a brandnew Nobel Prize Committee where he has a veto right?
> \*\*
This looks like it’s been translated from Magyar to Irish to French and back to English. I have no idea what it means.
Wait, I almost forgot: You’re right, my God, you’re so right! Thank you, **Aldebaran** , for opening my eyes!
\
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