Get off Nobel’s case

Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize and everyone’s bitching about it. Seriously? The dude’s put in a lot of effort towards reducing tension in the Middle East. Sure, he has the advantage of standing on a bully pulpit at the center of the world stage, but there’s no requirement that you have to be Ghandi to win.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is a body which has no vested interest in the American political machine. They’re not Democrats or Obama fanboys. They’re five smart people who took a look at what influential people around the world had done to further peace and decided that Obama was the man for this year. So quit bitching.

View Comments to “Get off Nobel’s case”

Yuri Artibise 9 October 2009 at 12:11 pm #

Obama’s very humility in accepting the award, is evidence that he deserving. As previous winners have illustrated the reward is inherent in the actions of an individual, not only the accomplishments.

Moreover granting it so early in his term is an indication that the nomination was apolitical—they could have given it to him in the middle of the 2012 election cycle to even greater howls of protest.
- Matthew Petro 10 October 2009 at 4:20 pm #
  
  I’m not sure his humility is evidence that he deserved to win the award, but it does indicate his understanding of what the award means and how this can be made to appear by right-wing strategists in this country.
  
  I do agree that this award is more about his actions and the path which he has started down, rather than about the path he has traveled. There’s a long way to go, but I’m glad that he’s been recognized for his approach to diplomatic leadership.
Temple Stark 9 October 2009 at 12:56 pm #

They didn’t have to award anything – and they shouldn’t have. I’m not coming at it from the prism of American politics but globally. And he’s done absolutely nothing; every US president has talked about bringing peace to the Middle East. That Obama is perhaps more convincing than the last (but nearly as much as Clinton) doesn’t matter until you see movement.

And he’s upgrading wars out there, in the name of peace. Debatable point that last one but, still, people are dying.
- Matthew Petro 10 October 2009 at 5:05 pm #
  
  Yes, there are still wars going on, but abandoning them would be far more damaging to the regions than attempting to extricate ourselves in an organized way that leaves some kind of stability.
  
  Granted, doing more than the last guy doesn’t qualify Obama for any kind of award. Obama hasn’t achieved a huge amount yet, but I think the award is supportive of the direction and leadership which he’s shown on the issue.
Lisa Owen 9 October 2009 at 1:08 pm #

I think most bitching is not at it being a political, but more at the idea that he has “talked the talk” but has yet to “Walk the Walk”.

You are right, there is no requirement that you be Ghandi or Mother Theresa to be awarded the prize, but look at the past winners and what they actually did, and the time frame they did it in. Not months, but years – even decades of their lives they had put into their accomplishments.

Obama could be deserving, but lets see if his grand speeches, ideals and plans actually bear fruit first…
- Matthew Petro 10 October 2009 at 5:11 pm #
  
  The award was more for his direction and leadership than for accomplishments that have been realized. Hopefully it will bring more support and allow him to walk the walk more easily.