President Obama Won WHAT?!
Courtesy of the White House
On Friday, it was announced that the Norwegian Nobel Committee chose President Obama as their latest recipient of the coveted Nobel Peace Prize.
WHAT!?
I was shocked beyond belief. While, I support president and his policies, it really can’t be denied that he hasn’t done much in office as of yet. Everyone I’ve talked to agreed that this award seemed completely out of place and even frivolous.
Even President Obama was shocked, saying “To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize,” according to the New York Times.
The Nobel committee stood by their decision, stating a bunch of abstract and poetic reasons, basically saying that they were giving President Obama the award for what he represents, not what he’s accomplished.
I thought the award was supposed to be given to people who made a valid contribution to society, not made a bunch of promises that have yet to yield results.
The argument can be made that the committee is trying to make the award more relevant, more attainable. That notion is ridiculous. Its exclusivity is why it’s used to recognize excellence, not mediocrity.
It’s the Nobel Peace Prize. Stop handing it out like candy.
— Raya Tobler | VOX Staff
omg, i know. me and my bf were just talking about this earlier, it’s so stupid.
I completely agree. I was talkin about this with a Slovak the other day and he really hasn’t done very much to change the current society yet.
Nobel Appease Prize. Ridiculous.
I’m just glad that Obama knows he doesn’t deserve the prize. However, can’t he deny the offer? If he can, the he should.
Hey that is very amazing!!! he is the third president to receive one of the greatest honors of all time. High 10!! To President Obama.
lol! *candy!*
but on a more serious note,
this is really retarded. I mean, he hasn’t done anything. i think they basically just gave it to him because….
…
…
???
i’ll get back to you hen i can think a reason, the committee should do the same.
“The Nobel committee stood by their decision, stating a bunch of abstract and poetic reasons, basically saying that they were giving President Obama the award for what he represents, not what he’s accomplished.”
The Nobel committee gave him the prize based on views he articulated on international diplomacy and weapons proliferation, largely in two speeches given in Cairo, Egypt and Prague, Czech Republic.
These speeches and the commitments made in them, do not substantiate a Nobel Peace prize in the traditional sense, but they are not “abstract and poetic reasons.” The official press release from the Nobel committee says:
“The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama’s vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.”
Now, were the presidents efforts all that extraordinary? Compared to his predecessor, yes. Generally, no.
Barack Obama knows he does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize in the way that we understand it, as an award for deeds done to advance a common cause. But that’s not the spirit in which the committee gave it to him. Like it or not, President Obama has articulated views on proliferation and diplomacy that President Bush never did. Has he substantiated those views in actions? No. Could we all benefit from a world void of nuclear weapons? Absolutely.
Hmm… I read blogs on a similar topic, but i never visited your blog. I added it to favorites and i’ll be your constant reader.
I had a brief discussion about this in my Journalism class. I think for people to make this about Obama and Bush and Democrats and Republicans is irrelevant. Note that Obama has gotten countries to talk who have never done so before. However, if he truly doesn’t feel that he deserves the Prize, he doesn’t have to accept it. I repeat: Obama does NOT have to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.
I think that so much that goes on nowadays is about splitting things between party lines anyway, but oh well.
Excellent post Raya! :)
of corse you can cry under water,and i pulled flys wings and still called it a fly