Friday
Oct092009
Instant Reaction: Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize
Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10:41
LATEST Obama's Nobel Prize: There's Concerned...And Then There's Stupid
Video/Transcript: Obama’s Reaction to the Nobel Peace Prize
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UPDATE 1245 GMT: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Israeli President Shimon Peres, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai have all offered congratulations. The Taliban, however, are ruining the party: "We have seen no change in his strategy for peace. He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan"
UPDATE 1135 GMT: Another reader jumps in, "I'm positive. He has given us hope, gives it still."
UPDATE 1035 GMT: An EA contributor is in the midst of a heated discussion on Facebook. Most of the reaction is far from thrilled: "are you serious?", "farcical", "very ridiculous". This, from our contributor, is the sharpest point: "The Nobel prize has a very good rationale if it is awarded to people who are persecuted because of their activities, such as Shirin Ebadi, Chinese dissidents, Ms. Maguire, etc. It makes no sense whatsoever to assign it to some who is well-fed, well-protected, in favour of troop rises in Afghanistan, and who wins it for 1 speech in Cairo and another one in the UN containing vague promises on nuclear disarmament, becoming buddies with the Islamic world, and other assorted dreams. It's actually almost pathetic..."
EA Staffer #1: Wonder what folks in Afghanistan think?
A Reader: How can Obama get the Nobel Peace Prize hours before the US is supposed to bomb the Moon?!
EA Staffer #2: Great to hear Obama brought peace to Afghanistan/Israel-Palestine/North Korea/Iran/the world so quickly. May as well retire now.
EA Staffer #3: I wouldn't go as far as Tom Lehrer's reaction when Henry Kissinger won the Prize --- one of the best satirists/songwriters of our time or anytime quit performing, "It was at that moment that satire died. There was nothing more to say after that." --- but still....
A Reader: Bonus Side Effect --- Glenn Beck is going to explode....
Best Reader's Prediction: Kanye West is going to disrupt Obama's Nobel ceremony - will say it should have gone to Beyonce.
Video/Transcript: Obama’s Reaction to the Nobel Peace Prize
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
UPDATE 1245 GMT: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Israeli President Shimon Peres, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai have all offered congratulations. The Taliban, however, are ruining the party: "We have seen no change in his strategy for peace. He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan"
UPDATE 1135 GMT: Another reader jumps in, "I'm positive. He has given us hope, gives it still."
UPDATE 1035 GMT: An EA contributor is in the midst of a heated discussion on Facebook. Most of the reaction is far from thrilled: "are you serious?", "farcical", "very ridiculous". This, from our contributor, is the sharpest point: "The Nobel prize has a very good rationale if it is awarded to people who are persecuted because of their activities, such as Shirin Ebadi, Chinese dissidents, Ms. Maguire, etc. It makes no sense whatsoever to assign it to some who is well-fed, well-protected, in favour of troop rises in Afghanistan, and who wins it for 1 speech in Cairo and another one in the UN containing vague promises on nuclear disarmament, becoming buddies with the Islamic world, and other assorted dreams. It's actually almost pathetic..."
EA Staffer #1: Wonder what folks in Afghanistan think?
A Reader: How can Obama get the Nobel Peace Prize hours before the US is supposed to bomb the Moon?!
EA Staffer #2: Great to hear Obama brought peace to Afghanistan/Israel-Palestine/North Korea/Iran/the world so quickly. May as well retire now.
EA Staffer #3: I wouldn't go as far as Tom Lehrer's reaction when Henry Kissinger won the Prize --- one of the best satirists/songwriters of our time or anytime quit performing, "It was at that moment that satire died. There was nothing more to say after that." --- but still....
A Reader: Bonus Side Effect --- Glenn Beck is going to explode....
Best Reader's Prediction: Kanye West is going to disrupt Obama's Nobel ceremony - will say it should have gone to Beyonce.
Reader Comments (42)
Everyone knows that Scandanavian countries have lots of alcoholics - but Kool-Aidoholics?
I took the time and trouble to vote for Obama from overseas, and still have reasonable hopes that he eventually will bring some positive changes to many peoples' lives, but aren't they just totally jumping the gun? A Nobel Peace Prize for a leader who is running two wars, keeping "all the options" on the table vis-a-vis Iran, who has promised to stay mum about Israel's nuclear arsenal nor urge it to join in the NPT, and who hasn't breathed a word of criticism about the people of Gaza being shot at like ducks in a barrel?
Just to throw in another view...
(From Radio Netherlands Worldwide http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/barack-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize)
The 2008 Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president and veteran troubleshooter in international conflicts, said the award should "encourage" Obama's Middle East peace efforts. "We do not yet have a peace in the Middle East... this time it it was very clear that they wanted to encourage Obama to move on these issues," Ahtisaari told CNN. "This is a clear encouragement to do something on this issue, I wish him good luck."
The Nobel Peace Prize should prompt him to start working towards ending injustice in the world, an aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told AFP. "We hope that this gives him the incentive to walk in the path of bringing justice to the world order," said Ali Akbar Javanfekr, Ahmadinejad's media aide. "We are not upset and we hope that by receiving this prize he will start taking practical steps to remove injustice in the world."
I think it would be interesting if he humbly declined the honor and told the Nobel Committee to keep him in mind for the next few years and if his efforts come to fruition to award him then.
Free the Nobel Committee: they've been kidnapped by "Saturday Night Live" and David Letterman. Air drop Nancy Pelosi with a healthcare bill: the Swedish people are suffering from peace delusion. I've heard that some kinds of moldy bread can produce LSD. Please everyone: donate fresh cake for the people of Sweden. Don't let them eat bread. Over-fishing has led them to eat too many red herrings. Global warming has made the fjords melt and flood their reasoning powers with salt water and silt.
I think this statement I just found, from the Nobel Prize
Committee should clear up why Obama deservedly won:
Quote:
The selection committee for the Nobel Peace Prize wishes to make clear the full scope of the reasons why we have selected President Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.
Firstly the innovative ideas for peace in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine which he has developed with help from fellow peace campaigner Mr. Rahm Emanuel . This would see the Israeli Government restrict new settlements to a maximum of a million inhabitants per settlement. They would also solemly promise to limit deaths among Palestinian civilians to a maximum of 5,000 per military campaign AND to use lower grade phospor weapons on civilians. In return, the Palestinians would merely be required to change their national flag by adding the words "We are Israel's bitch" --a small price surely for such concessions.
Secondly, he has now withdrawn ALL US troops from Iraq as he promised in his election campaign (apart from a token 120,000 transitional peacekeepers who will leave by 2035 at the latest).
Thirdly, his sincerity when expressing regret for the deaths of Afghan civilians is obvious. But like us, he knows that the unfortunate bereaved of these civilians are only too happy to set these deaths against the benefits of bringing peace to their country.
Fourthly, he is well known to hold the interests of the US close to his heart and the committee felt that the award would help reverse alleged collapse in his popularity due to the ongoing malicious campaigns questioning his relationship with the banking community and the pharmaceutical industry. After all he cannot properly pursue his peace agenda without strong public support.
Finally, the committee would like to assure the public that the President will not benefit in the least from the approximately one million dollar prize. He has generously decided to donate all of this money to Mr. Anthony Rezko, a former neighbor in Chicago who has now fallen on hard times. This is a very generous gesture, especially as Mr Rezko has been unfriendly to the President, making dubious claims that would "rat him out unless somebody antes up".
In summary, President Obama is a deserving winner and he and the Committee are all now looking forward to a new world order.
Dated: 9th October, 2009
Issued by the Nobel Prize Committee.
Interesting -- the European and Asian reactions I have seen (except for the Taliban) have been far more positive than those of the American Left. Is said Left moving toward a mirror-image-of-Glenn=Beck position?
"The unfortunate bereaved of these civilians are only too happy to set these deaths against the benefits of bringing peace to their country"
An extraordinary assertion.
@Hrothgar - Could you explain more? I'd be interested as I think some on the American left do seem to just be the opposite of whatever Beck is. But assuming Beck went nuts when he heard about the peace prize, wouldn't most of the 'anti-Becks' be hugely positive about it?
Ever hear of satire Chris? Read it all.
P.S. Correction
Sorry, I meant NORWAY. Sweden is building a colony on the moon and peace is at hand. Saw pigs with wings flying around and angels too... Sorry, I got it confused with the "Stockholm" syndrome
Wow, I donT like that decision. Too early to give Obama the peace prize. So far he has only managed to accomplish promising gestures. Not more - not less.
I am disappointed!
wars still run everywhere; there is no outcome specially after "only" 10 months of presidency !! getting nobel price for only des "bla bla bla "! It's a " dear" price ! I agree with Lesh Walesa, the former president of Poland who had himself this price "rightly" !!
I can't believe it. Terrible decision.
The Noble Peace Prize should go to someone who has actually accomplished something to bring peace and justice to the world. There are so many deserving candidates, some known, others still nameless. Some of President Obama's plans may bear fruit in time, but, for now, they are uncertain at best.... then there's Afghanistan....
The explosion of Becks head and Limbaugh birthing a cow are always welcome events, but there are better ways to achieve these results.
@fintan
I feel stupid right now ;)
Should have read the whole thing. Very droll.
Reading thought the comments, I really like Erb's suggestion in #3
Have to concur with the general sentiment here. I don't understand the justification of "encouraging him to continue..." The carrot's not much use when the donkey's already eaten it.
Some of the complainers are not informed about the history of the prize. For most years, it has not gone to persecuted dissidents who are poorly-fed and suffering. It has mostly gone to those who've had a hand in international peace agreements or creation of peace organizations. It's not generally an award for humanitarian works, and winners like Mother Theresa, Albert Schweitzer, and Nelson Mandela are the exception, not the norm. The majority have been people working in government, who have had a positive affect on relations between nations.
Congratulations to all American readers!
The Nobel Price Committee has wisely decided to encourage the American president to continue his peace efforts in the Near East.
To all those who mock him or protest against this decision: this price goes also to all Americans who elected Obama. That means that each one of them is urged to support his peace efforts throughout the world. These Americans should be reminded that they are able to do something for installing peace (of course citizens of all other nations should do the same). If you do not like war in Afghanistan start to support Afghan civilian movements, organize help committees, support Afghan schools or colleges. They need it badly. In any case the peaceful movement in Iran shows that change can happen.
Arshama
Thanks for the reminder that we Americans have a voice and a responsibility in how the future unfolds. I'm feeling much better now.
Arshama and Robert B
Do you see any difference between now and 10 months ago ?.yes we had a lot of statement but no act no result ! this award would be better in the next fews years after coming to fruition
Congratulations America. The Nobel's a piece 'a cake. A piece of Neville Chamberlain in our time. Ahmadinejad is a "gentleman" with the atomic sword of peace. The peace of annihilation and world caliphate is possible with your help and acquiescence. Our protesters in prison are peaceful unlike your decadent Chicago. Everyone in Iran agrees (some after torture) with Ahmadinejad's philosophy of peace and love of obedient children. Peace will come with surrender to our righteous ideas. Peace through annihilation. Don't send the 40,000 troops to Afghanistan. Send them to Oslo where they are suffering from hallucinations.
I am so upset over this ,it is way to early to give him any peace prize! He has done nothen but start a bunch of diffrent things but has not finished one!! Should i remind anyone that the real hero's are our men and women in the service! There friends and family and many of us who are trying to help those being mistreated by there own countrys! We send millons of gift packs to our men and women to give a feel of home and they mostly are given to familys and kids they run into that just needs a little help,or needs to to know we the usa are not there to hurt them but to help them.. we have soldiers that ask for toys ,balls ,bears and yes food to give to these people! we sent in people ,and money to try and help them rebuild way before Mr. Obama came into play!! The usa has gone broke trying to help other countrys with everything they need from food,clothes,medacal care,for standing up for there rights,to protecting our home land! Many of our husbands,wives,sons ,daughters,moms and dads have died to save and protect others!! When Mr. obama can beat that maybe he should get a prize til then he needs to decline, and really do something for this country first orhe will loose alot of peoples votes when it's time to rule the office again
ChrisE says:
@fintan: I feel stupid right now ;)
Chris, no problem. We ALL feel stupid right now. I am tempted to say that this destroys the credibility of the Nobel awards, but then... what credibility?
Obama's award sits well with that given to the well known peace activist Dr. Henry Kissinger. Back then Tom Lehrer said that the award to Kissinger made political satire obsolete. I know Tom, but I'm trying. I'm trying.
Hrothgar says:
"Is said Left moving toward a mirror-image-of-Glenn=Beck position?"
Rather that the left is now well into the process of removing it's collective head from a prior Nov. 2008 position, up it's collective ass.
ange paris
I agree fully that it was premature even to consider President Obama for the Peace Prize. Arshama makes a lot of sense to me. It's up to us in America to press him toward earning it-- to grow into those shoes
Amy
you are right; now he's awfully committed !!