Obama has won a Nobel

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Little32

I know.

And no Phil, I wasn't referring to you.

OK, "insane" was clearly hyperbole, but the point still holds: "the committee should be trusted" is specious at best, and demonstrably false at worst. You clearly have to do better than that here, but you refuse to.

How about this? "You can't be serious?" which, at least in terms of connotation, is functionally identical. "Boarding the crazy train" is not.

Also, what exactly do you run, Little32, that gives you the ability to judge this as correct? It's a two-way road - your detractors don't play by different rules, do they? That wouldn't seem very egalitarian of you, and certainly could be construed as ignoble (if you'll allow the pun).

Also, DS - I don't even get what you're talking about, so let's play a game . . . if "we" are so predictable, who did I vote for last election?

[Little32]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

OK, "insane" was clearly hyperbole, but the point still holds: "the committee should be trusted" is specious at best, and demonstrably false at worst. You clearly have to do better than that here, but you refuse to.

How about this? "You can't be serious?" which, at least in terms of connotation, is functionally identical. "Boarding the crazy train" is not.

First, to the bold: yes, it is and no one chided you on it, though you "struck the first blow."

Second, I don't blindly support anybody, but I do acknowledge that they and not I have been entrusted to make these decisions and award these prizes. As the Foundation is a private entity, I understand that any protest or objection that I might raise, for this specific scenario, is generally pointless and perhaps presumptuous; much in the same way that someone outside of your fraternity could not really make any protests about members that you admit to your fraternity, at least none that you would consider worthy of acknowledgement and, honestly, most of which you would probably deride.

The committee collectively decided that Obama deserved the honor and they are the ones that matter with regards to the prize, which is theirs to give. To me, that's the bottom line to the question of merit. To paraphrase a colleague, only in America could a Nobel Peace Prize inspire so much hate.

Edit to address your edit: The things that I run, I take care of. My whole point is that the decision of the committee of this private organization--in which the assertion of merit is implicit--should be respected. What does all of this second-guessing gain anyone? Why do people feel that their perspective has more merit or validity than those of the people that were chosen to sit on this committee? Why does anyone feel a need to talk about who does or does not deserve the prize? What is the point?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Little32

To paraphrase a colleague, only in America could a Nobel Peace Prize inspire so much hate.

And only in present-day U.S. politics can it be said that "disagreement" equals "hate."

[Beryana]

Originally Posted by Little32

As the Foundation is a private entity,

While the Nobel Foundation may be a private entity, the committee that selects the Peace Prize is made up of members elected by the Norwegian Parliament. . . .that being, the Peace Prize committee is rather political in nature. . .

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by Little32

The committee collectively decided that Obama deserved the honor and they are the ones that matter with regards to the prize, which is theirs to give. To me, that's the bottom line to the question of merit. To paraphrase a colleague, only in America could a Nobel Peace Prize inspire so much hate.

I'm absolutely not "hating on" Obama for winning the award - I'm questioning whether he was the best recipient, sure, but that's fundamentally different. I can completely appreciate the net positives that may come out of this, but my first reaction was similar to some: what's he actually done to earn it?

I mean, it's kind of reductive to insinuate that he's earned it 'just' by being the first black President - while that's a tremendous accomplishment, it seems bad for racial lines in the US to simply use that, and actually works against goals of equality. I can appreciate the rhetoric that has softened foreign distaste for American politics, but it's just that - rhetoric, without corresponding action (yet). I hope we get there, but the Peace Prize seems like more of a lifetime achievement award, and less of a "look what great things you'll do!" thing (which is borderline children's novel, now that I read it).

Edit to address your edit: The things that I run, I take care of. My whole point is that the decision of the committee of this private organization--in which the assertion of merit is implicit--should be respected.

In no way is this an implicit truth - a private organization carries implicit merit? That's absolutely an untenable position.

What does all of this second-guessing gain anyone? Why do people feel that their perspective has more merit or validity than those of the people that were chosen to sit on this committee? Why does anyone feel a need to talk about who does or does not deserve the prize? What is the point?

The "point" is that the award carries tremendous cachet and public interest, and a great deal of implicit power - you can name an unbelievable number of those awarded right off the top of your head. Since the recipient carries newfound power in the public eye, it is certainly within the public purview to discuss whether this was justly awarded.

Again, I'm not arguing that the committee somehow violated its tenets or duties in any fashion - I'm merely stating that, by their stated goals and the history of the award, there's certainly reason and foundation to argue that the committee doesn't always get the right guy, whether by reason (such as politics, like some have asserted) or accident (which is completely reasonable, and indeed human nature). I completely understand your points and appreciate the thought-out responses, I just disagree that there is no utility or rationale behind discussing this - in fact, if there weren't, it would seriously devalue the award, in my mind.

[srmom]

Here's a funny article about it in the Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/pos...d=opinionsbox1

I love this quote!!

In a stunning announcement, Millard Fillmore Senior High School chose Shawn Rabinowitz, an incoming junior, as next year’s valedictorian. The award was made, the valedictorian committee announced from Norway of all places, on the basis of “Mr. Rabinowitz’s intention to ace every course and graduate number one in class.” In a prepared statement, young Shawn called the unprecedented award, “f---ing awesome.”

[Senusret I]

He doesn't deserve it. I hope Kanye West intercedes in Oslo.

[DaemonSeid]

Awww..you just wanna be right huh?

Trust me...we already saw your post.

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I think that was about the back and forth between Little32 and me.

Pssst...you were caught before you edited...

Calling yourself an idiot for not reading is no way to talk about yourself.


No way to can maneuver around that...so there you have it...

But...try taking some lessons from KSig.

Have a nice Friday ok?

And please do continue entertaining us!

I need some more popcorn. Orville Redenbacher kettle corn anyone?

[srmom]

Here's an exerpt from an article online (Time) about another person who had been nominated for the peace prize - contrast and compare:

Compare this to Greg Mortenson, nominated for the prize by some members of Congress, who the bookies gave 20-to-1 odds of winning. Son of a missionary, a former army Medic and mountaineer, he has made it his mission to build schools for girls in places where opium dealers and tribal warlords kill people for trying. His Central Asia Institute has built more than 130 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan - a mission which has, along the way, inspired millions of people to view the protection and education of girls as a key to peace and prosperity and progress

Deserving? I think so.

[DaemonSeid]

Dance.

[Psi U MC Vito]

I agree though. There are so many other people who deserve this award greater then he does.

[wrigley]

I wonder what President Obama intends to do with the prize money. I'd like to see it donated somewhere instead of just sitting in the bank.

[DrPhil]

Daemonseid, don't PM me. If you're done discussing in this thread then keep your stupid thoughts, about how predictable we are and how we made your boring day, to yourself.

Originally Posted by wrigley

I wonder what President Obama intends to do with the prize money. I'd like to see it donated somewhere instead of just sitting in the bank.

He probably will donate it. That donation to a worthy cause may also calm the critics a bit.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

He probably will donate it. That donation to a worthy cause may also calm the critics a bit.

I think the White House just announced in the last hour or so that he would be donating the money. I'd be surprised if anyone thought he'd keep it.

[crescent&pearls]

I think he should invest the prize money in an urban co-op farm and give peas a chance.










I'm sorry. It's Friday.