Obama has won a Nobel

[agzg]

But I don't get it... why?

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by agzg

But I don't get it... why?

He got elected on a platform that included diplomacy-first foreign policy, nuclear disarmament, withdrawal from Iraq, and so on. And convincing a majority of the American people that going in that direction is difficult but doable, especially in this day and age.

And he is on the (slow) road to accomplishing his goals and that is, in part probably why he won.

He has attempted to change (with some success) many people's (and foreign leaders') opinions and attitudes about the US and in doing so, is starting to open doors where only hostility existed before.

People are free to disagree, it goes without saying.

The Committee's reason for why.

[Kappamd]

So, if I go around spouting off that I want change, peace, and nuclear disarmament, etc. without actually producing results can I win the Nobel Peace Prize too?

[Little32]

Wow! What a great honor. I didn't expect it so soon.

I wonder what he will do with the prize money.

[KSigkid]

I understand that he's been doing what he thinks is best along these lines (greater international cooperation, strategic pressure on North Korea, etc.). This award seems like it's all about intentions, though, and it appears to me that giving the award to the President is more about sending a message than rewarding him for any sort of extraordinary measures that he's put in place.

I don't know...I mean, it's great for the President to receive the award, but it seems a little premature to me.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

He got elected on a platform that included diplomacy-first foreign policy, nuclear disarmament, withdrawal from Iraq, and so on.

Originally Posted by Kappamd

So, if I go around spouting off that I want change, peace, and nuclear disarmament, etc. without actually producing results can I win the Nobel Peace Prize too?

For reals! lol. I just don't understand why he got it. Everything that was on his platform he really hasn't done. The Iraq stuff isn't gonna happen for a long while, I just had a handful of friends get sent back....so much for withdrawing.

Obama probably didn't have anything to do with this, so idk if you can really blame him, but I call some shenanigans on this. More attempts at brown nosing or something?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I understand that he's been doing what he thinks is best along these lines (greater international cooperation, strategic pressure on North Korea, etc.). This award seems like it's all about intentions, though, and it appears to me that giving the award to the President is more about sending a message than rewarding him for any sort of extraordinary measures that he's put in place.

I don't know...I mean, it's great for the President to receive the award, but it seems a little premature to me.

I wonder how much of it is the European Community "commending" the US, for lack of a better word, for electing the opposite of George W. Bush.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I wonder how much of it is the European Community "commending" the US, for lack of a better word, for electing the opposite of George W. Bush.

I think that has a lot to do with it, and I think the President is benefitting from a reversal of the anti-Bush international backlash.

This is completely a "message award;" that doesn't necessarily make it different than past Nobel Prizes, but I think people should at least keep that point in mind.

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

and that is exactly it.

I think people get the idea that the Nobel Prize is about what is already done rather than in all actuality it's about the concerted attempt at what you are trying to do.

It's not a reward, moreso a reminder to keep up the good works.

But I think it's open to interpretation of whether that should actually be the case.

I'll admit that I have a rather limited understanding of the Nobel criteria for each of the categories. My limited understanding, though, is that in other categories (science and literature for example), the prize is given for someone who has either completed or substantially completed something. In the science categories, the individuals involved have either discovered something or substantially furthered the understanding of a concept.

In my opinion, the Peace Prize should be judged by similar criteria. I think that it's incredibly difficult to bring about the type of change worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, but that's ok with me...it's an extraordinary award that should be given for extraordinary results.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I wonder how much of it is the European Community "commending" the US, for lack of a better word, for electing the opposite of George W. Bush.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I think that has a lot to do with it, and I think the President is benefitting from a reversal of the anti-Bush international backlash.
This is completely a "message award;" that doesn't necessarily make it different than past Nobel Prizes, but I think people should at least keep that point in mind.

But I think it's open to interpretation of whether that should actually be the case.

I'll admit that I have a rather limited understanding of the Nobel criteria for each of the categories. My limited understanding, though, is that in other categories (science and literature for example), the prize is given for someone who has either completed or substantially completed something. In the science categories, the individuals involved have either discovered something or substantially furthered the understanding of a concept.

In my opinion, the Peace Prize should be judged by similar criteria. I think that it's incredibly difficult to bring about the type of change worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, but that's ok with me...it's an extraordinary award that should be given for extraordinary results.

this was the sentiment on Fox News this morning when I heard the news.

I love this though:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided not to inform Obama before the announcement because it didn’t want to wake him up, committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said.


“Waking up a president in the middle of the night, this isn’t really something you do,” Jagland said.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

This award seems like it's all about intentions, though, and it appears to me that giving the award to the President is more about sending a message than rewarding him for any sort of extraordinary measures that he's put in place.

and that is exactly it.

I think people get the idea that the Nobel Prize is about what is already done rather than in all actuality it's about the concerted attempt at what you are trying to do.

It's not a reward, moreso a reminder to keep up the good works.

And no I don't think Obama had anything to do with this, and was probably just as shocked as everyone was when the announcement was made this morning.

[DrPhil]

Obama doesn't deserve a Nobel Prize.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Obama doesn't deserve a Nobel Prize.

110% Agree.

If he had accomplished something or was ont eh fast path to have accomplished somethign great that he has spoken about regarding global diplomacy, then I would have a different opinion.

I'm sorry, but I find this to be a crock of BS.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Obama doesn't deserve a Nobel Prize.

Well someone else clearly felt differently about the matter and thank goodness for that. He was shocked about it though, and he issued a very humble statement indicating such.




I'm happy he won it. I'm sorry that so many people want to question it and say he doesn't deserve it, but that's the way of life. Some people will never feel that he deserves ANY accolades no matter WHAT he accomplishes.

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I don't know...I mean, it's great for the President to receive the award, but it seems a little premature to me.

Although I am an supporter of Obama, I agree with this 100%. When I heard the news I was just like..."Um...wait, why?"

On a slightly different subject, I am STILL not sick of Kanye West jokes. Just saw this on Twitter:

"YO PRESIDENT OBAMA I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND IMMA LET YOU FINISH, BUT AL GORE WAS THE GREATEST WINNER OF ALL TIME"

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Kappamd

So, if I go around spouting off that I want change, peace, and nuclear disarmament, etc. without actually producing results can I win the Nobel Peace Prize too?

Only if you're 1) coming behind a President who a lot of people didn't like; 2) claiming to rescue a now desperate world that wants "change;" and 3) the first Black President.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I don't know...I mean, it's great for the President to receive the award, but it seems a little premature to me.

Definitely. Once again, Obama is being praised just for brushing his teeth in the morning.