Obama's Nobel

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

Reading over the already-said comments, I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.

As I said in another venue, I think at least *part* of the reason Obama was given the prize, was to send a sort of message to the US voting population-- one of approval for Obama's type of politician, and disapproval for Bush's type.

And, although the effort is noble [sorry] I think that it's lost in the noise.  Indeed, the sort of person who would recognize, and respond to such a message-- would've voted for Obama anyhow.  And the sort of voter who needs the message?  Would only be swayed by the likes of Faux News or Pat Robertson-- and unless there is enough $ in it, neither of those would endorse an Obama-like candidate.  I doubt there could be enough money, in fact-- those two recognize where their constituencies' loyalties lie-- and uber-conservative white-bread old male politicos is where it's at, for them.

In a way, I'm a bit sad that the Peace Prize came so early in Obama's regime.  I would've preferred it came at maybe 6 years in?  To celebrate the change?  As it is, since the majority of Americans [who would benefit from the message being sent] are totally clueless of what Obama accomplished prior to Jan 1, and will remain clueless (through self-censorship), they will just see it as another liberal plot to overthrow their conservative values_^tm. 

*sigh*

[Bluenose]

FWIW I think that the award reflects badly on the Peace Prize.  Not that I think Obama is a bad guy, but it simply that whatever he will acheive, and I hope it will be a lot, so far he really has not acheived much of anything.  It is simply too soon to expect him to.  Results take time and although he may well have set many things on the road to acheivement he aint dun em yet!  The Nobel Prizes should be for achievement, not good intentions or good starts, rather good results.

[Aggie]

So....  if nearly everyone (including Obama) thinks it was a bad idea, then must we consider whether it was intentionally done to make him look bad?

One presumes the Nobel committee is composed of relatively intelligent people.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Although by not being dubya nor McCain a clear war with Iran was avoided, at least in principle. The flaw on that argument is that the Doomsday Clock is still in 5 minutes to midnight.

[Lindorm]

So why did Norway get the peace prize then? With his explosives knowledge Alf thought it better to have disgruntled overlooked world leaders retaliate next door?

Norway and Sweden was back then two countries united by having a common regent, a personalunion, where the king of Sweden also was the king of Norway. Likewise, all foreign affairs and foreign policy was handled by the swedish crown and parliment, the norwegian parliment only neing responsible for internal affairs.

Alfred Nobel never really stated outright whay he wanted to have the Peace Prize awarded by a committe of the norwegian parliment, but there are a few reasons one can infer from his writings and statements he made during his lifetime.

First of all, it was probably meant as a gesture of brotherhood and unity, emphasizing the connections between the two countries in the union -which never was an easy one.

Secondly, Alfred Nobel also probably considered that since the norwegian parliment only dealt with domestic affairs, they would be less easily swayed by outside interests, having more freedom to pick and choose laurates without policy constraints.

Thirdly, at that time, several leading norwegian parlimentarians were very active in the Inter-Parlimentary Union, an early organization dedicated to mediaton and the resolution of conflicts through non-violent methods, something that Alfred Nobel might have wanted to emphasize and indirectly reward. Several IPU members were actually awarded the Nobel Peace Prize over the years.

[beagle]

Thanks for the explanation.