Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize; Angelina Tears Out Hair In Fit Of Jealousy

Okay, look: I like Obama as much as the next person. He's just super. But can I ask? What exactly did he do to earn the Nobel Peace Prize? He's been in power for less than a year. He hasn't stopped any wars. The world doesn't feel, really, any more peaceful than it did last October. So, what? Am I missing something? Blinded by my inherently peaceful Canadianness and so unable to recognize extraordinary peacefulness in others?

Because, seriously: "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples?" Haven't Angelina and Bono been doing that for a lot longer than Obama has? Also, somewhere, Bill Clinton is weeping, you just know.

No, really: I'm asking in all sincerity, and am open to being convinced (dull Canadian maple-syrup-addled political scientist that I am, I fully concede that I might be ignorant about some of the President's more extraordinary exploits.) Am I missing something? And, what do you think?

(Again - so that nobody cuffs me here - I love Obama, as much as a non-American can. I think he's great. And I think that he might well contribute in an extraordinary way to the building of world peace. I just don't think he's done it yet.)

(**ducks**)

source

Comments

[Palinode]

Despite Obama's list of fine qualities, I'm at a loss to figure out how one awards a peace prize to a guy who's waging a war at this very moment. It seems counterintuitive.

At any rate, Obama should send Kanye West to accept the Nobel. YO I'M REAL HAPPY FOR YOU OBAMA AND I'M GONNA LET YOU FINISH, BUT THOMAS WOODROW WILSON WAS THE BEST NOBEL PRIZE WINNING PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME.

Or more to the point: The Nobel Committee doesn't care about Afghanistan.

[Karen]

Yep, it's stupid. I think whoever nominated him thought that the fact America elected a biracial guy to the office of POTUS was a sign of everybody coming to gather around the campfire and sing "Kumbaya". Like Obama's election somehow makes us look like a peaceful, loving nation.

Either that or the selection committee was smoking some heavy ganja weed.

[Lucie @ UO]

I wonder how George Bush feels about someone getting a nobel peace prize strictly on the strength of not being him?

It is interesting to note the committees statements regarding their decision - they don't really say it is for what he has accomplished, but for what he represents, which is unusual for the peace prize, for sure. I think, as some have been saying, it's a sneaky move to make him think twice about future decisions. Who wants to see this headline - "Nobel Peace Prize Winner invades a new country." Genuis plan, if you ask me.

[Cobblestone]

Love him, but I don't get it either.

[Therese]

okay, totally voted for him, glad he's the President, admire him....don't get this either. All I could think this morning while watching the news was "...for what?"

[Katherine]

Yeah, voted for him, went to inauguration, love him, but this is so weird. If I were him, I really think I'd be embarrased. Totally agree with Lucie above--Nobel Peace Prize awarded for not being George Bush.

[Tracy]

I'm glad to see all of you who are actually Obama-fans confused by this as well.

[ana]

oh yes, I'm with you, so confusing...

[Fawn Amber]

The singular fact that he isn't W. gets him an award in my book. I don't really understand it either, but hey, I'm all for it.

[Jessi]

Not saying necessarily that I do get it, but I think it's important to remember the timeline here. He was nominated and the vetting started before he was elected President. So, I don't think that "being a biracial President" or "not being George Bush" quite covers it. I think it's more likely that he was chosen for prior work and writings.

[AmyC65]

OK, Jess - but what, specifically. I'm no news hound, so sincerely wanna know WTF the thought process was here? What writings and past works?? As Illinois Senator, what works qualified him for the Nobel Freakin' Peace Prize??

[Missie]

Thank you. Thank.You.

It is refreshing to see people otherwise love love loooooove this guy to question the thought process here.

I would stay and debate this, but I have to go celebrate my win of the Nobel Prize in Medicine for taking my vitamins this morning.

[Deidre]

I'm with you. I voted for him and volunteered at Inauguration but I think this is way way way off base. I also agree about the Bill Clinton thing or even for that matter Bill Gates. Both of those men (and their organizations) have really stepped up to bat to move social justice along in areas where the rest of the world is failing to address huge inequalities. I know Obama has worked in local communities to advocate for change and as a president he's making strides to tone down the cowboy rhetoric, but I don't see the lasting impacts or the "wow, he's changed the world" factor. Plus, two wars, no movement on LGBT rights, stalled climate change legislation, little progress with Israel and Palestine etc.

[Jennifer]

I think what many of the previous posters are forgetting is that the Nobel is an international award, not an American prize. While many Americans are criticizing Obama, most of the rest of the world is breathing a sigh of relief (still) and is extremely grateful for the steps he has taken, even if they are symbolic. (Ordering the closing of Guantanmo, etc.) America has rejoined the world as Obama has said, "Let's talk." Unfortunately, much of the rest of the world has seen the U.S. as a polarizing force for a very long time. In less than a year, Obama has been able to completely change the opinions of several heads of state about the U.S. And when was the last time we had a president who truly reached out to the Muslim world?

[JD]

Does anyone else think this is actively bad for Obama's presidency?

I like the man, but as far as I can tell, this award is... not exactly deserved. Not that he hasn't been working for peace and love and rainbows, but I agree with HBM that he just hasn't gotten there yet. Nobel's supposed to be based on solid achievement, right? Not just potential?

Seems that what any new president needs is credibility, especially one who came into office without a lot of political experience, and getting perhaps-not-entirely-earned accolades really, really works against him. Also, it kind of cheapens the Nobel Prize (we like you! Let's give you a prize!), which is a little saddening since it's supposed to be a shining example of neutrality and whatnot.

LOL on the Kanye comment!

[Disclaimer: Am a med student who's currently trying to memorize the cephalosporins -- five generations of them! All with identical names and different properties! -- and it's entirely possible that there's some subtle-yet-important political nuances here that I've missed. Plenty of other people seem confused too, though.]

[Redneck Mommy]

"my inherently peaceful Canadianness and so unable to recognize extraordinary peacefulness in others"

Best damn Canadian sentence ever.

Or at least best one I've read in the two hours I've been awake and functional.

*high five*

[ND]

3/18/8 – Obama caught world-wide attention for his moving speech on race relations

7/24/8 - Obama lays the foundation for a new era of international relations and began inspiring renewed hope in American leadership during his campaign speech in Berlin

11/6/8 – Obama’s victory was hailed as a promise of hope for the world.

12/1/8 – Obama began plans to restore U.N. ambassador to cabinet rank.

1/22/9 - Appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East peace

1/22/9 – Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay

1/22/9 – Ordered comprehensive review of detention policies

1/22/9 – Prohibited use of torture

1/22/9 - Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons

1/23/9 – Lifted “Global Gag Rule” on international health groups

1/26/9 – Began to address climate change by increasing fuel standards for automobiles

1/26/9 – Appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change

1/27/9 - Signs Lily Ledbetter “Fair Pay” Act

2/1/9 – Expanded healthcare for children by signing SCHIP

2/5/9 - Again addressed energy conservation by increasing standards for appliances.

2/24/9 – Directed almost $1 billion for prevention and wellness to improve America’s health

2/25/9 - Initiated international efforts to reduce mercury emissions worldwide

2/27/9 – Committed to responsibly ending the war in Iraq

4/1/9 – Agreed to negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.

4/1/9 – Enhanced U.S. – China relations

4/2/9 - Led global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable economies

4/4/9 - Renewed dialog with NATO and other key allies

4/5/9 – Announced new strategy to responsible address international nuclear proliferation

4/13/9 – Began easing tension with Cuba through new policy stance

4/17/9 - Secured $5 billion in aid commitments "to bolster [Pakistan's] economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism"

4/22/9 - Developed the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents.

5/8/9 – Proposed International Affaires budget that included funds to create a civilian response corps -- teams of civilian experts in rule of law, policing, transitional governance, economics, engineering, and other areas critical to helping rebuild war-torn societies; Provide $40 million for a "stabilization bridge fund," which would provide rapid response funds for the State Department to help stabilize a crisis situation.

6/4/9 - Gave historic address to the Muslim World in Cairo - "American is not at war with Islam" Foreign affairs experts insist that Obama's engagement with the Muslim world has been remarkable. "He has been able to dramatically change America's image in that region"

8/4/9 - Used DIPLOMACY to free 2 American journalists from a North Korea prison

9/18/9 - De-escalation of nuclear tension through repurposing of missile defense prompting Russia to withdraw its missile plan.

[Chris R]

This is great news. I am very happy that he won. He deserves it.

I have to admit that I am having a lot of fun reading the reactions of people on these blogs. Too funny.

Win the Nobel Peace Prize? Yes we can!

[sam]

er, i don't really get it, and i don't think he does either. I mean one of the first things he said today was "i don't think i deserve this". Dude was just as blindsided by it as everyone else in the country. his speech reflected that. it was basically like "uh, thanks guys, america will work really hard i guess?" of course it's great to win a nobel peace prize but i'm pretty sure he'd rather feel like he earned it.

[Karen]

I think this has pretty much doomed his presidency. From now on, unless he cures AIDS and cancer and finds homes for all abandoned puppies in the world, people will be scratching their heads and saying, "Obama? Wasn't he the president that, like, was nominated for an award after having a relatively obscure career and getting catapulted into the limelight by the Democratic party? After hardly voting at all during his very short Senatorial career, which by the way he only got elected to after the other guy dropped out? That guy?"

And if he has to show military force in any country, God help him, because the headlines will read, as another poster pointed out, "NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER DECLARES WAR". We're pretty much screwed.

[Constant Gina]

Congratulations to President Obama!

[BaltimoreGal]

Well, he didn't nominate himself, as one of my Twitter friends pointed out. But I'm sure he'll be blamed for it somehow. I do think it's too soon. But having said that, I think he will spend the rest of his life living up to it and that is a hard cross to bear.

Considering that the other two standing Presidents won it for peaceful actions, and that the only other US President to win it was Jimmy Carter, I'm guessing they are trying to both encourage/reward Obama for staying on course (mostly) despite a lot of bad acts. I also think they are sending a message to the world, especially the US, about the importance of peace in the middle east.

[Jacquie]

I think it's perfect, and embodies the very thing that Obama has inspired within me: hope. I expect this honor to motivate him and all of us to remain forward thinking and positive, despite the pessimism that so many Americans* are insistent on promoting.

"Unlike his predecessors, Obama was selected not for substantive accomplishments, but for his "vision" and inspiring "hope" at the beginning of his presidency.

"For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman," the committee said, explaining its decision.

In comments at the White House on Friday, Obama said he did not view the award "as a recognition of my own accomplishments. But rather as an affirmation of American leadership. ... I will accept this award as a call to action."

*the jury is still out on you canadians =)

[Monica]

I'm a fan of his, and I haven't made up my mind about this issue at all, but I did find this to be an interesting take:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/10/all-over-the-world.html

[atheists eat fish]

His election to presidency restored my faith in the American people. I had begun to think that MOST Americans were racist and anti-Muslim under the Bush administration. I was very glad that he was elected in spite of all the propaganda against Muslims (I know he isn't Muslim, but they sure did everything they could to link him with Muslims since he was related to one). Anyway, my fist reaction was WTF? All the wars are still happening, Guantanamo Bay still exists, health care has not been improved, what on Earth is this about? But, after reading ND's comments perhaps that is a bit unfair. He may be trying to get things done but has too much oppostion. However, with the majority in the congress he should have been able to do SOMETHING by now. Hopefully this prize will make him try to live up to it.