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Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

nobelpeaceprize.org

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Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#201

Post by ebrenes »

tsally wrote: post #9

Gandhi died before he was awarded the Peace Prize, even though he was nominated five times. Obama gets it less than a year into his Presidency? I like Obama, but that's just wrong.

As a citizen of a foreign country (not US) I think I can understand the logic that went into the Nobel Prize Committee's decision.

Prior to Obama, some people in the international community had grown disenfranchised, resentful, bitter and distant with the US. I'd like to say it was a great number or a majority of people, but I don't have a study or link to back this up. This is just from my experience.

The accomplishment that Obama did, which for US citizens might seem inconsequential, is that they made us (the international community) look at the US with fondness. Changing people's mind is a powerful accomplishment.

Obama's administration made people have faith in US leadership and that once again the international community's voice would be heard by the lone reigning super power in the world.

This isn't a "concrete" accomplishment like publishing a paper, stopping a war or ending an oppressive regime. But it is nonetheless a relevant and important event in the course of international politics. By positively changing the political climate Obama has achieved something that the US had failed to do for many years.

Honestly, I don't understand all of the hate. Peace itself is an ideal, a goal we should aim for but most likely will never achieve (at least not on a global scale), and Obama's intentions and steps in that direction have spoken louder than many others this year.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#202

Post by johnnybgoode »

bitdiddle wrote: post #166
miked wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

though he's not a wealthy man financially Both his books have sold millions of copies. The Clintons are now worth well over $100 million, just from giving speeches. Al Gore left office worth about $2 million and is now worth over $100 million from a combination of his global warming book, movie, and speeches and various board directorships, including at Apple and at Kosla's VC fund. Obama will scrape by somehow.

I think it was one of the Adams who opined that men go into politics to either help their businesses or hurt the businesses of their competitors. Of course Obama's real wealth is in those two beautiful girls.

> Of course Obama's real wealth is in those two beautiful girls.

Oh dear, I'm afraid this sentence could be interpreted in many ways. :(

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#203

Post by johnnybgoode »

Here is the issue. The US government has tremendous power over world affairs. Norwegian politicians don't typically have much of a say in the decisions of the US government. But the Nobel Peace Prize is a way for them to have some influence, so they use it for this purpose.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#204

Post by steve19 »

elblanco wrote: post #168
lg wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure the dalai lama said: For many reasons, I have decided that I will not be the head of, or play any role in the government when Tibet becomes independent. The future head of the Tibetan Government must be someone popularly elected by the people. There are many advantages to such a step and it will enable us to become a true and complete democracy. I hope that these moves will allow the people of Tibet t…

He has also said that he would be more than happy having Tibet remain an autonomous state of China for reasons of economics.

link to the quote?

I am sure a Hong Kong style autonomy would benefit them but is hard to see the Communist party handing out semi-democracy like candy to whoever asks.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#205

Post by steve19 »

justlearning wrote: post #116

When I read the title, I thought it was a link bait, until I clicked. may be, the Nobel Prize association is under new 'management'? I thought the Nobel prize was given to accomplishments rather than ideas. I really like Obama, but isn't it bit too early?

I was reading blog feeds and I thought I had come across a joke.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#206

Post by steve19 »

kyl wrote: post #87
kyro wrote: post #5

I'd like someone to inform me of one accomplishment of his that warrants his receiving of the award. And pushing a catchy a slogan of 'change,' to get elected, isn't one of them.

Does this count? http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aiiu...

no. every prior US president has also worked on nuclear disarmament. Probably every Russian president as well.

Only one Nobel winner ever achieved disarmament ... and I don't think he should have gotten the award.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F_W_de_Klerk

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#207

Post by elblanco »

steve19 wrote: post #204
elblanco wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He has also said that he would be more than happy having Tibet remain an autonomous state of China for reasons of economics.

link to the quote? I am sure a Hong Kong style autonomy would benefit them but is hard to see the Communist party handing out semi-democracy like candy to whoever asks.

Yeah, I'll have to hunt around to find the citation. I heard it in a speech he gave in NYC about 10-11 years ago following the release of Kundun.

searches around a bit http://www.dalailama.com/news.220.htm Here is a recent-ish post by His Holiness.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#208

Post by sampladoc »

Obama got the prize for the simple fact that he is not bush. His doctrine is one of engagement and diplomacy. The people in Oslo clearly stated that they meant for the prize to make his doctrine permeate the status quo. I agree that it's a bit too early for him to get it but the prize was clearly political.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#209

Post by known »

vinutheraj wrote: post #200
known wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Gandhi is the greatest enemy the untouchables have ever had in India." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambedkar

Yes, quote the guy who brought in caste-based reservation in India. Quote the guy who wanted a separate electorate for Dalits and other religious communities. Quote the guy who did not understand Gandhi ! Now there is 49.5% reservation now in educational institutions in India, yes 49.5% !!, because that's the highest allowed by the constitution, otherwise they would have gone higher. It's something similar to "affirm…

I think India will have reservations till 85% of all registered marriages are Inter-Caste.

Re: Barack Obama gets Nobel's Peace Prize

#210

Post by lawn »

nice1 wrote: post #98
djehuty wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Kissinger, Begin, and Sadat all won it in the 70s. It's had zero credibility since then. Which is a pity, because the clear purpose is to encourage rather than necessarily always to reward, and Obama's intentions definitely seem to be good.

Not to mention Al Gore; that one will look really stupid RSN, given how people are starting to understand what a hoax "global warming" is.

I'd say people are finally starting to understand that global warming is not a hoax.
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