Nobel Peace Prize

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Rockroi,

Will Martin finally get rid of the famed "Knot" he is trying to untie by simply writing "But then Obama flew in and all was well"?

No, but I do think GRRM should consider consulting the President regarding a solution.

:P

[lokisnow]

what an embarassment to give the award when it is clearly at this stage not terribly merited (the irony would be if today Obama announced he was escalating armed forces in afghanistan again).

And embarassing for Obama, to have to deal with a new wave of conservative hysteria. I hope this doesn't effect health care reform. :-p

The comittee is plain stupid to give him the peace prize, I think he should accept it but request that it be deferred or something, so that it as an achievement could represent a fuller life of service to his country and to the world. (are they gonna elect him Sec Gen of the UN after he leaves office? geesh, I wouldn't be surprised after this baffling, and absurd peace prize!)

[The Wolf Maid]

I'm a bit puzzled. The deadline for the nominations for this prize is in February, and that's barely a few weeks after Obama was sworn in. Yet as I understand, he's being cited for things he did well after the deadline. Are the judges supposed to only consider what he did before the deadline or can it go beyond that? :huh:

I just hope this award doesn't backfire somehow and make things worse for Obama.

[McCloskey]

Of sitting presidents:

1. Teddy Roosevelt negotiated the end of a War (Russo-Japanese)

2. Wilson helped win WW1 and proposed ending war altogether through a League of Nations.

3. Obama is not GW Bush

The Right is going to have a field day with this one. Its a shame the award has become another partisan tool. Hopefully he will make like Pvt. Ryan and "earn this"

[Kouran]

One thing I think is being missed in this discussion. Nominations had to be in by 1 Feb 09. So Obama was nominated with less than one month in office? Surely the lunacy of this nomination let alone win is apparent to everyone.

[Tormund Ukrainesbane]

I've been away from the news for a couple days and What. The. Suffering. Fuck?

Could they not find a guy who wasn't busy running 2 wars to give the peace prize to? I'm pretty sure my mom is far more deserving as she hasn't had soldiers kill anyone this week. Holy shit.

[kuroishi]

One thing I think is being missed in this discussion. Nominations had to be in by 1 Feb 09. So Obama was nominated with less than one month in office? Surely the lunacy of this nomination let alone win is apparent to everyone.

Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize

It takes one "qualified person" to nominate anyone for the Nobel Prize, and 2009 set a record for nominations, so it's not very surprising that a person as important as the US predident was nominated. I bet my own president was nominated as well :lol: .

[Kouran]

Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize

It takes one "qualified person" to nominate anyone for the Nobel Prize, and 2009 set a record for nominations, so it's not very surprising that a person as important as the US predident was nominated. I bet my own president was nominated as well :lol: .

Granted, but nominated with less than 20 days in office? That is like nominating a rookie pitcher who has pitched one game for the Hall of Fame. Who he holy hell would do that?

[SwordoftheMorning]

Common misconceptions about the Nobel Peace Prize

AP

By The Associated Press The Associated Press – Fri Oct 9, 6:56 am ET

An award that generates as much interest as the Nobel Peace Prize is bound to be surrounded by myths. Geir Lundestad, secretary of the secretive committee that awards the prize, outlines for The Associated Press some of the most common misunderstandings:

• Myth: The awards committee announces a shortlist of candidates.

The committee does not release the names of any candidates and keeps records sealed for 50 years.

• Myth: A campaign for a particular candidate can sway the awards committee.

A campaign could have the exact opposite effect on the fiercely independent committee, which does not want to appear influenced by public pressure.

• Myth: Candidates can be nominated until the last minute.

The nomination deadline is eight months before the announcement, with a strictly enforced deadline of Feb. 1.

• Myth: Anyone can nominate a person or group for the Peace Prize.

No, although Nobel statutes on who can nominate were slightly broadened in 2003. They now include former laureates; current and former members of the committee and their staff; members of national governments and legislatures; university professors of law, theology, social sciences, history and philosophy; leaders of peace research and foreign affairs institutes; and members of international courts of law.

• Myth: The prize can be revoked if a laureate does not live up to the standards of the peace prize.

There are no provisions for revoking the prize.

• Myth: The prize can be awarded posthumously.

The prize was award posthumously only once — in 1961, to former U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammerskjold, after he was killed in a plane crash in Africa. The rules were amended in 1974 to prohibit posthumous prizes.

• Myth: The prize is awarded to recognize efforts for peace, human rights and democracy only after they have proven successful.

More often, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.

In other words, President Obama is being recognized and lauded for the efforts he is making towards bringing peace and stablity to the world. All over the net today, there are shrill voices complaining at his winning. Too damn bad. The people that have manufactured some self-delusional set of criteria on what is required to win are pissing into the wind. The committee picks the winner they feel most deserving, those who are "shocked" need to get over it.

Add to that cynical list

1. Teddy Roosevelt negotiated the end of a War (Russo-Japanese)

2. Wilson helped win WW1 and proposed ending war altogether through a League of Nations.

3. Martin Luther King Jr worked tirelessly in a EFFORT to end segregation and discrimination in America

3. Obama is not GW Bush for making the EFFORT to correct the mistakes of the previous administration that are having such a negative effect on both America and the world.

[Andriy Czarchenko]

One thing I think is being missed in this discussion. Nominations had to be in by 1 Feb 09. So Obama was nominated with less than one month in office? Surely the lunacy of this nomination let alone win is apparent to everyone.

Anyone can be nominated. The nomination deadline isn´t important in any other way than to stop people throwing names around for that year. It´s not some cut-off date to what people have done so far.

[Lany Freelove Cassandra]

Accept the award, give a rousing and important acceptance speech, then give the prize money to a charity of some sort.

And then spend every day working to actually be worthy of the honor.

[Jed o' Tarth]

As for the committee, I agree that this was obviously politically motivated. Could be that it's just refreshing to see a leader who actually -has- a message of hope and peace. This is a rare thing these days.

"In less than a year in office, he has transformed the way we look at ourselves and the world we live in and rekindled hope for a world at peace with itself," ElBaradei said. "He has shown an unshakeable commitment to diplomacy, mutual respect and dialogue as the best means of resolving conflicts."

As for the President, I think it's great for him. It shows a great deal of hope for his presidency and the future of our country. Whether or not he deserves it (depends on who's eyes you are view the world through), it's a darn fine vote of confidence and a huge thing to live up to.

[El-ahrairah]

I'm conflubbergasted, but not really surprised. Well, makes just as much sense as giving it to Kissinger for a peaceful settlement between North and South Vietnam.

[Annelise]

The Right is going to have a field day with this one.

To what end, I wonder? The birthers, the death panels, the school speech, the Olympics, this. People stop listening, you know? For instance, I read in a poll from September.. the percentage of people who think the GOP's opposition to health care reform is political, rather than being bad for the country is at 56% ( 57% of indies).

Rant on I guess, but I don't see them winning any converts with this.

[Ormond]

The following quote (from the Wall Street Journal) shows that this year's committee quite definitely gave the prize as "encouragement for future effort":

Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said the prize often has been used to encourage laureates rather than reward them for their achievements.

"The committee wants to not only endorse but contribute to enhancing that kind of international policy and attitude which [Obama] stands for," said Mr. Jagland, a former Norwegian prime minister, said at a news conference.

He cited the example of Willy Brandt, the West German chancellor who won the prize in 1971. That award, he said, encouraged Mr. Brandt to pursue Ostpolitik, the push to normalize West Germany's relations with the communist bloc. Mr. Brandt was elected chancellor in 1969 and served until 1974.

[shadowbinding shoe]

3. Martin Luther King Jr worked tirelessly in a EFFORT to end segregation and discrimination in America

Maybe there's still some segregation and discrimination now, but Martin Luther King Jr certainly made some giant steps in weakening it.

[WhiteHaven]

I've been away from the news for a couple days and What. The. Suffering. Fuck?

Could they not find a guy who wasn't busy running 2 wars to give the peace prize to? I'm pretty sure my mom is far more deserving as she hasn't had soldiers kill anyone this week. Holy shit.

Don't forget that Pakistan is being bombed, either.

What will happen when he declares war on Iran? Well I guess this picture somes it up, pretty well:

http://www.northernsun.com/images/imagethu...0%288093%29.jpg

It is for the sake of democracy, right? Democracy means peace...so hell yeah he deserved it! So does G.W. Bush btw.

[Annelise]

The following quote (from the Wall Street Journal) shows that this year's committee quite definitely gave the prize as "encouragement for future effort":

Committee Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said the prize often has been used to encourage laureates rather than reward them for their achievements.

"The committee wants to not only endorse but contribute to enhancing that kind of international policy and attitude which [Obama] stands for," said Mr. Jagland, a former Norwegian prime minister, said at a news conference.

He cited the example of Willy Brandt, the West German chancellor who won the prize in 1971. That award, he said, encouraged Mr. Brandt to pursue Ostpolitik, the push to normalize West Germany's relations with the communist bloc. Mr. Brandt was elected chancellor in 1969 and served until 1974.

That does clarify things. I read it and thought, "Heh, no pressure!"

[Swordfish]

WTF?

Way to make the nobel peace prize an utter joke. Seriously.

It's been an utter joke for a long time.

They have politicized it's relevance away.

I can't even really be surprised about it.

I mean, kissinger? Arafat? Al gore?

The only surprising thing to me is that people still put any value in this award.

Makes me wonder who they WOULD have to give it to for some people to stop taking it seriously....

[SwordoftheMorning]

Maybe there's still some segregation and discrimination now, but Martin Luther King Jr certainly made some giant steps in weakening it.

He was one of the leaders the EFFORT to do so. When he was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1964, that effort was not only far from complete, to most it seemed to be still a pipe dream. Cynics could say, he won it for that great speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. But as the committee has stated and proven, time and again. The award is given out as recognition of what the receipient is trying to achieve. The cynical and bordering on ridiculous attacks on the President do nothing but show complete ignorance of the prize and what it's intended for.