Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize: A Word From Norway
Oct 10th, 2009 | 15 responses
We have seen reactions from just about everywhere in the world on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to president Obama.
How about from Norway where its Parliament appoints the Nobel Committee that selects the Laureate for the Peace Prize?
Yesterday, the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen presented a Norwegian view.
In “A Bold Peace Prize,” translated at Watching America (watchingamewrica.com), the author, Ivar A. Iversen, says that “Obama’s peace prize could be difficult to defend in the coming months.”
While stating that there are certainly arguments for the award, and recognizing it as “symbolic” and “forward-looking,” the author also worries about how the award will be seen when Obama makes certain decisions that “may not look so good in relation to the will of Nobel.”
Iversen lists several such concerns and concludes:
The Nobel Peace Prize can give Obama’s work more momentum. But one cannot deny that it will be more of a problem when facing domestic opposition and opinion.
This is without a doubt a very bold award. It could prove to be forward-looking. But it could also be difficult to defend in the months ahead.
An interesting view from Norway.
Note: The Nobel Peace Prize is the only Nobel Prize not presented in Stockholm, Sweden.
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15 Responses to “Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize: A Word From Norway”
That's why you have to acknowledge what he's already done. And that's a lot. But it's mostly behind closed doors so you have to go on faith. Other Nobel winners went on to live normal lives with ups and downs not necessarily reflective of what Nobel wanted. This would not set Obama apart. His good deeds are in the past tense and most likely also in the future tense as well.
” His good deeds are in the past tense and most likely also in the future tense as well.”
Good point, Silhouette.
In fact,
“Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which recognize completed scientific or literary accomplishment, the Nobel Peace Prize may be awarded to persons or organizations that are in the process of resolving a conflict or creating peace.” [Wikipedia]
Dorian
He has yet to do anything, other than make liberals Feel Better. This was another Not Bush award.
It is only self-diminishing for anyone to pathetically attempt (and fail) to rationalize or otherwise try to defend this award. Even (more normal) leftists are puzzled to embarrassed, or actually angry given that people who have done things or constituted some real political statement of substance (like the Chinese dissidents) were shallowly sacrificed on the PC altar.
Poll the Norwegians and I bet they would like to call back those judges.
Accepting this premature award, although he did it graciously, was a mistake (especially politically ).
He could have had a far greater Ghandiesque moment and avoided all the criticism he will garner from the right and the far left by gracefully declining. I don't think his advisers are too swift.
I think without a doubt the award was made, at least in part, to honor the American people who voted to pull back from the disastrous foreign and economic policies of the previous eight years. Friends of mine, Germans, Brits, Oz, Swiss, Austrian, Chechs, Canadians and Chinese, without exception, congratulated me and the US when Obama won. The overwhelming sentiment was that the world needs rational leadership in and from the US.
I agree with John McCain. It makes me proud of my President and extra proud to be an American.
Could it be that you and your friends are a gazing into the future and merely cheering a NON-Bush award?
What about the person that did do something for world peace and was pushed out by the judges?
“I agree with John McCain. It makes me proud of my President and extra proud to be an American.”
I second those feelings, just as I was proud that our President went to bat for America on trying to get the 2016 Olympic Games for America, and I will not celebrate the fact that America was not successful.
Thanks for your comments,
Dorian
I wonder if that was the first time you ever agreed with McCain.
dduck12-I think many agree with McCain a good percentage of the time just as they do Obama, such is often the case with moderates. Moderates also see not everything is about points and sometimes you just have to allow the other side a win. To me this is not a single “sides” win but a win for the US foreign policy over the next few years because it adds to the US clout in certain regions. The only way to turn this into one sides win and another sides loss is to continue to try to tear it down but that does seem to be the path that some have chosen to take.
“I think without a doubt the award was made, at least in part, to honor the American people who voted to pull back from the disastrous foreign and economic policies of the previous eight years.”
Well, the Prize has been a blatant anti-Bush idiocy before, and certainly was this time. As to the American people, as I've written, this Prize was mis-directed; given the actual timing of the decision, the American Voter should be the recipient, for voting a black American into the Presidency (the relevent question to the feminists now being, Would the award be given if Hillary Clinton has been elected, instead, or is Obama personality cult and idolatry too much in effect here, too?). As I also have written, it's still not too late for Time Lite to select the US Voter as “Person of the Year” to properly honor him and her.
dduck12:
Actually, I have agreed with John McCain quite often. For example, on his principled position on torture and more recently on his/his campaign staff distancing himself/themselves from Palin.
Good for you. I agree a lot with Obama's platitudes. I just don't think he and his advisers are practical and street wise enough.
dduck12-Yet even in your compliments you insult him, I think the difference may be that many people “like” Obama and McCain as people. and then agree with them on some things but disagree on others. From your condescension I gather you hold little but hatred of Obama for some reason.
Almost right, are you a shrink? I hate smart people doing dumb things. I “hated” McCain for selecting Palin. I “hated” the sitting down for a beer stunt. I hate gun nuts and am pro-choice but greatly respect pro-lifers. I hate Wall street and big bank shenanigans but hate ill-conceived over regulation
I hate the “devil is in the details” result that both parties most times wind up in. I was glad Obama won because his main rival gave me nightmares. I also happen to like him, just not the way he is trying to implement too many programs. I would like him better if he used a rifle instead of a shotgun (no analogy intended).
PS, I'm a sore loser.
Why the Republican right could not get a Nobel Peace prize: Because there are naked people on the Back.
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medals/