On Obama

[rikoshi]

Barack Obama has won the 2009 Nobel Peace Price. There's been a bit of a kerfluffle about this, especially regarding whether or not he "deserves" it or not (interestingly enough, much of it from the left wing; I think the country's current political climate has instilled people with an instinct that being too fond of Obama is a bad thing, but I

Comments

[mtext]

"Winning it in no way implies that the person has to have had made some permanent and indelible change to the concept of 'peace' as humankind knows it or anything like that."

Considering they also gave one to Henry "Sexy-Power" Kissinger, truer words were never spoken. Or typed. Whatever!

[zapnut]

I still think the real reason he won it is because of how chill he is :D

Like seriously, I heard licking his face is like taking 1000 natural antidepressants (with no side effects).

[quantheory]

I felt like the award was very much given to increase support for Obama, rather than because he had definitively achieved anything particularly great.

Then when I looked into some of the reasons they gave for awarding him the prize, I realized that not only was I correct, but that no one at Nobel thinks that's a problem, because they see it as part of the main purpose of the prize. So now I feel better about it. It was still very shocking though. If he doesn't accomplish much more than he has already I would be very disappointed (under a year so far out of, let's be honest, almost certainly eight).

[teirandragon]

It's part of the misunderstood nature of the peace prize I think. They give it to people who accomplish things yes, but they also give it out to people who could accomplish more if they had money and prestige attached to their name.

That's why there is a 1.5 million dollar prize awarded with each medal, so that the person who gets it can really do something. Look at what giving Carter the prize did. He's enjoyed enhanced reputation and visibility in his works ever since winning.

Now granted, Obama doesn't need the cash, since he's the sitting President, but the international standing is something very meaningful. (and well a charity is going to get the money so that will help someone too.)

[bucktowntiger]

Now granted, Obama doesn't need the cash, since he's the sitting President,...

Just thought I'd correct you: the $1.5 million prize is equivalent to forty-five months of Obama's salary (basically, damn near his entire first term). It is a significant amount of money.

Having said that, yes the Obamas have much more money than just that salary. But that's not because he's the sitting President. Important distinction.

[teirandragon]

This is true, the Presidential salary is not high. I feel that is a good thing, since there should be other reasons then money to take the job. But it's not the salary which ensures Obama, or any other President, would not need the money associated with a Nobel Prize

[bohor]

It's amazing that people are blaming him for winning this, as if he awarded it to himself. It feels like being back in High School, except the people who haven't learned anything are aren't playing football.

[kymri]

I think it's a good thing that he has won the award: it's a bit of international acknowledgement that -- Hey, look: the US isn't just about bombing brown people anymore! Because for a while it was looking like Bush's plan was to find as many third world nations to invade and bomb as he could. Second-world nations were eligible as well for consideration if they could be bombed back to third-world status.

Also, I believe that part of the rationale behind the award is that even if Obama's accomplishments haven't been phenomenal (yet; he's not even 1/4th done with his first term and I'm hoping he'll get two terms), his stated and acted upon intentions are worthy.