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Please tell me I'm not the only one!
Topic Started: Oct 9 2009, 07:43 AM (82 Views)
Shimkovic	Oct 9 2009, 07:43 AM Post #1
King of the Empire, Prince of the HSR of Shimkovic Posts: 1,369 Group: President Member #75 Joined: April 4, 2008	I surely cannot be the only one to think the Nobel to Obama is a ridiculous and highly-partisan venture?
	Chief Justice, Retired Speaker of the General Assembly "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." ~ Thomas Jefferson


Lhaestaq	Oct 9 2009, 02:44 PM Post #2
... Posts: 2,894 Group: Citizen Member #65 Joined: April 3, 2008	I'm not sure. On the one hand, Obama certainly doesn't deserve an award for lifetime achievement in advancing peace. Even if he might in the future, it's far too early to decide that now. And yes, there's clearly political commentary involved. A lot of people are saying that the decision, in some ways, embodies a rebuke of America's foreign policy for the last eight years and an encouragement of its new direction, rather than a reflection of Obama's accomplishment. But also, after actually looking at the committee's rationale, I think it makes a certain amount of sense. The thing is, the prize tends to be seen as an award to someone for achievement over a lifetime. In reality, it has to be awarded every year. The chair of the committee mentioned having to decide who had done the most "in the previous year" to advance peace. His comparisons to the prizes awarded to Brandt and Gorbachev make a certain amount of sense as well. By that criteria, I don't think it was a bad decision.
	Everything passes away - suffering, pain, blood, hunger, pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will still remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes towards the stars? Why? -Mikhail Bulgakov Economic Left/Right: -8.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -10.00


Bryyo	Oct 10 2009, 10:40 AM Post #3
Ex-Prime Minister, Ex-Supreme Court Justice Posts: 1,364 Group: Co-Founder Member #1 Joined: December 20, 2006	I think Lhaestaq said it well. Sure, it's hard not to be a little skeptical. But the award embodies a recognition of his reshaping American foreign policy and ability to bring people together. After all, the state department put it masterfully when they said "Better to be thrown accolades than shoes."
	%mh%99%mh%


Richard Massey	Oct 11 2009, 08:33 AM Post #4
Proud Conservative Posts: 734 Group: Senator Member #343 Joined: June 2, 2008	I don't have much time, so I'm gonna sum his award up in a sentence. IT WAS BULLCRAP.
	The Chancellor of Fidelia Signed, *Richard Massey* The Chancellor of Fidelia President of the Socialist Commonwealth of Gaudita Justice of the Fidelian Supreme Court Corporal of the Fidelian Defence Force Representative of Gaudita to the Fidelian General Assembly Commander - in - Chief of the Gauditan Military Overseer of the Gauditan Space Program Registered Citizen of Fidelia


Kobold	Oct 11 2009, 10:27 AM Post #5
Oldie but a Goodie Posts: 1,806 Group: Administrator Member #130 Joined: April 10, 2008	Bryyo Oct 10 2009, 10:40 AM I think Lhaestaq said it well. Sure, it's hard not to be a little skeptical. But the award embodies a recognition of his reshaping American foreign policy and ability to bring people together. After all, the state department put it masterfully when they said "Better to be thrown accolades than shoes." this is a good point. and to be honest at least the rest of the world is obviously not hating us as much. I mean surely we are still in the top ten but it shows that people recognize our willingness to be better and i like that. but on the main topic did he deserve it? no probably not but at least he handled it well and didnt go all yay me. it is supposed to be for a lifetime of working for peace...but they have to hand one out every year sooo it's pretty much what has been the biggest force of peace in the world in the last year, and I think Obama has taken some great steps away from the policies that we had and is helping us move forward... he might not deserve the award, I'm sure there is someone who is more deserving but he has already received it and I think they had some justifiable reasons for giving it to him..
	"Common Sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen." --Albert Einstein


Lhaestaq	Oct 11 2009, 02:56 PM Post #6
... Posts: 2,894 Group: Citizen Member #65 Joined: April 3, 2008	Quote: it is supposed to be for a lifetime of working for peace... Actually, that's the common perception, but it's not true. According to the official website, Nobel's will stated the prizes would go "to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind" in their respective areas. I think you can make a very good case for Obama being the person who most advanced peace in the last year, since he's managed to completely overhaul the foreign policy of probably the most influential country in the world. Edited by Lhaestaq, Oct 11 2009, 02:58 PM.
	Everything passes away - suffering, pain, blood, hunger, pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will still remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes towards the stars? Why? -Mikhail Bulgakov Economic Left/Right: -8.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -10.00


Shimkovic	Oct 11 2009, 05:19 PM Post #7
King of the Empire, Prince of the HSR of Shimkovic Posts: 1,369 Group: President Member #75 Joined: April 4, 2008	How did he overhaul foreign policy? By adopting the Bush plan in withdrawing troops from Iraq by 2012? By increasing forces in Afghanistan? By making speeches in Copenhagen, the United Nations, and other nations? He has done very little more than make promises. And considering his nomination was within just 11 days after the inauguration, I have a hard time agreeing that he's done more than anyone else in the past year. This award was based on what he may do more than what he has done and that is a big part of why I disagree with this award.
	Chief Justice, Retired Speaker of the General Assembly "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." ~ Thomas Jefferson


Richard Massey	Oct 12 2009, 08:12 AM Post #8
Proud Conservative Posts: 734 Group: Senator Member #343 Joined: June 2, 2008	Shimkovic Oct 11 2009, 05:19 PM How did he overhaul foreign policy? By adopting the Bush plan in withdrawing troops from Iraq by 2012? By increasing forces in Afghanistan? By making speeches in Copenhagen, the United Nations, and other nations? He has done very little more than make promises. And considering his nomination was within just 11 days after the inauguration, I have a hard time agreeing that he's done more than anyone else in the past year. This award was based on what he may do more than what he has done and that is a big part of why I disagree with this award. Well said, that summed up what I thought. I really don't think he deserves it, WHAT has he done in the 9 months he's been in office that makes him so perfect for the award? Carter didn't get it until he was out of office and he started doing all that humanitarian stuff, whatever you wanna call it.... (I think) I really think, In my opinion, there were plenty of people who deserved it more than Obama.
	The Chancellor of Fidelia Signed, *Richard Massey* The Chancellor of Fidelia President of the Socialist Commonwealth of Gaudita Justice of the Fidelian Supreme Court Corporal of the Fidelian Defence Force Representative of Gaudita to the Fidelian General Assembly Commander - in - Chief of the Gauditan Military Overseer of the Gauditan Space Program Registered Citizen of Fidelia


Erk	Oct 12 2009, 08:24 AM Post #9
Cozy Amongst Friends Posts: 854 Group: Citizen Member #392 Joined: June 10, 2008	Richard Massey Oct 12 2009, 08:12 AM Shimkovic Oct 11 2009, 05:19 PM How did he overhaul foreign policy? By adopting the Bush plan in withdrawing troops from Iraq by 2012? By increasing forces in Afghanistan? By making speeches in Copenhagen, the United Nations, and other nations? He has done very little more than make promises. And considering his nomination was within just 11 days after the inauguration, I have a hard time agreeing that he's done more than anyone else in the past year. This award was based on what he may do more than what he has done and that is a big part of why I disagree with this award. Well said, that summed up what I thought. I really don't think he deserves it, WHAT has he done in the 9 months he's been in office that makes him so perfect for the award? Carter didn't get it until he was out of office and he started doing all that humanitarian stuff, whatever you wanna call it.... (I think) I really think, In my opinion, there were plenty of people who deserved it more than Obama. He didn't deserve it. It would seem the Nobel prize has become a popularity contest.
	Electoral Overawesomer.


Shimkovic	Oct 12 2009, 10:29 AM Post #10
King of the Empire, Prince of the HSR of Shimkovic Posts: 1,369 Group: President Member #75 Joined: April 4, 2008	I wouldn't go that far, Erk. I just think there was an underlying message the Nobel committee (specifically the five members of the Norweigan Parlaiment that decide who wins the Peace Prize) than there should have been. Usually, I don't have a problem with the award winner. Especially when it was for the men who developed micro-loans. But when they do it to send a message, I think the award loses its luster.
	Chief Justice, Retired Speaker of the General Assembly "Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government." ~ Thomas Jefferson


Lhaestaq	Oct 12 2009, 11:08 AM Post #11
... Posts: 2,894 Group: Citizen Member #65 Joined: April 3, 2008	Quote: This award was based on what he may do more than what he has done and that is a big part of why I disagree with this award. He has done some things. In a short time as President, Obama has - off the top of my head - taken steps towards closing Guantanamo (which I'll admit is probably more about sending a message than about practical results), begun talks with Russia on renewing the START, committed to ending the Iraq War by 2011, eased some restrictions on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba, and in general placed a clear emphasis on peaceful talks by renewing diplomatic contact with a number of countries. I think another part of it is a little more subtle than that as well. The rationale for the award seems based partly on sentiment, which is something less tangible, but still very real. There have been clear differences in how the U.S. has interacted with other nations, and foreign countries are responding to that. One clear indication is that we've seen people and organizations marked by vehement opposition to the U.S. in the past - recent notable examples are Hugo Chavez, Hamas, and Fidel Castro - who have expressed approval of Obama in particular, and by way of that, the changes in the U.S.'s foreign policy. Anyways, I'm not saying I necessarily agree with the decision, or that I think Obama has accomplished major steps in the advancement of world peace. I agree that the prize was given partly on the assumption that he will follow through on earlier promises and partly as an encouragement for him to do more to work towards peace. But either way, I do think there's an understandable rationale for the decision. Edited by Lhaestaq, Oct 12 2009, 11:09 AM.
	Everything passes away - suffering, pain, blood, hunger, pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will still remain when the shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes towards the stars? Why? -Mikhail Bulgakov Economic Left/Right: -8.25 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -10.00


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