Comments on: Obama’s Nobel and the glory of good intentions http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/ Think. It ain't illegal yet... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:16:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kyle http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72333 Kyle Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:36:52 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72333 Henry Kissinger has one, this prize has been a joke for decades. Henry Kissinger has one, this prize has been a joke for decades.

]]> By: r.elizabeth.m http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72328 r.elizabeth.m Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:03:31 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72328 I second Farley's comment I second Farley’s comment

]]> By: jeff watson http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72324 jeff watson Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:46:16 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72324 Lex, I know he shared it with Rabin. I suspect that he needed the cash to keep his christian wife and kids comfortably ensconced in their pied-ai-tierre on Avenue Foch in Paris. Jeff Lex, I know he shared it with Rabin. I suspect that he needed the cash to keep his christian wife and kids comfortably ensconced in their pied-ai-tierre on Avenue Foch in Paris.

Jeff

]]> By: Wendy Redal http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72321 Wendy Redal Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:28:40 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72321 FYI, the "Anonymous" comment in #8 was mine -- I inadvertently hit submit before I'd entered my name. FYI, the “Anonymous” comment in #8 was mine — I inadvertently hit submit before I’d entered my name.

]]> By: karen marie http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72320 karen marie Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:22:51 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72320 This is just the weirdest thing really. I am astonished at how roundly this is being panned, on both sides of the political divide. So what if the Nobel Committee is trying to influence US foreign policy. This country obviously needs a bit of guidance. Encouraging the president to live up to the world's new hope is no bad thing. That the prize is being awarded for promise rather than accomplishment speaks volumes to the desperate situation humankind finds itself in at this time. This is just the weirdest thing really. I am astonished at how roundly this is being panned, on both sides of the political divide.

So what if the Nobel Committee is trying to influence US foreign policy. This country obviously needs a bit of guidance. Encouraging the president to live up to the world’s new hope is no bad thing.

That the prize is being awarded for promise rather than accomplishment speaks volumes to the desperate situation humankind finds itself in at this time.

]]> By: Farley http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72318 Farley Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:28:50 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72318 Perhaps the Nobel commission just likes seeing heads explode. Perhaps the Nobel commission just likes seeing heads explode.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72317 Anonymous Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:16:42 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72317 I read this assessment of Obama's Nobel by Peter Sawtell of Eco-Justice Ministries that squares with Lex's perception of why it was awarded (though it ultimately favors Obama's receiving the award) -- and it has not mitigated my discomfort over the Prize being used as a political tool: "The 2009 Peace Prize, apparently, affirms a transformation of US leadership style in the world. The timing of this fall's announcement from Oslo might be seen as both an encouragement of the Obama approach, and a backhanded anti-Nobel to the recently-departed Bush administration. Obama merits the prize, not for clear accomplishments in his few months in office, but for a dramatic turnabout in values and strategy. Diplomacy is the first choice for action, and multiculturalism recognizes the authenticity of conflicting value systems. The Obama administration seems to take seriously the reality of a global community and the rightful claims of future generations. The Nobel committee has affirmed those approaches as constructive ways to peace -- and the prize puts pressure on President Obama to stay that course." The notion that it should be employed an an instrument of political pressure evacuates it of its prestige and potency. Although I want to do everything I can to encourage President Obama, I am disappointed in this premature decision. I read this assessment of Obama’s Nobel by Peter Sawtell of Eco-Justice Ministries that squares with Lex’s perception of why it was awarded (though it ultimately favors Obama’s receiving the award) — and it has not mitigated my discomfort over the Prize being used as a political tool:

“The 2009 Peace Prize, apparently, affirms a transformation of US leadership style in the world. The timing of this fall’s announcement from Oslo might be seen as both an encouragement of the Obama approach, and a backhanded anti-Nobel to the recently-departed Bush administration. Obama merits the prize, not for clear accomplishments in his few months in office, but for a dramatic turnabout in values and strategy. Diplomacy is the first choice for action, and multiculturalism recognizes the authenticity of conflicting value systems. The Obama administration seems to take seriously the reality of a global community and the rightful claims of future generations. The Nobel committee has affirmed those approaches as constructive ways to peace — and the prize puts pressure on President Obama to stay that course.”

The notion that it should be employed an an instrument of political pressure evacuates it of its prestige and potency. Although I want to do everything I can to encourage President Obama, I am disappointed in this premature decision.

]]> By: Lex http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72315 Lex Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:48:24 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72315 Jeff, Arafat shared that prize with Rabin. I think he could have said no. He could list the accomplishments of the few other nominees we know about. He could still say that he's "humbled and honored" and he could still use the event as a "call to action". And then he could say that he will only accept the award when it reflects his accomplishments. Instead he'll put on a tux and accept the award. Meanwhile more than 150,000 residents of Detroit (his constituents) will have their utilities shut off this year and be left to face the coming winter without heat or electricity. Children will still lose legs to landmines. Etc. Etc. Etc. Orwell and Gogol make quite the pair... Jeff, Arafat shared that prize with Rabin.

I think he could have said no. He could list the accomplishments of the few other nominees we know about. He could still say that he’s “humbled and honored” and he could still use the event as a “call to action”. And then he could say that he will only accept the award when it reflects his accomplishments.

Instead he’ll put on a tux and accept the award. Meanwhile more than 150,000 residents of Detroit (his constituents) will have their utilities shut off this year and be left to face the coming winter without heat or electricity. Children will still lose legs to landmines. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Orwell and Gogol make quite the pair…

]]> By: Tom Shortell http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72314 Tom Shortell Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:40:06 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72314 This is so outrageous, I'm betting Al Gore just looked in the mirror and realized his Nobel Peace Prize is a sham, too. Like Lex, I'd like to see the Nobel Peace Prize winner actually usher in PEACE of some sort. Even Arafat had done something in laying out the bare beginnings of a two-state solution in Israel. I was only 8 at the time, so maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the award went to Arafat and Rabin in hopes it would encourage them to stick with the peace process. Granted that's a political manipulation, but at least they had something to show for it in 1994. This is so outrageous, I’m betting Al Gore just looked in the mirror and realized his Nobel Peace Prize is a sham, too.

Like Lex, I’d like to see the Nobel Peace Prize winner actually usher in PEACE of some sort. Even Arafat had done something in laying out the bare beginnings of a two-state solution in Israel. I was only 8 at the time, so maybe someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the award went to Arafat and Rabin in hopes it would encourage them to stick with the peace process. Granted that’s a political manipulation, but at least they had something to show for it in 1994.

]]> By: Ubertramp http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72313 Ubertramp Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:26:55 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72313 I lost respect for this prize years ago and this one hasn't changed my mind. He was only in office for a month when the nominations went in. I DO think he was kinda screwed either way when he got the call this morning. He couldn't say no, but saying yes was ridiculous. The way I see it, this was a blatant attempt to influence US Foreign policy, not a recognition of accomplishment. I lost respect for this prize years ago and this one hasn’t changed my mind. He was only in office for a month when the nominations went in. I DO think he was kinda screwed either way when he got the call this morning. He couldn’t say no, but saying yes was ridiculous. The way I see it, this was a blatant attempt to influence US Foreign policy, not a recognition of accomplishment.

]]> By: Darrell http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72307 Darrell Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:56:33 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72307 You guys are missing the point. He won this becasue he brought a cop and a black professor together for beer. You guys are missing the point. He won this becasue he brought a cop and a black professor together for beer.

]]> By: CWMackowski http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72304 CWMackowski Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:49:10 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72304 "The prize has been awarded on hope." Well, hope IS audacious, after all. “The prize has been awarded on hope.” Well, hope IS audacious, after all.

]]> By: whythawk http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72303 whythawk Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:31:12 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72303 The UN Human Rights Council and the Nobel Peace Prize - George Orwell would be sobbing... The UN Human Rights Council and the Nobel Peace Prize – George Orwell would be sobbing…

]]> By: jeff watson http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/10/09/the-glory-of-good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-72301 jeff watson Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:06:26 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=11913#comment-72301 If Arafat should win one,, why not Obama? Jeff If Arafat should win one,, why not Obama?

Jeff

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