Friday, October 9, 2009

Alfred Nobel & His Fiendish Prize

So President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize for "giving the world hope for a better future". Wait, have I missed something? Is Democracy established in Iraq? Has peace broken out in Afghanistan? Have Iran and North Korea abandoned their nuclear programs? Have Israel and the Arab world declared their undying love for one another? 

President Obama is in the tenth month of his presidency, and other than running up the national debt of the United States by a couple of trillion dollars, he has accomplished little. I'm sorry therefore, but I find that giving a Nobel who has yet to actually accomplish anything of consequence says more about the Nobel committee than it does about our current president. 

Add to that those previously awarded to Al Gore for bringing questionable science to the world's attention, the award given to terrorist leader Yasser Arafat, and that of the Secretary General of the less than useless United Nations Kofi Annan; and I think that you can safely say that this completely discredits the Nobel Peace Prize. 

Never has so much fuss been been made for so little accomplishment. I am reminded of the quote from George Bernard Shaw, 

"I can forgive Nobel for having invented dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Peace Prize".

5 comments:

Roman said...

From my jaundiced eyes, the largest factor in President Obama winning the Nobel Prize is that he is not George W. Bush.

Good intentions from a leftist seems to be the primary qualification.

In recent years the prize has been devalued. Yasser Arafat, Al Gore winning, just to name a few, are my examples.

Too bad, the inventor of dynamite may be disappointed to the levels his legacy has fallen.

Timothy W Higgins said...

Roman,

First Miss America, now this....

How will civilization survive?

Roland Hansen said...

Regardless of all else, it is my perspective that after the past several years the USA once again has more of a positive stature and respect throughout the world. I realize some may disagree; but, I really see this whole thing as a positive for the United States and I believe all Americans should be proud of this honor.

I think it is time for Americans to be united in a positive voice rather than divisive, especially given the nature of this specific event. Frankly, I fail to understand the political slings and arrows being cast on the award of a PEACE prize.

Timothy W Higgins said...

Roland,

On this one, I have to respectfully disagree with you. The president was nominated for this prize two weeks after taking office, making such nomination speculative at best. As for our positive stature, it appears that it can only be accomplished by running around the world apologizing for being us; while still promising to maintain the peace in areas around the world no one else wants to spend their blood and wealth on.

I am happy to show pride for Americans winning awards earned from hard work and sacrifice. Show me some here and I will celebrate with you.

Hooda Thunkit (Dave Zawodny) said...

Tim,

Tis a puzzlement, this one.


Kinda makes the "prize" seem a little less prestigious somehow...