2009 Nobel Peace Prize for Barack Obama!

[Puckstop31]

Well, it also seems early to me, but I figure the prize was meant to be some kind of encouragement, and a political statement. Sounds like even the White House was surprised. Can't wait to hear Obama's speech, which will be aired on tv in less than 30 minutes.

Kirsten

It has to be this... And don't ya think that cheapens the value of the award? Especially when people like Mother Theresa, Desmond Tutu, etc have been given the award? You know, people who actually DID something?

[Kirsten]

It has to be this... And don't ya think that cheapens the value of the award? Especially when people like Mother Theresa, Desmond Tutu, etc have been given the award? You know, people who actually DID something?

Well, yes, I know what you mean, and I agree it could be seen this way. Looks like the Nobel commitee saw it in a different way. As chairman Thorbjoern Jagland has stated, things like that (giving the prize to someone who's still in the process of doing something) have been done in the past, like when German chancellor Willy Brand got the prize in 1971, or Mikhail Gorbachev. Like them, Pres. Obama is perceived as someone who gives people hope.

BTW, I saw Obama's statement, and maybe it's just me, but I got the impression he was not too happy about this himself, at least not at this point.

Kirsten