Nobel Peace Prize

[Edwina's Secretary]

Your prior comment "Interesting to note ...Mr. Huckabee doesn't seem to think there are any people in the middle???" is why I quoted you. As I stated, I do not see middle ground. Either someone is worthy or they aren't. "To be determined if they are worthy" does not work for me.

I traded a couple of for a

My point ....I did not comment on "worthiness" I commented on labeling people as either on the left or on the right.

To your point ...is it not possible to not have an opinion? Or does every thing and every person have to be right or left?

And why should anyone, right, left, or middle, be responsible for explaining the decision of the Nobel prize committee?

[Karen]

I saw a blurb that Pres. Obama won the prize for "inspiring hope at the start of his term" which is something he certainly did do. How people qualify for a Nobel is sometimes a mystery to me anyway.

[Husky_mom]

I have nothing against him.. but he happens to be in my endless list of people I don´t like.. hehe.. nothing particular about that.. some people just go in the list for no reason..

anyway... I thought the prize was achieved by something you DID...I mean it´s a prize isn´t it... prizes are gotten AFTER you do something.. if you RUN a marathon and WIN then you get the trophy.. you don´t get it because you are athletic and you might have won even if you didn´t ran...

I guess many may wonder or even think.. was what I did worth the efforts... could´ve I just sit down and got it like this guy (regardless of his political position he´s just a guy)... you have to EARN it by merits... IMHO

and to the left, right thing.. I too have to admit I believe there is space for middle people.. just like in handwriting.. either you are a leftie or a rightie or you can be ambidextrous ... I see things in all shades of grey and colors not just the extremes..

being an outsider I saw it as a merely diplomatical/political issue... like mentioned Bush wasn´t liked in Europe and this clearly says Obama is.. and the way I see it, it definately degraded merit to those who really deserved that prize and those who have been awarded it in the past..

IMO, and if it were me, I would´ve declined the award, but it´s not me... so.. it´s up to him and his PR people

[Pam]

You did state
Quote:
I like Huckabee's answer. I would like to hear that explanation as well.
But I won't quibble.

I am just glad we agree that a thoughtful response is better than a knee jerk response.

And I would still like to hear that explanation. What has he done? Please don't get me wrong. I am not sitting here stewing over this. On my list of important things this is below the last item on the list. My concern is the glorification of someone who is unproven IMHO and whose agenda going forward remains to be seen.

[Edwina's Secretary]

And I would still like to hear that explanation.

Well then here you go. These are the people to explain it. Not anyone on the left or right (or middle) .

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[RICHARD]

IMO, and if it were me, I would´ve declined the award, but it´s not me... so.. it´s up to him and his PR people

Give the award back, keep the money?

[Pam]

My point ....I did not comment on "worthiness" I commented on labeling people as either on the left or on the right.

To your point ...is it not possible to not have an opinion? Or does every thing and every person have to be right or left?

And why should anyone, right, left, or middle, be responsible for explaining the decision of the Nobel prize committee?

Before your initial comment, people were expressing opinions as to whether they felt he had earned this recognition this early in his term., i.e., what positive things has he done thus far? I was, and still am, of the opinion that there is a lot about this president that remains to be seen. Of course no one is responsible for explaining the decision of the Nobel prize committee. I never said there was.

I guess I should be happy that there are people with no opinion because it means that they are THINKING.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Of course no one is responsible for explaining the decision of the Nobel prize committee. I never said there was.

I guess I should be happy that there are people with no opinion because it means that they are THINKING.

You did state

I like Huckabee's answer. I would like to hear that explanation as well.

But I won't quibble.

I am just glad we agree that a thoughtful response is better than a knee jerk response.

[cassiesmom]

Before your initial comment, people were expressing opinions as to whether they felt he had earned this recognition this early in his term., i.e., what positive things has he done thus far? I was, and still am, of the opinion that there is a lot about this president that remains to be seen. Of course no one is responsible for explaining the decision of the Nobel prize committee. I never said there was.

I guess I should be happy that there are people with no opinion because it means that they are THINKING.

I am thinking ... that I agree with the person who wondered why Obama was chosen over others to receive such a prestigious honor, since he is less than one year into his first term as President and with such a brief political career (Illinois state senator, U.S. senator) preceding that. I wouldn't say he has earned it, but on the other hand maybe his future political career will prove that the committee made a wise decision in awarding it to him.

As for inspiring hope in the American people? Was Dubya really that bad? All I see Obama doing is creating programs that cost billions of dollars and abandoning the promises he made during the Presidential campaign. I'm obviously not his greatest fan.

Some previous Nobel Peace prize recipients ... Kofi Annan; Yasser ARafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin, jointly; Nelson Mandela; the Dalai Lama; Lech Walesa; Desmond Tutu; Elie Wiesel; Mother Teresa; Dag Hammarskjold; Martin Luther King; Dr. Albert Schweitzer; and Jane Addams.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Was Dubya really that bad?

He started wars. Wars that were unnecessary and can probably never be "won."

He told lies to get the American people to support those wars.

He declared "Mission Accomplished" when it clearly was not.

He left this mess for his successor to deal with.

He is responsible for the needless death of over 4,000 young Americans.

It is a peace award.

[Edwina's Secretary]

and who ended it? (I think it rather silly to suggest a non-war was won.)

The list of people who contributed to ending the cold war is as long as your arm. Lech Walesa, the people of Czechslovakia, Pope John Paul II, Gorbachev, just to name a few. Reagan's name can go on the list, but as one of many.

But really is isn't a who that ended the cold war it is a what.

Communism ended the cold war.

Communism failed because communism is a failure.

It doesn't work and it fell in on itself.

I find it strange that there are people who want something or someone else to be responsible for communism collapsing. I guess they think it a viable system?

It is not. It ran its course and Reagan happened to be in the right place at the right time.

And that is no....glo bull!

[momcat]

A little over a year ago, my son was nominated to the International Scholar Laureate Program. In May 2008 he was one of about 60 college students who spent 14 days in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and Venice working directly with diplomats learning the role of diplomacy in international relations. These young folks represented our best and brightest minds. Sadly, they were on the receiving end of intense anti-American sentiment. The citizens of these cities made it clear that the group was not wanted or welcome. The ISLP advisors told the group not to take it personally, Bush was so intensely despised that it was taken out on all Americans.

At a reception with the students and diplomats, my son had a chance to talk one-on-one with a diplomat about the challenges facing the president we would elect the following November. The diplomat told him that it's going to take years to undo the damage done by Bush regarding international relations. The students had the unique opportunity to see world events and problems from the other point of view. Even though the world community had nothing positive to give Bush or his administration our students, while agreeing for the most part, came home with a renewed appreciation for our way of life.

Im not an Obama fan. My vote in November wasn't for Obama, it was against McCain and the unacceptable Republican mindset. Enough lies, indifference, and utter incompetence of the previous 8 years.

I agree there were others more deserving of the prize but ultimately the committee chose Obama for reasons we most likely will never know. Nine months isn't long enough to make any solid determinations about the Obama presidency, but he has made some inroads to improving international relations whether you agree with his methods or not. I'm very proud of the fact that the award came to the USA. This is something that will go to his credibility around the world. I hope we can accept that here at home.

[RICHARD]

The ISLP advisors told the group not to take it personally, Bush was so intensely despised that it was taken out on all Americans.

.

And I always thought that people would be able to discern the difference between politicians and regular old folks.

This really pi$$es me off because this paints Europeans in an effing bad light. The people from Europe that I have met are pretty cool. It's the effers that treat all Americans like crap because they didn't like the president?

Please.

I have more faith in the planet than I am giving to the AHs that pass BAD BEHAVIOR off as a dislike for a politician.

So, If I decide to scratch any European cars in a parking lot because of World War II I will get a pass for bad manners and behavior?

times Infinity!

[Grace]

A little over a year ago, my son was nominated to the International Scholar Laureate Program. In May 2008 he was one of about 60 college students who spent 14 days in Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and Venice working directly with diplomats learning the role of diplomacy in international relations. These young folks represented our best and brightest minds. Sadly, they were on the receiving end of intense anti-American sentiment. The citizens of these cities made it clear that the group was not wanted or welcome. The ISLP advisors told the group not to take it personally, Bush was so intensely despised that it was taken out on all Americans.

Our neighbor's daughter had a similar experience. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship a few years ago, and spent one year in Austria getting her Master's degree.

She, and the other Americans, received a fair amount of disdain - because of the President at the time. She said it was a very uncomfortable experience.

[Puckstop31]

and who ended it? (I think it rather silly to suggest a non-war was won.)

Tell that to the "stars on the wall" at CIA headquarters. Or the people who died in Korea, Vietnam, Czechoslovakia in 67', etc...

The list of people who contributed to ending the cold war is as long as your arm. Lech Walesa, the people of Czechslovakia, Pope John Paul II, Gorbachev, just to name a few. Reagan's name can go on the list, but as one of many.

But really is isn't a who that ended the cold war it is a what.

Communism ended the cold war.

Communism failed because communism is a failure.

It doesn't work and it fell in on itself.

I find it strange that there are people who want something or someone else to be responsible for communism collapsing. I guess they think it a viable system?

It is not. It ran its course and Reagan happened to be in the right place at the right time.

It fell on itself, sure enough. Of course, Ronald Regan was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Ending price controls on domestic oil had nothing to do with it. (Oil prices dropped because of this, signifcantly. Oil was a major revenue source for the Soviet Union.) Coupled to the fact that he called Gorbachev's bluff... Thus requiring the Soviet Union to spend money on things it could not afford. What if Carter had won another term? Hmmmm?