Nobel Peace Prize

[Puckstop31]

No, he did not.

No? So walking away from Gorbachev's insanity in Rekjavick in 86 did not close the case?


What did then? If Reagan not willing to back down from "Star Wars" and thus proving that the Soviet Union was economically defunct... What DID win the Cold War?

Seriously... You of all people whould know better than to make a blanket statement with no support.

[blue]

Seriously...

You seriously expected anything of substance?

[RICHARD]

MMMM MMM MMMMM
Михаи́л Серге́евич Горбачёв
With port wine stain on head
Lost the 'war' to Reagan
That's all that needs to be said....

MMMM MMM MMMMM



heheheheheheh....

----------------------------

Everyone is incorrect in my universe.

There is no air on my planet, get off my cloud.


---------------------------

“That’s pretty amazing, winning the Nobel Peace Prize,” Jay Leno said, first out of the box Friday night. “Ironically, his biggest accomplishment as president so far ... winning the Nobel Peace Prize.”

[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.

[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?

[Edwina's Secretary]

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



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?

Gald to see you agree with me!

[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.

[Edwina's Secretary]

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.

Let me start by saying I have been in Europe every year. And never ONCE was I treated by anyone in anyway unpleasant that I thought because of my nationality.

But I seem to remember great disdain for French people because their politicians did not want to join us in George's Folly. Freedom Fries anyone??

Anyone want to refresh my memory...how were Arabic people treated in this country after 9/11???

Glass house...and all that...

[RICHARD]

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.

I guess people who teach need to go back to school and learn manners.

God, just when you think that people can look past politics and hate, they surprise you by acting like FWs.

Lovely...

And the people who (Americans) put up with it and take thae treatment are no better.

Cry me a river and explain that one away?

[Edwina's Secretary]

Does the air ever get too thin up on that high horse?

Honestly...<<shakes head>>

And...by the way...WHERE do you see anything about teachers?

The only profession I see mentioned is diplomats.

Moral outrage doesn't leave too much time for...reading?

[Grace]

I guess people who teach need to go back to school and learn manners.

God, just when you think that people can look past politics and hate, they surprise you by acting like FWs.

Lovely...

And the people who (Americans) put up with it and take thae treatment are no better.

Just what do you expect the American students, hoping for a good grade, to do? This gal is an exceptional student; graduated from the U-M with a double major; now in an internship with the United States State Department. Should she have risked her future because of some foreign prof?

And...by the way...WHERE do you see anything about teachers?

The only profession I see mentioned is diplomats.

Moral outrage doesn't leave too much time for...reading?

Although I didn't specify teacher/educator, Richard is correct. The case I mentioned did involve the professors. They were the big problem for the American students in Austria - giving lower marks to Americans across the board.

Momcat's only mentioned diplomats.