Top 3 Reasons Obama Shouldn’t Have Won The Nobel Peace Prize
This morning, the world received the surprising news that President Barack Obama has been awarded the Novel Peace Prize “for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” While this is undoubtedly a proud moment for the president and for the nation, did Obama really merit this honor? Perhaps not. Here are three reasons why President Obama shouldn’t have won the Nobel Peace Prize.
1) He hasn’t accomplished anything yet. It’s certainly true that President Obama has raised the international profile of the United States, and that’s wonderful and important. But he’s done that primarily by a) not being George W. Bush and b) by giving a few key speeches. Should the Nobel Prize Committee really be in the business of rewarding people for existing and talking? That seems like an awfully low standard. He’s working toward spreading peace in the world, to be sure, but this isn’t third grade – the President of the United States should not get a gold star and an A+ just for trying. What happened to rewarding people for the actual fruits of their labor?
2) This moment could have been saved for later. It’s entirely possible – even likely – that later in his life, President Obama will have substantial and tangible results to show for his presidency. Past winners such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Al Gore, and Mother Theresa have been awarded the prize after dedicating their entire careers to their respective causes: racial justice, combating climate change, and fighting world hunger. Rewarding a lifetime of toil is a much more worthy motivation for awarding a Nobel Peace Prize than simply wishing to acknowledge someone’s effort before they’ve had a chance to make a real impact. Was it really so urgent that Obama receive this award now, nine months into his presidency? This prize would have been a great deal more meaningful if he had won it after decades of hard work.
3) Idleness should not be encouraged. It would be very unfortunate indeed if President Obama took this award as a sign that he’s doing a great job and should plow ahead in the same manner. Thus far, a whole lot as been said – about health care, closing Guantanamo, sorting out Afghanistan, equal rights for gay Americans, etc. – and very little has gotten done. And before anyone trots out the old “He’s only been president 3 months/6 months/9 months, give the man a chance!” rallying cry, let me remind you: 9 months is close to a quarter of a presidential term, and he is by no means guaranteed a second one. What’s more, he can only count on strong Democratic majorities in Congress for another year; there’s no telling what will happen in 2010’s midterm elections. The man doesn’t have the luxury of time, so he needs to get serious about his agenda and hop to it. Giving Obama an award right now doesn’t push him any closer to doing so.
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AND BY THE WAY I NEVER VOTED BEFORE IN MYLIFE UNTIL NOW AND YOU KNOW WHO GOT MY VOTE PRESIDENT OBAMA-THERE IS SOME CHANGE FOR YOUR A$$-21 YEARS-I COULD HAVE VOTED BUT,NEVER DID-UNTIL NOW. I SAW MORE THAN A BLACK MAN OR A MAN OF COLOR-I SAW CHANGE…IN-WHICH WE NEEDED. SO I SAY MR.PRESIDENT OBAMA EARNED MORE THAN THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE BUT,MY VOTE AND MY RESPECT AND HE GOT ALL 3. CHANGE IS GOOOOOOOOOD-YOU NEED TO PASS IT ON.
ASHTON LATTIMORE-YOU SHOULD SLAP,THE FU*K OUT YOURSELF FOR WRITING THIS BULLSH*T. YOU MAY HAVE GAVE THE COVER REASON WHY PRESIDENT OBAMA-SHOULDN’T HAVE WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE AND HERE IS THE REAL REASON…HE IS BLACK. YOU GOT THE 3 RIGHT BUT,WHAT YOU REALLY MEANT WAS 3 WORDS WHY THE OBAMA SHOULDN’T HAVE WON THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. IF ALL YA’LL WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD BUT,I DON’T WANT TO WORK WITH A BLACK MAN WHO IS PRESIDENT,TELLING ME-WHAT TO DO A$$ES SOMEWHERE AND SIT THE FU*K DOWN. YA’LL KEEP THROWING STONES AND POINTING FINGERS BUT,I SEE THE 3 THATS POINTING BACK AT YOUR DUMBA$$. SO-INSTEAD OF THROWING STONES AT PRESIDENT OBAMA GET OFF YOUR A$$ AND HELP HIM MAKE CHANGE,BY WORKING TOGETHER-WITH HIM.
PEACE – THE ABILITY (IN MY MIND) TO WORK TOGETHER, COME TO TOGETHER, CRY TOGETHER, SHARE TOGETHER, WITH THE SAME INTEREST AND INTENT IN MIND. Working as a volunteer with the Democratic Committee in VA showed me that those who volunteered where willing to support a man who wanted nothing more than for a world of people to come together in a comman cause. I remember WHITE people from other areas of the city, even from other STATES coming to Portsmouth, VA to ask people,OR remind people to VOTE. With hope these volunteers (including myself)wanted people to come together, paying no attention to race, gender, sexuality, they CAME for hope, for peace. Seeing that, seeing people cry for hope, cry for peace, cry for a change made myself, a then 49 year old woman, want to feel that same joy of hope. So many wanted that hope, that peace, other countries in the WORLD wanted peace, they believe that he must have brought forth peace to unite people. People who had no hope, no faith, found no purpose in our country came together because they wanted to believe again. Your explanation to me is ridiculous – 1. A person should not get credit for trying – HELLO, HE ACCOMPLISHED. HE ACCOMPLISHED! 2. He should have waited until later to receive the award. Yet, if Hilary would have accomplish what President Obama did on her 1ST attempt – and was given the award – would you have said – she doesn’t deserve an award for bringing a country together. 3. I never expected when our new president came into office that anything HE would have wanted to accomplish woould have taken 3/6/9/12,18 months to accomplish. WE HAVE A NATION OF PEOPLE AT ODDS THAT HE WAS VOTED ON IN THE 1ST PLACE, therefore anything he would want to do was going to be a battle before the war is won. RMEMBER OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM. I just feel totally your reasoning is foolish – and I guarantee you DID NOT GET OUT NOT A SINGLE DAY – ASKING PEOPLE TO VOTE.
BESIDES TELL ME – WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY THAT GAVE YOU AN AWARD OF HONOR
Hasn’t done anything! WTF! He has shown the world that America is not just into Bombing countries. Congrats Mr.President!
very weak opinions
Amazing how we never rate, but ANYTHING Jewish or White does….Hmmmmmm
Just what the hell has Oblahblah done to merit the Nobel?
well yeah .. Morally speaking.. everyone come together….
I surely agree with glaxy, bring closeness rather than division
I see the 3 reasons he shouldn’t where longer then 5 reasons why he should…lol
I’m usually the last to bring up a race card. But Obama’s vicotory in itself is seen as an “accomplishment.” To the Apolitical americans and non-americans he represents new hope, in there hearts and souls. To black americans,like myself, who never voted and lost faith a long time ago, he represents new hope. That’s an accomplishment. Bush has done so much (whether he wanted it or not)to divide the world and put a huge strain on our friendship with our closest alies, and not so close alies. Obama’s elections and vision has mended those ties both politically and Morally. That’s an accomplishment. His message as perceived by the world is: When there is a problem we will think it through 1st, not shoot and ask questions later.
Sure to us americans (ca. 300 milion) He hasn’t done much, But to the other 6 billion 200 million, he has done alot, just by being elected.
Just because we are the strongest nations, it doesn’t mean that 4 1/2 continents opinions don’t count. They know more than what we give them credit for. Former presidents have given us this Bellicose image; Obama’s mere election is changing all that.
Yes, this Honor was bestowed upon him by the rest of the world. IT has spoken and accepted his foreign policy. Most likely there saying: you have a good leader in office, but many of you don’t see it, but we, the rest of the world, Do.
I have seen many ill-written article
but Ashton Lattimore, i couldn’t agree with you even more on point 3. I do support Obama by the way. The correct way is to pass it for now.