I can’t read the guy’s mind, of course, but after the initial, natural response of “Yeah, I got it goin’ on,” I’m thinking this is what President Obama must’ve really been thinking upon hearing that he’d won the Nobel Peace Prize:
Dang it! It’s a great honor and all, but I really don’t need this right now. I’ve got wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — not to mention nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea. Man, don’t they know I’ve still got health-care reform and the economic downturn to figure out at home? And on top of that, this will just be more fodder for all the haters who want to see me fail no matter what. Couldn’t they have put me on the list for 2017?
Well, at least that’s what I would’ve been thinking if I were in his shoes.
I also was shocked to hear the news this morning that Obama had won the Peace Prize. Clearly, he has yet to accomplish anything concrete that would naturally point to his selection. However, I do agree in part with Fareed Zakaria’s take over at CNN.com that this is more of an award to America — a challenge and encouragement to us (and the world) to pursue the high rhetoric of hope and international cooperation that Obama has advocated.
What’s more, the award is also a recognition of what happened in the U.S. last November when we elected Obama. It’s a salute to America’s ability to finally rise up to the ideals of equality, freedom, and strength through diversity that it was founded on. I think if our country is truly serious about living up to those ideals, we will ultimately prove the Nobel committee members to have been correct in their decision, whether we like Obama or not.
I agree that it’s probably more “a recognition of what happened in the U.S. last November when we elected Obama.” He probably is also keenly aware of his critics and is probably purposely playing it down.
I know this isn’t going to go over well, but things like this are the very reason why people hate affirmative action so much.
The Nobel Peace prize is historically given for accomplishment, not potential of accomplishment; and is usually given to individuals, not countries. One more reason detractors can say Obama, and most/many African Americans get a free pass.
I’m still proud of him. And I don’t care what the critics say.
I think there were others were were more deserving, but I also don’t believe this was a bad decision. Obama’s presence has been deeply felt in international politics. I believe many Americans do not understand this – we are perhaps to insular. Other countries celebrated when Obama was elected and he has had high approval rating internationally. Those things just haven’t happened in contemporary American politics.
Also, although I may not agree that is should be used this way; the Nobel Prize is often a symbolic and/or political award, that is not new to controversy (Jimmy Carter, Yasser Arafat, Woodrow Wilson etc). I personally don’t see the connection to Affirmative Action. Obama’s race was a tertiary at best. His politically moderate demeanor – even if policies lean one way – and his engagement of multilateralism is what was/is most attractive.
I was shocked to hear that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s especially surprising since President Obama is engaged in wars on two fronts. It appears to me that this award serves two purposes. First of all, it was a slap to President Bush. President Bush is not well-liked by the international community because he went it alone and the folks who control the Nobel prizes are about as far-left as you can get. Secondly it was to say to America that you’re back in our good graces. I hate both reasons. President Bush, like him or not, kept America safe and that’s his first and foremost job, forget what the international community thinks! What I hate even more is that it appears to me that it’s also an attempt to influence President Obama and his policies. The way to stay in our good graces is to continue doing what you’re doing. I pray he doesn’t fall for it!
To clarify-I’m not saying there is any actual connection between Obama’s race and his receiving the award, I’m talking about perception. The potential perception is that here’s another African-American/minority getting something they don’t really deserve. Just like with affirmative action, this can be about the perception of race as a factor, not necessarily the reality of it.