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Publisher's News Analysis: One Hundred & Twenty Awardees; Still No Peace!
- By Roy Douglas Malonson
- Published 10/21/2009
- Editorial and Opinion
- Unrated
Roy Douglas Malonson
Roy D. Malonson is publisher of the African-American News&Issues.
View all articles by Roy Douglas Malonson
In 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his last will and testament, giving the largest share of his fortune to a series of prizes, which would be known as the Nobel Prizes. According to his will, one part was dedicated to “the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”. Every since The Norwegian Nobel Committee decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 should go to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples, a debate over whether or not he deserved it has raged between pundits around the world, but mostly here in America.
The Taliban, of all people, for example, condemned the decision saying that Obama has “not taken a single step towards peace in Afghanistan”. However, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, congratulated Obama, calling the announcement “appropriate”. The decision to confer the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama has not been received well in Pakistan, especially because of the US strategy to expand its presence there.
The unpopular war in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, and the endless missile strikes seems to be working against the Obama Administration and causing a rise in anti-American sentiments. According to a recent survey, about 80 percent of Pakistanis are against their government’s decision to support the US operation against militants based inside the country’s boundaries. Rush Limbaugh, the de facto Republican voice said, “Something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about and that is he doesn’t deserve the award.”
Perennial Obama basher Glenn Beck says Obama doesn’t deserve the prize, but the Tea Party protesters do. Obama said he is “surprised and deeply humbled” after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009, less than a year after taking office. The Republican token Black, Michael Steele said, “The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?’
It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain—President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”
President Obama said he did “not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize”. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 90 times to 120 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2009 – 97 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations. I find it strange that some people think that Obama could do in nine months what hasn’t been done in over a century of Nobel Peace Prizes.
By the way, have you noticed that most of the time, Obama’s enemies say he hasn’t done anything in nine months, emphasis on nine months being a long time, but now they say nine months is too short of a time to award him the Nobel Peace Prize? Regardless, if the objective of the nomination is peace ... then why are there still wars all around the globe? I mean, if that’s truly the determining factor, then no one should ever get the award because the world is not at peace.
I agree with Glenn Smith who stated, “That means all the laureates — 96 individuals and 20 organizations — were either unaccomplished or simple failures, at least by the lights of Obama’s critics.” One thing we do know for certain, the Republicans’ beloved George W. Bush, didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize and unless his ideology changed somewhere down the road—he never will. I do have an idea that will probably fit in with character.
Since he once owned a Major League Baseball team, investing $600,000 and netting $15 million when he sold his share, perhaps he and Rush can put together enough money to buy a National Football League team and rename them the “Lily Whites”.
The Taliban, of all people, for example, condemned the decision saying that Obama has “not taken a single step towards peace in Afghanistan”. However, Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, congratulated Obama, calling the announcement “appropriate”. The decision to confer the Nobel Peace Prize to Obama has not been received well in Pakistan, especially because of the US strategy to expand its presence there.
The unpopular war in Afghanistan along the Pakistan border, and the endless missile strikes seems to be working against the Obama Administration and causing a rise in anti-American sentiments. According to a recent survey, about 80 percent of Pakistanis are against their government’s decision to support the US operation against militants based inside the country’s boundaries. Rush Limbaugh, the de facto Republican voice said, “Something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about and that is he doesn’t deserve the award.”
Perennial Obama basher Glenn Beck says Obama doesn’t deserve the prize, but the Tea Party protesters do. Obama said he is “surprised and deeply humbled” after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009, less than a year after taking office. The Republican token Black, Michael Steele said, “The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?’
It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights. One thing is certain—President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”
President Obama said he did “not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who have been honored by this prize”. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 90 times to 120 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2009 – 97 times to individuals and 23 times to organizations. I find it strange that some people think that Obama could do in nine months what hasn’t been done in over a century of Nobel Peace Prizes.
By the way, have you noticed that most of the time, Obama’s enemies say he hasn’t done anything in nine months, emphasis on nine months being a long time, but now they say nine months is too short of a time to award him the Nobel Peace Prize? Regardless, if the objective of the nomination is peace ... then why are there still wars all around the globe? I mean, if that’s truly the determining factor, then no one should ever get the award because the world is not at peace.
I agree with Glenn Smith who stated, “That means all the laureates — 96 individuals and 20 organizations — were either unaccomplished or simple failures, at least by the lights of Obama’s critics.” One thing we do know for certain, the Republicans’ beloved George W. Bush, didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize and unless his ideology changed somewhere down the road—he never will. I do have an idea that will probably fit in with character.
Since he once owned a Major League Baseball team, investing $600,000 and netting $15 million when he sold his share, perhaps he and Rush can put together enough money to buy a National Football League team and rename them the “Lily Whites”.