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Daily Toreador > Opinions

Shooter: Peace prize no longer noble, now mere political vehicle

By Cole Shooter

Columnist

|

Published: Friday, October 16, 2009

Updated: Friday, October 16, 2009

As of last Friday, President Barack Obama joins such glowing company as Yasser Arafat, Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan (who was found to have unethically mishandled the oil for food program), political misfit and scare tactician Al Gore and not last but most certainly least, Jimmy Carter, arguably the worst president the United States has ever seen (yet). Obama joins these interesting individuals in becoming a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

At the time of this year’s nomination deadline, Obama had been in office about 12 days.

During that time, he partied on Inauguration Day, made some phone calls to Arab leaders, signed orders that would close the prison at Guantanamo Bay and allow federal aid for abortions overseas and bullied through an $800 billion bailout to businesses that really didn’t deserve it.

At this rate, I say Obama would be a fine candidate for the Heisman, a Grammy, at least two Emmys and an Israel Prize. Although what he did during that time wasn’t necessarily violent to those already born, it’s a stretch to say the actions were deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize.

That’s perfectly fine, however. According to Alfred Nobel’s will, a group selected from the Norwegian Parliament called the Norwegian Nobel Committee chooses a candidate who in the past year “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.” It’s a private award, and it’s completely up to the Norwegian Nobel Committee to decide how they choose to further devalue it.

I do understand the disapproval of those who aren’t happy with Obama becoming a Nobel Peace Prize laureate so quickly though. I can’t say I have much respect for the award because in my lifetime it’s become nothing but a political shill aimed at awarding those who are least qualified by the terms of Nobel’s will. Some grew up revering the award and giving nothing but the utmost respect to the winners, though.

Jerusalem Post columnist Schmuley Boteach discussed his feelings on the award shortly after the Laureates were announced for this year.

“I grew up in awe of the Nobel and its noble recipients,” he said. “This award was an acknowledgement on the part of our civilization that peace is humanity’s greatest goal ... Don’t get me wrong. I am not an Obama basher. Our president is a man of rare eloquence. I have supported him through the good he has done and criticized him for the missteps I think he has taken. But come on. Peace is not simply a great speech, and universal harmony is not merely a collection of words.”

Even other Nobel Peace Prize laureates were surprised at the news. Poland’s anti-communist leader Lech Walesa, upon hearing the news, quipped “Who, Obama? So fast? Too fast — he hasn’t had the time to do anything yet.” He later added, “For the time being Obama’s just making proposals. But sometimes the Nobel committee awards the prize to encourage responsible action.”

There have been some Nobel Peace Prize laureates who were worthy of the award. The aforementioned anti-communist Lech Walesa, the 14th Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa all lived up to the true spirit of the award. Peace isn’t the aim of the award anymore though.

How did Al Gore and his fear mongering pieces on global warming help to promote peace? It didn’t, but the Norwegian Nobel Committee saw the chance to use the award to show their displeasure with the George W. Bush administration, and they took it. Obama’s win is no different.

Obama may not be deserving of the award, but it shouldn’t come as any surprise. Any organization that would be willing to give a peace prize to Arafat, often described as the godfather of modern terrorism, is not one to be taken too seriously. It’s truly a shame such a well-intentioned award has fallen so far from its original intention.

If the peace prize doesn’t satiate the president’s ego, perhaps the Obamas can hop a plane with Oprah and lobby for an Olympic gold medal. After all, Obama’s done as much for table tennis as he has for world peace.

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20 comments

George Gant
Sun Oct 25 2009 02:26
George W. Bush didn't need to have anyone write his speeches for him. George W. Bush couldn't read them to begin with.
Mike
Sun Oct 25 2009 01:20
Cole Shooter is a girl. I felt surprised to learn that. Good column.
Nathan
Fri Oct 23 2009 21:13
Cole Shooter's column is superb. Any nitwit who condones the panel's legitimacy also defends its crowning Yasser Arafat with the same prize. Atheist snarls that any person who dislikes Obama is "redneck", then bizarrely lambastes unknown persons for being "ignorant" and "THUG"s. Atheist's hero, Obama, doltishly declared while campaigning that America contains "57" states. Yet, he and other acolytes of the dunce, Obama, continue to lie that he is "intelligent" and "eloquent", even though he has to stoop to hiring persons to compose speeches for him. Thomas Jefferson did not hire hacks to compose his speeches, because he was eloquent. Obama and Atheist are mediocre and mundane.
OldRed
Fri Oct 23 2009 09:58
Man, what a collection of crazies. But Shooter is right in his basic premise - the Peace Prize has become a political award more than something which is earned by dedication and accomplishment.
The Dude
Mon Oct 19 2009 17:53
Pissed Atheist,

You sound like a Nihilist. Sounds tiring.

Tackel
Mon Oct 19 2009 13:32
Are posts getting deleted here???

I posted information about the great relevancy the article had and it's truthfulness and yet my post gets deleted?

Atheist
Mon Oct 19 2009 10:58
George,

You hit the nail on the head. The classic, oh so common bias of those committed to positions, rather than to truth, is that they will pursue (and give ear) only to information that confirms what they already believe, and ignore that which contradicts it.

If they were a judge in court, you'd be SOL if you were hoping for unbiased justice, because they most likely already have their mind made up, and have no intention at all of hearing the best arguments from both sides of the issue. They prefer to stick their head in the sand, and whistle doo-dah anytime reason has the floor --- boring as it is compared to the entertainment value of emotional sensationalism.

Yes, Bush Jr. is a total and utter disgrace to the office of the US Presidency, but what did you see among all the creation-science FREAKS with their "tail-gate" pickup trucks and church-bus field-trips? NATIONALISM that bordered on the rabid, mindless, devotion typically seen in documentaries of Nazi Germany. Yes, they too were angry about all the watered down inferior races who were living off the fat of their Arian-inherited land, conquered so long ago when it was inhabited by weaker, inferior races. Yes, they were bloodthirsty ANGRY any time their leader told them that their national pride and values and freedoms and way of life had been threatened. Only, Hitler wasn't a blubbering fool like Bush.

Why was Bush to loved by the masses of stupid ignorant, southern, white racists religious fundamentalists in this country?? Because of SIMILARITY. He was just like them in so many ways. They loved him for that.

Atheist
Mon Oct 19 2009 10:41
Allen, TK, ATXEric, & Joy,

First, whether I am one day pushed clean off the edge of the cliff, and start marching around looking for loudmouth racist idiots who hide behind the REPUBLICAN banner, and whether I pick a verbal debate with them, humiliate their stupid butt, and thusly relieve some of my pent up frustrations from the unfortunate circumstances of living in the land of 10,000 BC cave-people temporarily (a meanness on my part, some might say qualifies for the category of behavior associated with jerks), THAT moreover is TOTALLY IRRELEVANT to whether I am speaking the truth. As your beloved brain-wash book so painfully points out, God can speak through a donkey! So which is it? Are you attacking me, or my statements? Must be me, because you said nothing about my statements, other than the obvious (that I did not address the article, and was focusing on the person who typically takes the positions outlined in this article). The only problem with your ability to attack my character is that you know nothing about me, other than this very small interaction on this page. Would you prefer to widen your heuristic to include democrats, or all atheists, or some other group?

How appropriate though (that you obviously have no formal training or understanding of polemic), since most dumb rednecks are donkeys --- in the sense that you are more stubborn than a mule, defending and standing by your position to the bitter end, and most paradoxically even when new information (and logic) would dictate that you compromise, revise your position, or completely move your position, IF AND ONLY IF you really give a crap about TRUTH! You've got a log in your eye, while you've been trying to get the splinter out of mine. Not a single one of you jackoss addressed the points I made, and mentioned whether any of it had any element of truth to it.

Let's see: Any of you clones have an ounce of honesty? Heck no, not a single one of you donkeys has an ounce of honesty, and that is why you won't admit that any part of what I write is true, those it is well documented. What are the facts? Well, exempting you educated donkeys, there's frankly THRONGS of Neanderthals living in trailer parks and hand-me-down-shacks with Elvis and 'The Duke' in fake fireplace mantel-wide velvet paintings, sitting 'round dem dar liv'n rooms with du young'n, teach'n um how to hate dem dar negros, who come here to get du free ride off the white man's back. Well I'll be a monkey's uncle before I let them monkey boys gone'n try to take what I rightfully inherited from my granpappy who masqueraded thousands a Injin's kuz they would lazy too.

Wikipedia Entries:
1. List_of_biases
2. Fallacy
3. List_of_fallacies

George Gant
Fri Oct 16 2009 15:51
Menachem Begin won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Menachem also spent a considerable amount of time in jail in several countries for TERRORIST activities. He, more than any other person, introduced the concept of TERRORISM to the Middle East, where he and his Zionist followers routinely murdered British officials, soldiers and policemen. He was neither Christian nor Arab Muslim. Today's Islamic Terrorists are using the tactics developed by Menachem Begin that worked so well for him and his crew, in addition to adding some of their own.

Considering some of the people who have won the Nobel Peace Prize in the past, I applaud the Nobel Committee for their vision of a more peaceful world, by honoring a man devoted to achieving that objective, whether or not that will become a realistic opportunity.

And let me repeat, Shooter, get your newly purchased assault rifle and kill some Highway Signs to relieve yourself of your political impotence. It's going to be a LONG time before people outside of the Bible Belt and Trailer Parks will take you seriously.

TK
Fri Oct 16 2009 14:58
I'm afraid after a couple of years of enduring George's predictable, mindless responses that I have come to the conclusion that he really thinks he is posting something intelligent each time. He appears oblivious to how ridiculous his posts usually sound. It does no good whatsoever to comment how his responses are completely tainted by his bitter hatred of Christians, conservatives, and anyone else who dares think differently from himself. Today is a good example of a response that presents nothing to support or refute the writers position. It's just a personal attack and very typical of how a fringe radical deals with the truth. I am always amazed at how much hatred and intolerance the left has toward any who think differently from them - the party of tolerance and love....
George Gant
Fri Oct 16 2009 14:52
The Nobel Peace Prize should have been given to George W. Bush for his efforts in Iraq. That way all you Conservative Republicans would be raving about the brilliance of the Nobel Prize Committee.

PS. I still think 'ole Cole Shooter and the rest of the Glen Beck CLONES should pull out their recently purchased weapons and kill some more West Texas Road Signs.

Allen
Fri Oct 16 2009 13:50
I'm convinced that George is posting all these comments for satirical purposes. Nobody in their right mind thinks this way without using blow on a regular basis.
Also, judging by how nobody is doing much in the Heisman Trophy race they may just give it to Obama anyway.
George Gant
Fri Oct 16 2009 13:20
Shooter,

You need to capitalize on your name. Get into your pickup truck and head out of town. At the next posted Highway sign, take your gun off the rack and blast it to bits. You won't really be destroying State property, since the sign is probably full of holes already. There are lots of frustrated Conservative Republicans in Lubbock today, and when they can't find something innocent to kill, they can always feel a sense of accomplishment by blasting away at some authority symbol. That's about all you've got left to show for your efforts today.

Joy
Fri Oct 16 2009 12:38
Dear Pissed Atheist,

I have to tell you that this is the most prejudiced thing that I have read in a long time. You take anyone who would dare to stand up against Obama's pretty yet destructive policies and group them into one category- I quote "TYPICAL redneck, white, southern, ignorant, pickup-truck driving, republican, blindly-stupid, lazy, bible-waving THUG mentality, or you can do it the HARD WAY."
It is hard to take someone seriously when they begin with such a statement of hate and then go on to very vaguely state how the "decent, intelligent, [and] more virtuous" (you never state who that is) "are not fiercely loyal to saving face, so much as they are to the value of human virtue. They prefer to help more than to hurt."
Good job disproving your case before you even begin. Maybe you ought to go back and look at some of Obama's choices again and reasses whether he is worried about saving face. After all, he is a "rock star" and what else do rockstars do but constantly try to convince the world how amazing they are... never minding who's toes they have to step on to do that?

ATXEric
Fri Oct 16 2009 12:23
Wow, PissedAtheist, for someone so intent on lambasting others' rhetoric, you sure seem ready with a stockpile of your own to pipe in with. But for all your imagery, your argument doesn't really do much to decrease the position of the article (which, given your venomous outset, I assumed to be your goal) The point is not whether Obama is some metapolitical martyr, selflessly suspending himself between the extremes that he might extoll virtue and liberate the truth. You want to talk about meaningless drivel? You, my friend are Exhibit A.

No, the point is that whatever grandiose savior plan this middle-way walking modern Buddha MIGHTcome up with (your idea, not mine; he's already WAY lost my confidence) he still hasn't done muchand certainlyhadn't by the time he was put in the mix. It's not that he's a bad guy or even a bad President. He is, however just an "uncertain" as you put it as we are. Now, if he'd taken all of those trillions we spent bailing out businesses and instead bailed out the taxpayers (or hell, fed and clothed and housed every human being on the planet) THEN we might be talking about his furthering of the "fraternity of nations" As it was, he barely had time to take a dump in the White House bathroom and they already had him nominated.

Your name
Fri Oct 16 2009 11:50
Good article, Cole.

Good job making atheists look dumb, Pissed Atheist.

Allen
Fri Oct 16 2009 11:41
PA emulates Obama perfectly. Looks like he says something profound, but really doesn't. Good article again from Shooter.
huh?
Fri Oct 16 2009 11:21
Congratulations "Pissed Atheist" - you're now qualified for a Nobel Peace Prize
TK
Fri Oct 16 2009 11:14
Good article, and oh so true.
Pissed Atheist
Fri Oct 16 2009 10:43
What an unbelievably myopic and malnutritioned piece of drivel. How to you mediate between raving madmen and civilized elitists? You can either take the TYPICAL redneck, white, southern, ignorant, pickup-truck driving, republican, blindly-stupid, lazy, bible-waving THUG mentality, or you can do it the HARD WAY.

The low-brow, brutish thug takes the black-and-white, decreased cerebral energy requirement of the battle cry, the praise and worship anthem of national pride, and hate for outsiders, the cliche, drone-like robotic regurgitation of memorized scripted hymns about FALLEN HEROES and other emotional appeals popular with Neanderthals. "Nuke em all, Jimbo!" Join the Marines, KILL OTHER HUMANS.... problem solved.

The decent, intelligent, more virtuous, but far more difficult path must traverse a winding, circular, often paradoxical, and far more ambiguous series of humiliations, self-corrections, apologies, courtesies, and endless self-less compromises. They walk the gray, hated, uncertainty zone, where one must often choose between inaction, or blind action. They must cross chasms between fortresses of unmovable and stubborn enemies, the only person not blind devoted to a 'POSITION' at all costs, and yet they are the only ones who can path through the gray and the dark truths. They are not fiercely loyal to saving face, so much as they are to the value of human virtue. They prefer to help more than to hurt.







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