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NSAIFR: Possibly Flameworthy but I need to know.....

TakYelgifTakYelgif
in Success after IF

I LOVE President Obama and all heck I was one of the folks that voted him into office but I am trying to pinpoint what exactly he has done in the last 9 months that is worthy of the Nobel Peace prize.

Not trying to argue here or anything but Gitmo is still not shut down, Iraq is still a mess, Israel and Palestine are still at war, Iran is building Nuclear Weapons and Afganistan is about to crumble.  On top of all that the issues in our own country have not been resolved either.

So please someone tell me why he deserved this award, did the Nobel comittee reallly have no one else to give it too?

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Re: NSAIFR: Possibly Flameworthy but I need to know.....

  • LisaMarisaLisaMarisa
    I am listening to the director of the Nobel institute right now and he is saying that it is mostly the inspiration that he has brought to worldwide politics.  I think other countries view us differently now and even though we still have problems, in general, the attitude towards Americans has improved.  I agree that he hasnt necessarily proved himself yet but the director seemed set in the decision and said it was unanimous.
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  • TakYelgifTakYelgif

    imageLisaMarisa:
    I am listening to the director of the Nobel institute right now and he is saying that it is mostly the inspiration that he has brought to worldwide politics.  I think other countries view us differently now and even though we still have problems, in general, the attitude towards Americans has improved.  I agree that he hasnt necessarily proved himself yet but the director seemed set in the decision and said it was unanimous.

    I guess I can see that it really just does not logically make much sense to me.

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  • rebecca&nathanrebecca&nathan member
    Tak, I agree with you and DH and I discussed this on the way to work this morning.  Although I am an Obama fan, I find it difficult to understand how you can get such a prestigious award for being an idealist (it's only been 9months...  that's too short to follow-through on many promises).  DH said that the Nobel committee often awards prizes to make political statements, but it kind of makes me sad to think that there was NO ONE else who has done something great in the past year.  I'm curious to know the other candidates...
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  • mrsnemitzmrsnemitz
    Tak... I'm with you on this one. I thought I had heard the news incorrectly this morning when they announced it. On the Today show they were talking about how it was awarded for "promise" rather than action, which I think sets a really bad precedent.
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  • TakYelgifTakYelgif

    imagerebecca&nathan:
    DH said that the Nobel committee often awards prizes to make political statements

    If that is the case then that is incredibly unfair to the man because he has now been turned into a political pawn, which totally undermines the award.

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  • qtpa2tqtpa2t member
    I work for a year with the Nobel committee on a project here in the US.  It's helpful to understand the founder's original intentions, which were to award people of great promise, not necessarily achievement.  For example, the award was meant to be given to a scientist who had the potential to contribute greatly to his/her field, and through the prize money, would be freed from the daily obligations of life to pursue his/her work.  With that in mind, this newest award is appropriate.  The reality of the award through its history though, and why it skews this perception, is that the committee on the whole has been rather conservative, and so while awarding people of note, it often does years and years AFTER the achievement for which they are being noted.  Maybe they wanted to get back to the original intent with this award.  For certain, Obama has been very active in encouraging diplomatic solutions.
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  • Temp848906437505510Temp848906437505510
    I was stunned when I read the story this morning.  Feels like a political award to me, and not one based on true merit - be it after the fact or based on promise.
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  • speak-ezspeak-ez

    imageqtpa2t:
    I work for a year with the Nobel committee on a project here in the US.  It's helpful to understand the founder's original intentions, which were to award people of great promise, not necessarily achievement.  For example, the award was meant to be given to a scientist who had the potential to contribute greatly to his/her field, and through the prize money, would be freed from the daily obligations of life to pursue his/her work.  With that in mind, this newest award is appropriate.  The reality of the award through its history though, and why it skews this perception, is that the committee on the whole has been rather conservative, and so while awarding people of note, it often does years and years AFTER the achievement for which they are being noted.  Maybe they wanted to get back to the original intent with this award.  For certain, Obama has been very active in encouraging diplomatic solutions.

    Thank you for sharing this...it makes more sense that way b/c I thought I read it wrong when I signed onto AOL.

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  • beebe929beebe929 member

    imagerebecca&nathan:
    I find it difficult to understand how you can get such a prestigious award for being an idealist ..

    this!

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  • emiannieemiannie

    imageqtpa2t:
    I work for a year with the Nobel committee on a project here in the US.  It's helpful to understand the founder's original intentions, which were to award people of great promise, not necessarily achievement.  For example, the award was meant to be given to a scientist who had the potential to contribute greatly to his/her field, and through the prize money, would be freed from the daily obligations of life to pursue his/her work.  With that in mind, this newest award is appropriate.  The reality of the award through its history though, and why it skews this perception, is that the committee on the whole has been rather conservative, and so while awarding people of note, it often does years and years AFTER the achievement for which they are being noted.  Maybe they wanted to get back to the original intent with this award.  For certain, Obama has been very active in encouraging diplomatic solutions.

    Thanks for posting this.  I didn't know much about the award except that it's prestigious.  So this helps me understand why he got it.  Honestly, in a mere 9 months he's changed the way we're viewed globally...I think that's huge.  So I was fine with him getting it, but I could see where people would question it if they didn't know the history of the award.

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  • DotGrl03DotGrl03 member

    I need to stay off of facebook. I don't understand why more people aren't proud of this country's president, especially since he recieved an award for doing work towards the good of this world.

    I am proud of him as well as our country.

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  • skoorbniborskoorbnibor member

    imageqtpa2t:
    I work for a year with the Nobel committee on a project here in the US.  It's helpful to understand the founder's original intentions, which were to award people of great promise, not necessarily achievement.  For example, the award was meant to be given to a scientist who had the potential to contribute greatly to his/her field, and through the prize money, would be freed from the daily obligations of life to pursue his/her work.  With that in mind, this newest award is appropriate. 

    This.... This was what I was going to say... 

    I am actually moved by this award and I believe in the concept of the Nobel Peace Prize.. 

     

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  • epphdepphd member

    Because evidently the award is not given for accomplishments, but for plans and progress.  I don't really agree with it either, but hey - it's up to a private committee and they can give the award to whomever they choose, I guess.

    I LOVE Obama, but I shook my head too.

    ETA: qtpa2t - thanks for the info - that's helpful!  though I agree that the awards (especially the science ones) are typically more like lifetime achievment awards, so this one seemed "weird."

     

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  • dana316dana316 member
    imageTakYelgif:

    So please someone tell me why he deserved this award, did the Nobel comittee reallly have no one else to give it too?

    Damned if I know...but if anybody figures it out, I'd love to hear their theory.  I think its crazy...

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  • projectkjetilprojectkjetil

    imageqtpa2t:
    I work for a year with the Nobel committee on a project here in the US.  It's helpful to understand the founder's original intentions, which were to award people of great promise, not necessarily achievement.  For example, the award was meant to be given to a scientist who had the potential to contribute greatly to his/her field, and through the prize money, would be freed from the daily obligations of life to pursue his/her work.  With that in mind, this newest award is appropriate.  The reality of the award through its history though, and why it skews this perception, is that the committee on the whole has been rather conservative, and so while awarding people of note, it often does years and years AFTER the achievement for which they are being noted.  Maybe they wanted to get back to the original intent with this award.  For certain, Obama has been very active in encouraging diplomatic solutions.

    And just as I was beating myself up for turning my brain to mush on these boards... this wonderful conversation ensues.  OP, thanks for posing the question.  qtpa2t, thanks for this informed response.

    I was mulling this over while listening to NPR this morning, wondering what the rubric for choosing Nobel candidates is.  Knowing that great potential is a leading criteria helps me understand, and I'll do more reading about the award and its purpose.

    I haven't travelled internationally since before my daughter was born in 2004, so I feel like I've lost touch with how our country is viewed by the rest of the world.  (Just reading about peoples' response to issues is not the same as sitting in a coffee shop or hostel and talking with locals or fellow travellers.  I miss that time in my life.)  Still, I know that President Obama's status in the world is opening doors that the previous administration had slammed shut.  I'm so glad that he is our leader on the world stage, and hope that the prestige (and pressure) of the award guides his policy choices.

     

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