Comments on: President Obama’s Nobel Citation & Speech

By: Peter Lake

Peter Lake — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:23:15 +0000

I’m in Malta and asked ten people at random what they thought of Obama winning the Peace Prize.
Every one of them said, “For what?”

By: Edward Roberts

Edward Roberts — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:43:13 +0000

Look over all the website comments, all the blog postings since Friday morning: not only sober views expressed in deference to Obama, not only sober views questioning the legitimacy of the Nobel Committee’s decision, not only principled views both supporting and attacking the award, but strident opposition to the legitimacy the Peace Prize seems to confer domestically and strident antipathy towards those expressing such opposition.
Plainly, Obama is no unifying figure. Like it or not, he polarizes American politics and the American electorate, and we see fresh evidence of this in his White House’s decision over the weekend to begin marginalizing (further?) FOX news. Let’s grant the rabidity of whichever FOX personages we care to; but let’s grant at the same time that Obama has benefitted from much kind treatment from practically every news organization other than FOX. Is (further) marginalization of FOX, and whatever millions of viewers it attracts, a prudent course for a Nobel Peace laureate to pursue? I have genuine doubts.

By: Sean Ryan

Sean Ryan — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:57:57 +0000

I see no reason for outrage because people question the decision. Even Obama was surprised and feels that he does not deserve “to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who’ve been honored by this prize”.

It speaks well of the President that he accepted the award with humility.

We need more humility and less outrage.

By: manaz

manaz — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:19:16 +0000

I am outraged by all those who question the Nobel Prize committee. Of course President Obama deserves the prize! Who else could have changed the political climate around the world and the image of US in such A Short Time? and after so much DAMAGE done by Bush administration? President Obama deserves it just for being such a peaceful leader and man! For how peacefully he has, and is handling the racism, haterate and attacks of the brutal vicious far right! For how he ignores their attacks (ie: speech to school children, heckled on the house floor,etc.) so he does not loose the focus on the issues or divide the nation even more. This is not something too many people/leaders are willing to do or can do. I am outraged that as Americans we are not celebration our president being recognized by a foreign prestigious committee!! And instead we waist time questioning their decision and creating doubts! This is unprecedented. Even – for example – when recently an unknown Shirin Ebadi got the Nobel peace prize there was no questions. I am sad for our country! Any other country in the world would have been rejoicing.
Having 3 Democrat leaders (2 president and one vice president) winning the Nobel peace prize is a testimony to how backward, negative and unwelcome the Republican party’s ideology is in the eyes of the majority of people in the world (including Americans). You would hope it would have been a wake up call for the Republican party, but unfortunately it seems instead it makes them very uncomfortable and has put them in full attack mode. And the media as usual plays into their hand.

By: Judy Lynn

Judy Lynn — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:28:08 +0000

Barack Obama was awarded the peace prize; he was not awarded the peace prize based solely on his Presidential actions. He has demonstrated amazing leadership, wisdom, commitment, focus, and inclusiveness. His values are the path to peace. He chose a career of enriching his community at the expense of amassing wealth. He has worked hard in every waking moment since becoming President to serve his countrymen and women. He has the courage and strength of his convictions to seek the wisdom of others and make the right decision. I am apalled that Republican spokespersons believe that saying that awarding this Nobel prize to Barack Obama is a travesty. He is everything that we have needed in a President for a long time. We now have the largess of his intelligence and resourcefulness; lets enjoy vicariously the benefits he is bringing to us. Lets try to be Americans first and partisans or ego driven commentators at least second.

By: Krystal

Krystal — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:26:26 +0000

The Nobel committee have extremely hurt the reputation of the peace prize. Anybody can talk. Results are what counts. His “talking” can be interpreted as weakness and could put this world in a very dangerous place. The committe should have waited four years to see if Obama accomplishes anything.

By: Susan Cronk

Susan Cronk — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:44:55 +0000

The Nobel Committee’s decision is an unfortunate one that only devalues the Prize itself further. Mr. Obama has done nothing, as yet, to deserve a prize that is supposed to award significant effort toward a goal.

One has to wonder what other more notable persons, perhaps those who have invested decades and thousands of hours in constructing and implementing peaceful resolutions toward conflicts, were overlooked.

It seems the prize was bestowed arbitrarily and based more on popularity than justifiable accomplishment. One is only left to ask the Nobel Committee, “What were you thinking?!”

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:15:16 +0000

I am a big fan of Obama and have been since before the first primary. But this is a little premature for the Nobel prize. I’m afraid it will diminish the Nobel peace prize. His international diplomatic view has certainly inspired the world but I’m not sure it has really made a lasting difference … YET.

By: Francis McKeagney

Francis McKeagney — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:13:54 +0000

I agree that it is a good thing and a good move by the Nobel committee. He is a very rare politician. I do,however, think it is another burden on the president (how much weight can one man’s shoulders hold?) as it comes too early in terms of actual things being accomplished. The timing is also extraordinary given the clearly difficult time he is having deciding next steps in Afghanistan.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:46:46 +0000

Let the critics and cynics go nuts, I think this was a good move. If nothing else, Obama has helped reshape the world conversation to include global climate change, control of nuclear arms, and dialog with Iran.

Few other world leaders have the power and popularity to do this. Hopefully the American people will get on board in a bigger way.