The Nobel Peace Prize

[poliphilo]

Here's a list of the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize

I've got to admit I draw a blank on most of these names. 

A lot of them were diplomats who were simply doing their jobs.

There are one or two real jokers in the pack. Teddy Roosevelt- who loved nothing better than charging up hills with a revolver in his fist- got the prize for brokering a deal between Russia and Japan. Henry Kissinger got it for agreeing to end a war he'd previously been pursuing with vigour.

And then there's Yasser Arafat.  His citation was probably not the only one which- with hindsight- seems slightly premature.

Several of the recipients had nothing to do with promoting world peace but got it simply for being good eggs and an example to us all- among them Albert Schweitzer, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Lama.  

On several occasions the award has gone to organisations- like the Red Cross or Medecins Sans Frontiers- and quite often it hasn't been awarded at all.
 
It's a barmy prize with a barmy history. The award to Barack Obama is hardly out of keeping.

Comments

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

He had no accomplishments. He hadn't done a blessed thing except give nice speeches until the last year of his state senatorship when the local kingmaker caused his name to be attached to all kinds of bills that others had toiled over. He spent precious little time in the U.S. Senate before going out on permanent campaign. See poliphilo's comment, directly above yours -- he gets it.

I don't get anyone going gaga over the guy. He's an empty suit with a great voice. I think you're all just plain nutso if you do.

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

Your insistance that Obama is just an "empty suit" and that anyone who believes otherwise is "just plain nuts" is simply a way of denegrating those who disagree with your political ideology.

You, my friend, are a sore loser. It's childish and unbecoming and I think rather obviously self-defeating, but I'm afraid all too common among those of a particular political bent.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I love you too! Have a nice day.