Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

Jay&Marissa · October 2009

I'm sitting at an airport waiting to board, so I'm going to go ahead and post this.If you haven't heard the news, Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. While I certainly think he has done a pretty good job diplomatically, I think this is ridiculous. He hasn't actually done anything yet! Other Science-based Nobel Prizes wait years before they award someone who made a significant contribution because they want to make sure whatever they contributed actually made an impact.The prize isn't supposed to be a popularity contest. Maybe he should win it--but not for 10 or 15 years.But that is just my opinion--let's hear yours--GO!

juliebug1997 · October 2009

I will agree with you to a certain extent. They explained that his work with doing away with nuclear weapons so that's something I can get behind but I think 9 mos in office is a little too soon to tell about "peace". I still have a problem with Al Gore winning it a couple of years ago. How is "An Awful Truth" about peace? I thought it was all about global warming and I can't really see a connection to peace.

BanannaP · October 2009

I love me some Obama, but I agree, I think it's a little premature. They should have waited to see how things play out before making such a call. If you don't mind me being nosy, where are you headed?

juliebug1997 · October 2009

She's going on an interview!

Mariah&Steven · October 2009

So while I'm not sure this was the year for Obama to win a Nobel Prize, I'm definitely not going to say he doesn't deserve it.

juliebug1997 · October 2009

Since I'm a good teacher, go ahead and give me teacher of the year for when I really deserve it in several years for when I'm a really awesome teacher.

Tiffany618 · October 2009

I think it is ridiculous also, and (at least in my mind) discredits the Nobel Prize to some extent.I'm not trashing Obama either...I would just rather them wait and see action and results before awarding something so prestigious.

HawaiianTXbride · October 2009

It's even crazier when you think that the deadline for nominations was 2 weeks after he took office.

BanannaP · October 2009

I have several very conservative friends from high school on Facebook. I'm sure they'll have many words about this today. I can feel my eyes rolling already.

Mariah&Steven · October 2009

Me, too, Anna...me, too.

Sometimes I really hate those status updates.

Tiffany618 · October 2009

Hey now, I'm VERY conservative! (but something would have to REALLY piss me off to put a Facebook update about it)I just wanted to point out that there are just as many Liberals that put fabulously uneducated and equally obnoxious comments on their Facebook as well.

untsing · October 2009

I'm a conservative AND I like Obama well enough...but I think it's WAY too soon to give it to him. He may some day endeavor to deserve it, but seriously? Already? Tha'ts crap.

BanannaP · October 2009

"I just wanted to point out that there are just as many Liberals that put fabulously uneducated and equally obnoxious comments on their Facebook as well." I totally agree

tnickel06 · October 2009

I heard about him winning and I think it is a little premature too since he hasn't even been in office for a year. But not to say he won't ever deserve it. My biochem teacher kept on mentioning all week that he did not win a nobel prize but I don't know if he is really worthy or just cracking a joke(because he does say alot of jokes lol)

juliebug1997 · October 2009

I don't think any of us have said that he won't ever deserve it. I just think that some time should be given.

smileysara2008 · October 2009

I really like what this committee chairman said about the reasons:"He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate," Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. "Some people say, and I understand it, isn't it premature? Too early? Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us."Afterall, part of the reason the peace prize was created is to encourage ongoing peace efforts. After some of our past dealings with the outside world, I'd certainly say this is a change. But yes, I do see where you ladies are coming from with it being premature.

shandars · October 2009

this was my fff on the nest. I think Obama is a very likeable person, but peace prize? seriously?

Jefrina79 · October 2009

Banana and Mariah - ditto on the FB status updates today and the eye rolling. Honestly though, my first thought this morning when I woke up and saw the text from CNN this morning was "For what?" And I am more liberal than conservative and I like Obama - still, that was my first thought. The quote SmileySara posted makes sense, though. I feel a little better about it now after reading the news some more.

JustinandLindsay2009 · October 2009

I am extreamly conservative and I strongly dislike Obama and disagree with pretty much everything he stands for......but that has nothing to do with my feelings on him winning the Nobel Peace Prize.....there is NO WAY he has done anything yet to win that award. I agree with all who have said that it's way to early to give him that sort of award and I think it discredits the award to some extent.

Terriniski · October 2009

I think Marissa makes one of the most valid points. The science awards (as well as some others I believe) are given many years after the discoveries to guage the impact of the scientists' work. Shouldn't that standard hold for the peace prize?

Donnaaries · October 2009

While it may be a bit premature, I think if you look at a list of the recent Nobel Peace laureates (including President of Finland for 2008 and Al Gore for 2009), Obama isn't that far fetched. The peace laureates are somewhat different than the science laureates because it's more of an image thing (Al Gore = awareness of global warming, despite being able to prove how much impact he's really had), whereas with science, it does take years to quantify the impact of the research/discovery and whether it's Nobel worthy. As usual, it's easier to be a politician than a scientist, hehe.

ashdubcharles · October 2009

Ditto everything Lindsay said.

juliebug1997 · October 2009

Compare this to Greg Mortenson, nominated for the prize by some members of Congress, who the bookies gave 20-to-1 odds of winning. Son of a missionary, a former army Medic and mountaineer, he has made it his mission to build schools for girls in places where opium dealers and tribal warlords kill people for trying. His Central Asia Institute has built more than 130 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan - a mission which has, along the way, inspired millions of people to view the protection and education of girls as a key to peace and prosperity and progress.This is someone who was up against Obama. I think this is truly life changing.

Jay&Marissa · October 2009

PS--it wasn't an interview for me--Jay is interviewing at Baylor Medical School! I'm there right now waiting in the lobby while he is interviewing. We absolutely love it and I really hope he gets in! The only downside is it is Houston, and not my beloved Dallas... But back to the subject at hand--I was very anti-Obama for awhile, and I have to say my opinion has changed a bit, especially in the area of foreign policy. I definitely think he could be a great candidate, I just think they should have waited for the actual impact of his work. Lot's of pressure on him now, though!

appletango85 · October 2009

I echo Lindsay's and Julie's sentiments. (I am not very conservative though.)If I make an eloquent speech about how I am going to cure cancer can I get the Peace Prize now?

BanannaP · October 2009

Marissa - Do you go with him to all his interviews? That's so sweet!

BanannaP · October 2009

P.S. Courts has never been to a single interview with me, haha!

ChocolateDelight · October 2009

All I have to say is "Don't hate, just congratulate." President Obama absolutely deserves the honor. Whether you like his political leanings or not, his first accomplishment was being able to unite people of various races, creeds and religions to elect him the 1st Black President of these United States. That is a huge accomplishment in itself. Who would have thought a black man would ever be elected President in our lifetime. When Archbishop Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize, apartheid had not ended in South Africa - It happened 8 years later. If we use the rationale that most of you are using about rewarding Obama for his visions and ideas, then I guess you would also say that Archbishop Tutu does not deserve his prize also. Do I see a common thread here or what . . .!!!Just 2 cents, don't want any change back.

Jay&Marissa · October 2009

Bananna--I've only gone with him to two out of the 6 (or 7?)--I couldn't make it to all of them, and some didn't invite guests.I disagree that President Obama deserves the award based on being the first black President--winning an election doesn't necessarily bring peace. It's certainly an accomplishment, but it's not like he went out of his way to actually do something to bring peace out of it--he was mainly trying to just win an election!Tutu, on the other hand, had actually done work when he won the Prize