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Good Intentions Are Not Enough
October 9th, 2009 by justine abigailSo unless you’ve been living under a rock or have been busy helping NASA bomb the moon today, you should know that the Obamster has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Isn’t it amazing how the world seems to just be going down that downward spiral faster and faster these days? Personally, I’m loving all the commentary I’m hearing online, offline, on screen, on everywhere…nothing better than controversy that’s powerful enough to rile up the masses!
But seriously now, what’s going on here? Last time I checked, to win the Peace Prize, a person had to a) do the best work to encourage fraternity between nations b) abolish or reduce standing armies and c) hold and promote peace congresses. And so, Obama won the Peace Prize because? Because he’s the commander-in-chief of three wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and two other lower-scale ones in Africa and the Philippines? Because he’s given plenty of lofty speeches full of equally lofty promises? Because he’s apologized for America around the world? Because it is his fervent hope that peace will be achieved one day? Oh right! How could I have overlooked that?
But now there’s talk that he was awarded the prize not because of his actual accomplishments or achievements but rather to spur on and motivate his determination for peace. So now we’re awarding prizes to individuals who might do something in the future? Roiiight then…like my title says, good intentions are not enough. If it were, I could write a whole list of people who would be eligible for the prize (myself included). Everyone hopes for peace, everyone has good intentions, but the mere intention does not merit an award. All words and no action is undeserving of an award of such calibre (well, I guess that calibre is questionable now…)
And if this is a means by which to encourage him and motivate him, does the Nobel Committee actually think that it’s helping his cause? If anything, it’s hurt him…there’s backlash everywhere. And a lot of that backlash is and will be toward him, not to the people who awarded it to him. If anything, it merely highlights and reminds everyone just how little he’s done during his time as president.
But hey, I gotta give props where props are due! Obama has once again shown the world that you can do anything if you have the ‘audacity of hope’! Heck, he didn’t even hope to win the prize and he still got it!…so for all us aspiring Nobel Peace Prize winners, can we do it? Yes We Can!
October 9th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
AMEN! Im all for his intentions but this guy likes to talk the talk of a politican and CANT walk the walk!
October 10th, 2009 at 6:52 am
I totally disagree.
First, Barack Obama has to undo 8 YEARS worth of Bush administration. Even to get back to the point before those eight years (putting Americans back where they started) makes it seem like nothing new has happened, but in fact, its amazing process.
When Obama goes to a Muslim country, people yell “Obama, we love you!”. When Bush went, he got a shoe thrown at him. People sometimes think a new President can walk into Office and all will be right with the world – but in fact, thats not true. It takes years of hard effort to repair damages with countries around the world, and look what Obama has done in merely months. He has established open communications, become a leader of United States that is recognized around THE WORLD as positive (a big feat as a representation of United States!), he is realistic, smart, and hard-working. He acknowledges that progress takes time, and yet, doesn’t flaunt all the wonderful work he is done. He has become an international leader, opening discussions, communications, conflict resolution and establishing trust between nations.
Of course, this Nobel Prize puts more pressure on him, and he graciously accepts it by calling it a ‘call to action’ and accepting it on behalf of American leaders. He recognizes its a title to live up to, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve it.
I am disappointed to hear people say Obama is undeserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. Some people think that you must end a conflict or war to be a peace maker, but what we forget is the greatest peacemakers in history are those people who prevent the wars in the first place.
October 11th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I agree with Fariya here. Who else did you expect would win it? Angelina ****ing Jolie? Whether you buy into the entire awarding thing or not, it’s not Obama’s ‘fault’. People who are so easily outraged should quit behaving as though Obama rigged it and awarded himself the prize. Leave Obama alone! Go back to blogging about Britney’s hair.
October 11th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Yes, Fariya, he has to “undo 8 YEARS worth of Bush administration” and the day he does that is the day he should win the Nobel Peace Prize.
You said, that when Obama goes to a Muslim country, people are happy to see him…um well, kudos to him for not have a shoe thrown at him but I hardly think that merits a Nobel Peace Prize. Also, you said that the “greatest peacemakers in history are those people who prevent the wars in the first place”. Awesome, agreed. But you can’t tell me that Obama has done that…he’s currently involved in a number of wars and may even be sending more troops to Afghanistan.
I don’t have a problem with Obama, I’m indifferent towards him. I just don’t think that he has anything on his resume to warrant this award. He’s only been in office for a few months and that is just far too little to achieve anything of significance.
As for you mr. yes-he-can, I agree that it’s not Obama’s fault, as clearly indicated in my post above (if you read it at all). Um and no, I didn’t expect Angelina ****ing Jolie to win the award although I do think a lot more worthy candidates should’ve. IE: Dr. Mukwege who has helped 21,000 women suffering from gynecological injuries due to the mass rapes going on in the DRC or maybe even Piedad Córdoba who has been trying to end the 45-year conflict in Colombia between the government and FARC.
But by all means, apparently Obama should be considered to be on the ranks of past Nobel Peace Prize winners as Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Mandela, Lech Walesa…but what do I know? I should just go back to blogging about Britney’s hair…
October 12th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I agree with justine, and am wondering how they decided to award him with this if he doesn’t meet the basic criteria.
October 12th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I agree with you Justine also. I’m indifferent to Obama myself since personally I am a Ron Paul fan. I just hope his health care reform actually makes an impact and maybe then we’ll see if that nobel peace prize meant something.