Caramba. I love my boy, but I nearly veered off the road when I heard on NPR this morning that he won the Nobel Peace Prize!Even for me that was a little too much to swallow. I guess my slight problem with this baffling info is not that Obama has been awarded it, but the blatantly political, more so than other, reasons in awarding it. The committee is using my boy to send a message about how much the world couldn't stand Bush. I mean, we get it. I couldn't stand him either, but don't use my boy and the credibility of the Peace Prize for that.
But here's the irony. I, along with everyone else who may pooh-pooh the prize committee's decision to award the Prize to Obama would say something to the effect of, "He's only been in office for 9 months! Let the guy get some stuff done first, and then we'll see." (I must emphasize that some would say that more rabidly than others.) BUT some of the same folks who say, "He's only been in office 9 months!" i.e. He hasn't been in office enough time to get substantial stuff done, are some of the same ones who would say, "He's been in office 9 months, and what does he have to show for it?" i.e. He has been in office enough time to get substantial stuff done and hasn't done it. So, is 9 months long enough or not? Make up your minds, folks.
I say he has made significant positive strides within these 9 months. But I'm unsure whether those strides are worthy of a Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nobel Peace Prize. Now. I think Obama would agree, judging from his statement this morning. But I'm satisfied with his rationale for accepting it.
From the NYT transcript of his comments:
"I am both surprised and deeply humbled by the decision of the Nobel Committee.
Let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments, but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize, men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build, a world that gives life to the promise of our founding documents.
And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21st century."That's my boy.
6 comments:
Your boy?
How faithful you are to this man, this politician from Chicago. Are you sure your affections are not race-based?
*gasp!*
But, but . . . whatever would make you ask me a question like that?
Race doesn't exist in my world. I am colorblind. Literally. When I open my eyes, everybody's clear. I'm talking transparent. Unicorns also gallop by freely.
I just don't understand, I guess, your giddiness over a man most still don't know, and who has been in office 9 months. It's normal for Presidents to be heralded as legends after they've left office, but 9 months in is unbelievable.
The nomination deadline, for the Peace Prize, was Feb.1 -- less than two weeks after Obama's presidency began! Does that smell fishy to you?
Anonymous,
Did you even read my post, or did you just see the picture of Obama I included along with it and spazz out?
If you take the time to actually read what I wrote, what I said is that, though I'm an Obama fan, I feel that the committee's choice was blatantly political (i.e. smelling pretty fishy), that they put the credibility of the Prize on the line for choosing him, that 9 months in office is not enough time, and that I'm unsure whether my boy, (yes, my boy), is worthy of a Peace Prize, especially in light of the accomplishments of past winners, listing folks like Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr.
When I said I almost veered off the road upon hearing the news, it's not because I was giddy, as you suggest, but baffled, that "even for me it was too much to swallow," and that I felt it was problematic. (See the 2nd sentence in the 2nd para.)
Hopefully, this clears up any allegations of Obama worship. Believe me, years of being a church girl have taught me well that the Lord our God is one Lord. And if called to the stand, I will forfeit my right to plead the 5th.
The giddiness was "your boy" :) Hope that clears it up.
The Nobel Prize laureates represent much of the American population and people that call him adoring terms like "my boy" and "my hero" and countless other words of adoration and praise that happened as early as his announcement for running the DNC ticket. It's weird. Strange. And yes, giddy.
Where I'm from, calling somebody "my boy" doesn't equate giddiness. But how would you have known that? When was the last time you called someone your boy (other than your progeny)? 'Swhat I thought. But no matter.
You don't like Obama, and it annoys you that people get excited about him. I get it.
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