I open facebook and someone's status update is excited about Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize. I thought it was a joke but just in case, I check out the New York Times, and sure enough, front page, this thing.
It is clear that the award has been given less for achievement than for forcing the recipient to live up to expectations (and as a fuck you to W).
The Nobel committee perhaps thinks that this will extract from Obama the obligation to deserve it. I think it is a naive and dubious strategy and because of its alacrity, a gross miscalculation. Haven't they seen how things work in the United States?
I seriously doubt that Obama is going to end our two wars and achieve peace in the Middle East out of noblesse oblige. The last thing this man needs is to be falsely anointed with yet another responsibility he can't shoulder.
If he indeed rises to the ocassion, which to judge from his performance so far is highly doubtful, the best we can hope for is that he'll stop dicking around and show Netanyahu and the other side who's boss. We can also expect more disrespect than respect for the award. The rain of disbelief and invective started today is not stopping any time soon. It is not Obama's fault to have been given the prize, but it may end up being a very unwelcome burden. Let's hope this won't be the case.
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President Obama could have refused to accept an undeserved award.
ReplyDeleteit would have made it seem as though he doesnt think the committee is able to make a good decision and that would undermine every other receipient. the committee would be shamed and the foundation under the Prize would be shaken. it was a rock and a hard place. Obama chose the decision with the least questioning and doubt.
ReplyDeletelmao! that is so cosmic! i went to post the previous post, the one that begins "it would have made it seem...", and there was a captcha which wanted me to type "baked" which is hilarious because i am very high right now! how ironic!
ReplyDelete