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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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The thing about this award is that I can't see what has been accomplished so far. We aren't even a year in to his presidency. So what has truly been achieved? Or do we give prizes for hope, now?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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It is indeed odd that he should win this prize before doing anything. But I certainly don't fault our prez. He was as surprised as everyone else.
It seemed to me that the committee wanted to make Obama feel obligated to deliver on his promises. That's probably just silly enough to be correct.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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These things devalue the prize itself. The only "real" Nobel prize, since the original Nobel products were use in war, is the peace prize, and it is devalued by being given to someone who has not yet even had the chance to act.
I hope he considers this well and contemplates returning it in favour of one who has acted. That would be the mark of a great statesman.
That Obama may yet do great things is, at this stage, a matter of conjecture. That he has the chance to is not in dispute.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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I think, Macky, that the reason he got the prize was that he isn't George W Bush! After Dubya almost anyone looks a bit saintly.
Love,
Anthony
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I am sceptical about the award. Too much too soon, but then I had a blindspot as to why J F Kennedy and Princess Diana were so wonderful.
Btw, 'obligated' or 'obliged'?
Hugs
N
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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e
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On fire! |
Location: currently So Cal
Registered: May 2002
Messages: 1179
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While I think Obama certainly has the potential to make a good candidate, he has done nothing to advance the cause of peace. The committee said it was because he has helped change the climate and encouraged cooperation. But what has this actually achieved? Nothing yet, it's way to early to determine whether it will or won't achieve anything.
I saw this award compared to awarding it to Gorbachev for parastroika(sp?) before that had a chance to work, but this situation is considerably different. Gorbachev was the leader of one of the two leading nuclear powers in the world who at the time had been on the brink of nuclear war on several occasions and his program did not rely on outside interests, only his own ability to manipulate his own government. Obama is not in the same position.
The President has initiated a diaolgue, and that is all. But dialogue has happened before, frequently with little result. Some credit him for bringing Iran back to the table, but did he do that? Iran had little choice after being caught red-handed with a nuclear plant they had vehemently denied having. Being embarrassed in front of the world will tend to oblige one to commit an act of attrition. He has delayed his plans to withdraw from Iraq (only by 2 months). He has increased troop levels in Afganistan and is considering doing it again. He is also hesitating to fulfill his promise to close Guantanimo and continues to hold prisoners without charges in violation of their constitutional rights. Finally, while its not peace related, he has also failed to act on his promise to do away with "don't ask, don't tell" in the military and allow gays to be open about their sexuality.
Again, he's got a lot of promise, but he's got a long ways to go before anyone should call him a positive force for world peace and award him a prize. Peace must have had a very slow year if he is the best candidate the committee could find.
Think good thoughts,
e
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Fingolfin
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Likes it here |
Location: Slovakia
Registered: August 2008
Messages: 265
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Perestroika, means rebuilding, or better restructure.
It is better to switch on a small light than to curse the darkness.
- Vincent Šikula, Slovak writer
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Fingolfin
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Likes it here |
Location: Slovakia
Registered: August 2008
Messages: 265
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Claiming the world peace and bringing war anywhere where someone does not agree.... that is the real state of American foreign affairs policy...or at least has been for quite some years. Maybe letting others live would be the greatest thing that Obama could do. Time will tell.
Someone wrote that he could not see the meaning of giving this prize to several people.... welll, IMHO, most of the time this prize goes to people who do not deserve it.
Marek
It is better to switch on a small light than to curse the darkness.
- Vincent Šikula, Slovak writer
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Sadly this is causing more racial divisiveness here in the US than most in Europe can imagine. It was a foolish move at this point with out a doubt; he may indeed deserve it one day but not yet by any means….
What ever they thought they were accomplishing is truly a mystery to me!!!
I agree with you Mark, we in the US can not disentangle ourselves from the rest of the world economically, but we need to leave the rest of the world to its own devices socially and politically. Actually we do have the resources to isolate our selves economically too. It would be hard but the hardship I think would be good for us in the long run.
So as an aside, what say you all, should we (the US) back off the world stage and turn to the isolationism that we have been on the brink of so many times in the past?
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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"should we (the US) back off the world stage and turn to the isolationism that we have been on the brink of so many times in the past?"
I don't think isolationism is a possibility anymore arich. The world is too interdependent. Think the internet, multinational corporations, and the fact that the US is in hock to the world for beginners.
In a world with limited resources isolationism is not the way to go. Together, through trade, we can all have a higher standard of living. Look up Ricardo's international trade theory.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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Obama uses the internet. Here's an email where he expresses his feelings on the award to his suppporters.
"This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
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 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.
That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.
So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama"
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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I know what you speak of but I still think it could happen and in some ways I’d like to see us less involved with world matters across the board.
There is such a thing as nationalization of outside ownership of tangible assets that could be used as it has with US many times over the last few decades. There would of course be repercussions but none that could not be overcome and as a result strengthen.
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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It is not isolationism that would be effective but less of a provocative role as the self styled police force of the free world. And yes, I include Great Britain in that, too.
There is far too much "protecting our interests" going on. Oil rules.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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No, arich, I'm opposed to isolationism in the USA and here in UK, where part of the Conservative party (and some nutters such as UKIP) would like the English Channel to be an insurmountable barrier.
I think it is vital to be exposed to other cultures; without such exposure folk don't recognise it when they adopt extremist views.
Love,
Anthony
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Macky
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Really getting into it |
Location: USA
Registered: November 2008
Messages: 973
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I agree Anthony. Countries need that feedback from each other. Any future world govt would suffer for lack of it.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
Ps 133:1 NASB
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"I think it is vital to be exposed to other cultures; without such exposure folk don't recognise it when they adopt extremist views."
Hasn't stopped the US!
And I would like to isolate the world from some of our extremisms!
[Updated on: Mon, 12 October 2009 14:01]
People will tell you where they've gone
They'll tell you where to go
But till you get there yourself you never really know
Where some have found their paradise
Other's just come to harm
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] 
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