Obama Rejects Nobel Peace Prize

Posted on 11. Oct, 2009 by Goode Fellow in Politics

HEADLINES: Obama gives Nobel Peace Prize to the “world for peace” saying: “I haven’t done anything that millions haven’t been doing for years – calling for peace.”

The above headline is fiction – fantasy – perhaps a little hopeful – but certainly not real. It would be a noble gesture to give back the “Nobel Peace Prize” since United States President Obama hasn’t done anything to merit it in his short tenure in office. At least nothing that millions of American citizens haven’t been doing for years – and as a matter of fact, hundreds of millions of people around the world have been doing – calling for peace.

What has Obama done to create peace?

Obama’s incredible rise to peace advocate consisted of 11 days in office and the spending of trillions of U.S. dollars to keep the citizens of the United States from lynching AIG, CitiBank (and dozens of other banks), GM, Chrysler, and many of the corporate executives involved in the dramatic economic down-spiral of our banking system, stocks and hundreds of thousands of jobs lost in America.

Let’s recap Obama’s first 100 days in office:

• January 22, 2009 – Signs an executive order to close Guantanamo
• February 17, 2009 – Tax cuts in Stimulus Bill
• February 19, 2009 – A plan to rescue mortgages
• March 9, 2009 – Lifted the ban on embryonic Stem cell research
• March 11, 2009 – Signed $410 Billion Stimulus bill
• March 18, 2009 – Expressed anger over AIG receiving more bailout money and once again using that money to pay out millions of dollars in corporate bonuses.
• March 30, 2009 – Announced that Auto companies on their own
• April 2, 2009 – Attended a conference of world leaders at a G-20 summit in London
• April 13, 2009 – Lifted restrictions on Cuba (that will make a lot of Cuban Cigar smokers happy)
• April 20, 2009 – Asked Congress to identify $100 million dollars in additional cuts
• April 20, 2009 – Put an end to torture techniques used to interrogate prisoners
• April 23, 2009 – Allowed the release of CIA torture memos

In short, there is nothing within the first 11 days of his presidency that has warranted any kind of peace prize let alone the “Nobel Peace Prize”. There was not even a call for peace, negotiations for peace, agreements of cease-fires or anything of that nature.

Traditionally, he Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to individuals who have made a dramatic effort at establishing peace, negotiated peace efforts and have gone above and beyond in trying to achieve and achieving that end. “Blessed are the peace makers…”

“Greg Mortenson is a remarkable man, whose leadership, passion, and character is truly transforming lives and inspiring millions,” said Bono Mack. “For over fifteen years, Greg has devoted his life to promoting peace and improving education in the war-torn regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“I am deeply honored to have known Greg for many years and am proud of everything he has accomplished thus far. One of the most humble people I know, Greg is a living hero and his dedication to peace is truly changing the world. I am proud to nominate this most-worthy individual for this high honor.”

— California Chronicle – Greg Mortenson Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Greg Mortenson is a man who has worked toward peace for over 15 years in war-torn regions of the world.

Who is Greg Mortenson?

Greg Mortenson (born 1957) is a humanitarian, international peace-maker, and former mountaineer from Bozeman, Montana. Mortenson is the co-founder (with Dr. Jean Hoerni) and director of the non-profit Central Asia Institute, and founder of the educational charity Pennies For Peace. He is the protagonist and co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission To Promote Peace… One School At A Time. The sequel, Stones Into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan is due for release on Dec 1, 2009.

— Wikipedia

Others who wonder what Obama has done:

Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize – a story of Obama’s efforts in the Middle East

This is an interesting article because it refers to work that Obama has begun after the February 1st deadline for nominations. Sorry – that doesn’t count. Let’s wait for the results of those initial talks but let’s be real – his nomination was based on what? Eleven days in the office of President?

Obama’s Nobel Is Premature, Historians and Political Scientists Say – Foxnews.com
How the Nobel Peace Prize is Awarded – Foxnews.com

This article is about those selfless individuals who have sacrificed years of service to promote peace at their own personal expense and yet have been passed over. There were over 200 nominations and we are sure that many of them have done more to promote peace than the President of the United States. To those selfless men and women who have worked so hard without their work being recognized – our hat goes off to you!

Who is responsible for this travesty in human sacrifice?

There is only one body of individuals who can take responsibility for the outcome of the Nobel Peace Prize and that is the Norwegian Nobel Committee. They have based their decision on a feel-good attitude of what “may come” and “what could be” rather than what “is being done” and “what has been done“.  Alfred Nobel would be ashamed.

Alfred Nobel’s foundation was set up in 1865. He laid down the “bulk of his wealth to be reserved for the financing of annual honorary awards to be made in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine or physiology, literature and peace.” — NobelPeacePrize.org.

It was meant to be an honor and a reward for actual work and progress over the previous years achievements in those subjects – not what we hope to accomplish in the future. Everyone hopes for world peace but not many have made the sacrifice to achieve that goal and certainly not in only eleven days in office.

Tags: 2009, alfred nobel, barack obama, nobel peace prize, president of the united states