Before all the world and his wife decides this is THE moment to say “Obama?!?! WTF?” and get kudos for it, some analysis of the “Nobel Prize” situation would have been ok, especially for “real media” people. Because, it now turns out that saying the obvious, the expected, is not what only Obama seems to be good at, no?

So,if, instead, we all wait with our judgement and do some reading instead, we may find out the Nobel Committee does that from time to time: namely, give out the Prize mostly for what is to come.

German politicians have had much contact with Obama and they do claim to have seen some important changes, which will influence many things. Like: soldiers sent to Afghanistan, money earned selling climate-friendly technology to Americans who now officially believe in climate problems etc. The sheer possibility to be able to communicate with someone who’s not a member of Bible Belt Taliban…

Obviously, I know I needn’t tell you that, he’s not going to create an America that’s not fighting in wars. There are real problems out there plus many of typically American aspirations are not going to change so soon, if ever, full stop. Thus, I wasn’t surprised that the Prize was given to someone who’s still fighting with the Taliban, threatening Iran and trying hard to talk with North Korea. All these objections are simply silly, if we consider the idea of the Prize and all the prize winners so far. If we remember that A. Nobel himself wanted the prize to be given away for idealistic purposes. That the Committee are bound to his testament.

What I mean is: I have never seen such a bad global reaction to something a bit too complex and worth being specific about.

Take Jack Kennedy, for example. He represented hope in the 60s. He even managed to avert a nuclear exchange. And if that doesn’t merit a Nobel Peace Prize, then I don’t know what does.

The thing is, that apart from just being there the Big O. did absolutely nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Obvisouly, because he hadn’t had the time to do it. As you correctly note in your post(even if perhaps you didn’t mean to), the main shift had been made within the US electorate. Obama has yet to prove that he is worthy of their trust.

He may very well prove that. In fact, I hope(!) that he will. For the sake of all of us. But it Nobel prizes are to be awarded on a “still-to-prove” basis, then literally anyone can get it. Which devalues the awards as well as those who had won it to date.

@MKL: Of course it’s not his fault. What I’m afraid of is that style is (again) becoming a substitute for substance and we all know where that leads.

I hope you’re enjoying the high flowing skirts of cancan plus Carla’s smile and not o sole mio in the land of The Great Pretender…

@šuši: and they’re doing their damnest to keep it that way, aren’t they?

saying Obama did nothing for peace between Israel and Palestina is the same as saying Janša/Turk/Türk/Pahor/Mate/Žbogar … whoever, did nothing to erase the good old black-versus-red dividing line in Slovenia.

Surely we know both are nigh impossible? On all levels? (psychological, political, cultural…)