Are Prize winners truly noble?
Julianna Clay
Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: Opinion
Peace-what is it worth and what does it mean? According to Merriam-Webster's online, peace is "a state of tranquility, a state of security within a community provided for by law or custom, or freedom from civil disturbance". And what about the Nobel Peace Prize-what is it worth and what does it mean? In order to answer this question, we go back to 1895 and look to its founder and benefactor, Alfred Nobel.
It seems ironic that the forbearer of this institution is not only a Swedish chemist, but also the inventor of dynamite. Nobel was an engineer, manufacturer of armaments, and factory owner. He amassed a fortune while living, but donated nearly all of his wealth when he died to the building of this organization.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five prizes awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The others are awarded in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics. All nominations and selections are made by the Norwegian Parliament and the Norwegian Nobel Committee. As declared in Nobel's last will and testament, a winner of the Noble Peace Prize must be "a person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
Many recipients from the recent past fit that description: Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr. But then there's Yasser Arafat. Yes, Yasser Arafat-the well-known terrorist associated with arming and commanding the liberation of the Palestinians.
Arafat is directly and indirectly linked to the killing and suffering of thousands. He authorized Jihad and Hamas attacks, funded suicide bombings, and manufactured explosive materials. Yet all these things were put aside and overlooked by the Norwegian Parliament and Nobel Committee for one negotiation at Oslo.
The most recent Nobel Prize winner is our very own President Obama, awarded "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." My question is this: What exactly has he done?
Obama promised during his campaign to withdraw our troops in Iraq and to redirect our efforts to Afghanistan. There are no reports of him doing what he's promised. Recently the leader and commander of troops in The Middle East Area, General Stanley McChrystal, submitted a request for a surge of an additional forty thousand soldiers in Afghanistan. Currently, this request is still pending, and Obama has been focusing on his healthcare plan instead. Is this strengthening diplomacy?
Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh suggest that this is the Norwegian elitists' way of subtly suggesting or trying to influence Obama against a surge of troops. The institution has lost its luster and legitimacy for many, especially after this. While Obama continues to stall for time, more U.S. soldiers die. Even more will die if the forty thousand is sent. Is either way promoting peace? I don't think so.
It seems ironic that the forbearer of this institution is not only a Swedish chemist, but also the inventor of dynamite. Nobel was an engineer, manufacturer of armaments, and factory owner. He amassed a fortune while living, but donated nearly all of his wealth when he died to the building of this organization.
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five prizes awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The others are awarded in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics. All nominations and selections are made by the Norwegian Parliament and the Norwegian Nobel Committee. As declared in Nobel's last will and testament, a winner of the Noble Peace Prize must be "a person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
Many recipients from the recent past fit that description: Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr. But then there's Yasser Arafat. Yes, Yasser Arafat-the well-known terrorist associated with arming and commanding the liberation of the Palestinians.
Arafat is directly and indirectly linked to the killing and suffering of thousands. He authorized Jihad and Hamas attacks, funded suicide bombings, and manufactured explosive materials. Yet all these things were put aside and overlooked by the Norwegian Parliament and Nobel Committee for one negotiation at Oslo.
The most recent Nobel Prize winner is our very own President Obama, awarded "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." My question is this: What exactly has he done?
Obama promised during his campaign to withdraw our troops in Iraq and to redirect our efforts to Afghanistan. There are no reports of him doing what he's promised. Recently the leader and commander of troops in The Middle East Area, General Stanley McChrystal, submitted a request for a surge of an additional forty thousand soldiers in Afghanistan. Currently, this request is still pending, and Obama has been focusing on his healthcare plan instead. Is this strengthening diplomacy?
Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh suggest that this is the Norwegian elitists' way of subtly suggesting or trying to influence Obama against a surge of troops. The institution has lost its luster and legitimacy for many, especially after this. While Obama continues to stall for time, more U.S. soldiers die. Even more will die if the forty thousand is sent. Is either way promoting peace? I don't think so.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Marylka Pattison
posted 11/15/09 @ 7:52 AM MST
You wrote, "The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five prizes awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee". Wrong...the Peace Prize is the only one awarded by/in Norway. (Continued…)
Marylka
Marylka Pattison
posted 11/15/09 @ 9:38 AM MST
You wrote, "The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five prizes awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee". This is incorrect. Only the Peace Prize is awarded and presented in Norway. (Continued…)
John P. Hunter
posted 11/15/09 @ 3:17 PM MST
To whom it may concern,
I am a male Caucasian,unknown writer,and concerned citizen of the United States of America,residing in the Philippines with my family. (Continued…)
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