Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

As one can see below, I've spent a little while reading many different articles from many different points of view (still haven't seen what Glenn Beck thinks of a "racist against white people" winning the Prize). A lot of them are interesting as well as biased. Very annoying, but very true. Personally, I think it's too much, too soon.

My initial reaction was confusion, followed quickly by joy, which then turned to curiosity. Talking with friends about the topic I wondered: "Why did he win it?"

My friend Phil brought it to my attention that the forms must be submitted by February 1st. That was a shocker, meaning they've known since 12 days after his presidency he would be good. (Kinda wished they'd shared that information with us.) I was unaware they did that so early, which certainly brought a few questions to mind.

Obama also hasn't been in office that long, either. Had it been next year or the year after, seeing as we could have a better idea of what he was doing, I wouldn't hesitate to say it was GREAT! Now, looking at the pieces around, I'm wondering if it's just for show.

Obama is doing a lot, moving many things forward in a motion not seen since FDR. Roosevelt was widely hated and thought to be a communist, though now he's considered a great president for trying to rebuild our nation, and did a great job in picking us up off of the floor and getting us on our feet. Was he a communist? Definitely not, but it wouldn't have been acceptable to think otherwise. A fine example is Ronald Reagan, who started off in politics as a "New Dealer". Many argue he "saw the better side" and moved over, but when one looks at his presidency, one can see many "liberal" aspects of his two terms.

Many will be childish and say "it's cause he's a liberal" and many will be stupid and say "it's cause he's black". These are the people we have to live with on this world, unfortunately. People who stoop so low as to use a term like "lib-tards" (yes, I have actually heard that one used against me) are part of the problem, not the solution.

So what do I think of this decisions? I think it was too fast. This prize was given based on intentions, not facts. While he has done a lot, it's still too early to be handing him a prize. Some things are still not done. This is also a VERY BAD thing for Obama.

Obama has a lot riding on him. He is the first black president (my friends hate the term "African-American"). This means a lot of our society. If he turns out to be a "bad president", then that could leave Black people out of the White House for a long time, which wouldn't be good for anyone.

With this award, if Obama accepts it (which his press secretary said he would in one of the articles below) then he has taken a very large load on his shoulders. He MUST be a GREAT president, or not only will the Nobel Committee lose credibility, but so will he. He has just been told "here's your prize for all the great stuff you're GOING TO DO." He has a lot more pressure saying "DO IT!"

I think he's won on a matter of ideals. They want everyone in the world to be as positive as he is and a go-getter like he is, so they give him an award to help others "look up to him". Not a very wise decision.

Did he win because he's black? No, which is a stupid thing to think (though I'm sure MANY will say that's the only reason). I seriously doubt that him being the first Black president HURT ANY, but I don't believe it's the only reason. I have a strong stance when it comes to racism, as many of my friends know.

My verdict: He should be the second person in history and deny the award. (The first person being Lê Ðức Thọ) This will give him TOO much pressure and we can't have that on a man running our country. He needs to, and wants to, be a good president and concentrate on what's happening over here. I think him accepting this award isn't the best idea.

Besides, history will look at him as a better man for doing so, if not the ONLY American to deny the Nobel Peace Prize.

Just my opinion...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/nobel.peace.prize/index.html

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929395,00.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/10/09/obama.nobel.peace.reaction/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33237202/ns/politics-white_house/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?_r=1

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/10/09/president-barack-obama-wins-nobel-peace-prize/