The Nobel Peace Prize

President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, and the United States is in an uproar. It seems like most people -- including many of Obama's supporters -- think the award was undeserved, or at least premature.

Two questions.

#1: Are prospects for world peace significantly improved with Obama in office? The answer would have to be yes. Considering that the previous President followed a policy of unilateral preemptive war (and actually launched two of those wars) and challenged the world with "If you're not with us, you're against us," the Ivory Madonna would say that prospects for world peace are definitely better.

On that criterion -- and you must admit, it's the most applicable to the Nobel Peace Prize -- Obama deserved the prize as soon as he took office.

#2: But what did Obama do? Let's see. He spent two or more years running for President. Against tremendous obstacles (the genius of Karl Rove, the power of the vast right-wing conspiracy, the perennial incompetence and death-wish of the Democratic Party) he inspired enough voters to win. That took tremendous effort and talent.

Obama worked hard to achieve election, and because of his hard work the prospects for world peace have improved. Exactly how does he not deserve a prize awarded for hard work that leads to improved prospect for world peace?

M

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The Ivory Madonna's story is told in Dance for the Ivory Madonna by Don Sakers.
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