>> ^chilaxe:
Isn't that throwing stones in glass houses? We say the same thing: http://www.videosift.com/video/Feeling-the
-Hate-In-Jerusalem-on-Obama-s-Cairo-Address#comment-778730

I don't think so, no.

As much as I believe what I believe, I'm willing to let others believe what they want as well. My problem begins when someone else tries to tell me I have to do things his way.

You can decide on who's right and who's wrong yourself, but it's the willingness to allow others to decide on their own who's right and who's wrong that makes a society free.

>> ^demon_ix:
Ah. Reminds me of the Palin supporters.
"When you're right, you don't have to compromise. Compromise is for people that are wrong".


Isn't that throwing stones in glass houses? We say the same thing: http://www.videosift.com/video/Feeling-the-Hate-In-Jerusalem-on-Obama-s-Cairo-Address#comment-778730

>> ^Ornthoron:
I'm as flustered as the rest of the world by this decision, but as a representative for NorwaySift, I guess it's up to me to defend some of the thinking that is the rationale behind this year's award.
It should be clear to everyone that Obama did not receive this prize for any accomplishments so far. The decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee rather fits in with a policy they have pursued from time to time of trying to use the prize to influence current affairs and/or gather momentum for a cause, instead of giving a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. Examples of this are the 1971 award to Willy Brandt, the 1973 award to Henry Kissinger and Lê Ðức Thọ, and the 2007 award to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Aung San Suu Kyi might also fit into this picture. What's extraordinary this year is that it happens so soon after his inauguration, but I think the committee thought that the time to act was now instead of next year, since the whole world is still anticipating and judging what Obama is going to do. Besides, we can compare to Willy Brandt who received his prize only two years after becoming Chancellor. Obama HAS done some small moves to improve the international climate, such as opening for talks with Iran and his Cairo address. Words CAN be effective, and I suspect the latter has been an important contribution to the committee's decision. Obama's shelving of the eastern european missile shield has also been mentioned, but I don't think that qualifies at all for the Peace Prize. It was more of a reassessment of USA's strategic needs than a call for peace, or if you will a revision of the previous administration's bad strategic decisions.
But my main point is that Obama did not receive the Peace Prize FOR his deeds so far, but rather that his actions symbolize a sentiment that the Nobel Committee want to encourage. Whether their judgment is sound, only time will show. The Nobel Peace Prize has a far from perfect track record, so I won't be surprised if this award turns out to be a mistake. But I think it's too early to tell.


Yeah i buy into this a little.

Still, there are so many people out there who have worked tirelessly towards peace in various countries. Many, many leaders before Obama have done it. Probably done it better too. He's just got a lot of press. What a world.

I'm as flustered as the rest of the world by this decision, but as a representative for NorwaySift, I guess it's up to me to defend some of the thinking that is the rationale behind this year's award.

It should be clear to everyone that Obama did not receive this prize for any accomplishments so far. The decision of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee rather fits in with a policy they have pursued from time to time of trying to use the prize to influence current affairs and/or gather momentum for a cause, instead of giving a pat on the shoulder for a job well done. Examples of this are the 1971 award to Willy Brandt, the 1973 award to Henry Kissinger and Lê Ðức Thọ, and the 2007 award to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Aung San Suu Kyi might also fit into this picture. What's extraordinary this year is that it happens so soon after his inauguration, but I think the committee thought that the time to act was now instead of next year, since the whole world is still anticipating and judging what Obama is going to do. Besides, we can compare to Willy Brandt who received his prize only two years after becoming Chancellor. Obama HAS done some small moves to improve the international climate, such as opening for talks with Iran and his Cairo address. Words CAN be effective, and I suspect the latter has been an important contribution to the committee's decision. Obama's shelving of the eastern european missile shield has also been mentioned, but I don't think that qualifies at all for the Peace Prize. It was more of a reassessment of USA's strategic needs than a call for peace, or if you will a revision of the previous administration's bad strategic decisions.

But my main point is that Obama did not receive the Peace Prize FOR his deeds so far, but rather that his actions symbolize a sentiment that the Nobel Committee want to encourage. Whether their judgment is sound, only time will show. The Nobel Peace Prize has a far from perfect track record, so I won't be surprised if this award turns out to be a mistake. But I think it's too early to tell.

A brief list I came across to jog your memory:
3/18/8 – Obama caught world-wide attention for his moving speech on race relations 7/24/8 - Obama lays the foundation for a new era of international relations and began inspiring renewed hope in American leadership during his campaign speech in Berlin 11/6/8 – Obama’s victory was hailed as a promise of hope for the world. 12/1/8 – Obama began plans to restore U.N. ambassador to cabinet rank. 1/22/9 - Appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East peace 1/22/9 – Ordered the closing of Guantanamo Bay 1/22/9 – Ordered comprehensive review of detention policies 1/22/9 – Prohibited use of torture 1/22/9 - Signed an executive order to close CIA secret prisons 1/23/9 – Lifted “Global Gag Rule” on international health groups 1/26/9 – Began to address climate change by increasing fuel standards for automobiles 1/26/9 – Appointed Special Envoy for Climate Change 1/27/9 - Signs Lily Ledbetter “Fair Pay” Act 2/1/9 – Expanded healthcare for children by signing SCHIP 2/5/9 - Again addressed energy conservation by increasing standards for appliances. 2/24/9 – Directed almost $1 billion for prevention and wellness to improve America’s health 2/25/9 - Initiated international efforts to reduce mercury emissions worldwide 2/27/9 – Committed to responsibly ending the war in Iraq 4/1/9 – Agreed to negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia. 4/1/9 – Enhanced U.S. – China relations 4/2/9 - Led global response to the economic crisis through the G20, obtaining commitments of $1.1 trillion to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable economies 4/4/9 - Renewed dialog with NATO and other key allies 4/5/9 – Announced new strategy to responsible address international nuclear proliferation 4/13/9 – Began easing tension with Cuba through new policy stance 4/17/9 - Secured $5 billion in aid commitments "to bolster Pakistan's economy and help it fight terror and Islamic radicalism" 4/22/9 - Developed the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. 5/8/9 – Proposed International Affaires budget that included funds to create a civilian response corps -- teams of civilian experts in rule of law, policing, transitional governance, economics, engineering, and other areas critical to helping rebuild war-torn societies; Provide $40 million for a "stabilization bridge fund," which would provide rapid response funds for the State Department to help stabilize a crisis situation. 6/4/9 - Gave historic address to the Muslim World in Cairo - "American is not at war with Islam" Foreign affairs experts insist that Obama's engagement with the Muslim world has been remarkable. "He has been able to dramatically change America's image in that region" 8/4/9 - Used DIPLOMACY to free 2 American journalists from a North Korea prison 9/18/9 - De-escalation of nuclear tension through repurposing of missile defense prompting Russia to withdraw its missile plan.

This doesn't even address the recent nuclear de-escalation of Iran (they have revealed a heartofore hidden nuclear facility, and agreed to sell their weapons-grade nuclear material to Russia) due to DIPLOMACY. Neither does it address his wise actions in the Somali pirate situation, saving american lives.

I coulda watched that clip follow the fat red arrow all the way from Borneo to Malaya (wherever that is...) to Sri Lanka to Jiddah to Cairo to Rome to Madrid to Paris to Warsaw to Boston to D.C. ... No wait, that wouldn't have been a good thing, nevermind.

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Perhaps there are those that are secular, but everything I've seen leads me to believe that at its core, this conflict is about countries that were theologically founded. Things may have become more "cultural" or "secular" or whatever, but at its most basic element, these conflicts are about which magic cookimajiki in the sky is the right one to pray to.

Just look at these fine characters:

http://www.videosift.com/video/Feeling-the-Hate-In-Jerusalem-on-Obama-s-Cairo-Address#comment-778152

There will be no compromise till people stop believing in their magic hajooji in the sky and start realizing that we are all human beings.

There was a very clear propaganda movement in this country (the US) during the last administration to push americans into believing all kinds of crazy ideas. News stations (and not just fox) played only the 'crazy' buts of the Iranian presidents speeches, and would purposefully edit away any positive talk of peace. Every year a new 'study' would come out indicating that Iran was only a year away from getting nukes and that, as Mathews said, 'the president would have his finger on the button to hit Israel.'

It seemed all a part of the last administration bending over backwards to support Israel in every thing they did.

Thankfully Obama's speech in Cairo was a 180 on that policy and practically undid the propaganda of the past 8 years. Unfortunately many Americans, like Mathews, still believe every word released in the past 8 years.

>> deedub81

I can't say I agree with Obama's philosophy found in his observations and comparisons.

I'll share with you one of the most glaring examples: He compares the civil rights movement in the US with the Palestinian's struggle in Israel?

He doesn't compare them, he highlights the civil rights movement as a good example of what can be done without violence (in contrast to what's happening in Palestine).

For reals? I'm sure there are many Palestinians who just want peace, but a lot of the arabs and 97% of Palestinian leaders want death to Israel and death to the US. Are you going to compare the history of that movement (Hammas, The PLO, Yasser Arafat, Abu Nidal, Islamic Jihad movement in Palestine, PFLP) to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement in the US?

Where did you get those statistics? I doubt that most Palestinians want death to the US. Besides, many Israelis deny Palestinians their right for their own state.

I'm tired of all this talk about taking a neutral stance to make friends and outstretching our hand to tyrants and evil men!
To quote Dr. King himself: "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict."
It's not okay to not take sides (especially when you're the President of The United States of America).

He doesn't remain neutral, he takes a definite stance against extremists and people who promote violence. He didn't say anything about any leaders, he was trying to extend a hand to the Muslim people. He takes the side of peace.

Diplomacy should not come at the expense of morality and high standards. Can we not be open and transparent in our discussions of past relationships? Do we have to pretend to have approved of past behavior in order to show that we will accept a change in future behavior?

NO! We need to have a candid discussion about mistakes that have been made. Arab leaders cannot continue spewing hate and propaganda (such as denying the holocaust) and expect us to accept them with open arms!

That's exactly what he's doing in this speech: He acknowledges mistakes made by both the US and the Arab world. He even specifically denounces people who deny the holocaust.

>> ^quantumushroom:
Israeli Jews have better Tyrant Detectors than American lefties.
And c'mon, we all know if this gang of rowdy frats was criticizing Bush in the same exact manner, the left would be cheering.


That's something you'll never understand.

It's not about left and right.

It's about right and wrong.

>> ^quantumushroom:
Israeli Jews have better Tyrant Detectors than American lefties.

And c'mon, we all know if this gang of rowdy frats was criticizing Bush in the same exact manner, the left would be cheering.

In the UK they're called "Chavs". Here, I call them "bro's" or "broseph". They're always named Travis or Trevor or Jered or something like that. Point is, we all have them, and nobody will ever admit to agreeing with them.

>> ^chilaxe:
"Shut the fuck up and go cry your neo-con mistruths over at Malkins blog or LGF. . . I wish you'd really just leave this place."
Obama's so successful because he stands for everything that's the opposite of that comment.


I'm not Obama, nor am I running for office.

I'm a normal taxpaying citizen who is tired of neo-con assholes lying their way through life, and cheering on murder, rape, and torture for their own evil and dark perversions.

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