Obama Wins A Nobel Peace Prize...

[Rani]

i fail to see how its a non issue unless im misunderstanding you. i remember at work when they announced that he won almost everyone was cheering and what not saying how great it is and that we finally got a black president. also ive heard people blame obamas shitty job on his blackness and ive been told im racist because i didnt vote for him (i didnt vote for mccain either).

As the first black president he can't really do anything with it unless he takes it to a racism level. He's forced by his position to ignore it if only because racism is divisive and we can't afford anyone endorsing or encouraging divisiveness. Kind of a Catch-22 for any politician. While I think we're heading towards the point where skin color or gender becomes simply a discriptive term, we're not even close yet. It well could be Jimmy Carter was right. Most of our Senators and Congressmen are over 60 years old with a childhood that predates equal rights. And a substantial number of them are of Southern extraction and in the South there's an entire class that it sometimes seems will never get over it. So it well could be he does face more difficulty than if he were white. That's got to influence them subconsciously whether they admit it or not.

At the election I think people did the politically correct thing by jumping on the bandwagon of his being black when what they were really celebrating was the hope that he was going to be a totally different change from George W. Now, much as I actualy like the man, no politician is going to be that much different from any other politician because we're talking about politics as being a career and no longer about service to the people. If you're part of the network you're part of the network and no one will be elected in the current political climate without being a part and parcel of it. To expect otherwise isn't realistic.

Back on the Nobel topic, I'm hearing some things from my friends in the international community abroad that they approve of the award. What they're telling me is that the international political climate is changing due to his influence to a more positive and cooperative environment. And again, while I personally think he's going to turn out to be a good president once his administration is in the history books, I don't know that the international community wouldn't have embraced anyone simply because they despised George W. so fiercely. Someone pointed out Obama was a private campaigner for world cooperation and peace and was a published author on the subject. Since I haven't read any of his books I can't vouch for that, but it may be a valid point and may have been what led to his nomination. Maybe he does deserve it and maybe he doesn't. Maybe it's also something he now has to live up to and maybe that's a good thing for the world in general. Only the Nobel committee knows why they decided he was worthy. For me it's not a reason to get worked up over because as I've said before, I think people should be out doing something positive in the world and maybe become eligible for themselves rather than sit around griping because he won it.

'Rani

[destructo]

As the first black president he can't really do anything with it unless he takes it to a racism level. He's forced by his position to ignore it if only because racism is divisive and we can't afford anyone endorsing or encouraging divisiveness. Kind of a Catch-22 for any politician. While I think we're heading towards the point where skin color or gender becomes simply a discriptive term, we're not even close yet. It well could be Jimmy Carter was right. Most of our Senators and Congressmen are over 60 years old with a childhood that predates equal rights. And a substantial number of them are of Southern extraction and in the South there's an entire class that it sometimes seems will never get over it. So it well could be he does face more difficulty than if he were white. That's got to influence them subconsciously whether they admit it or not.

sounds fair and makes sense from that point of view

[delSol_si]

i fail to see how its a non issue unless im misunderstanding you. i remember at work when they announced that he won almost everyone was cheering and what not saying how great it is and that we finally got a black president. also ive heard people blame obamas shitty job on his blackness and ive been told im racist because i didnt vote for him (i didnt vote for mccain either).

The only people I heard cheering were black. I'm not saying that as a racist statement either. I am just stating what I observed. I don't care that the guy is black, doesn't make one difference. I think he is an idiot. I also think McCain is an idiot, jsut not as big of an idiot. I am sure either one of them would have done a horrible job.

[destructo]

im not going to lie well over 50% of the people cheering were black but its also a college town so everyone is "liberal". and by liberal i mean only votes democrat no matter what and buys into all the "hope" "change" bullshit. pretty much anyone that got elected i was going to be pissed about. my campus is proof of malcom x's if you dont stand for anything you'll fall for anything, which is very sad

[r1v3th3ad]

I think Ron Paul should have got the award

[Rani]

I don't honestly expect too much from any politician. Probably because I'm a cynic who thinks our entire government needs a major overhaul. But I love playing devils advocate and bending my mind around with "what ifs"......

"What if" he turns out to do everything he said he was going to do by the end of his administration?

"What if" it turns out that the oppostion he faces within the government is coming because of the subconscious racism wondered about thereby causing the delays most of us are so unhappy with?

"What if" the citizens of the US are so cynical because of what we've been through lately that we can't see the value of someone who genuinely wants to make positive change in the world?

"What if" the Nobel proves to be the catalyst to cause him to live up to being a major influence in creating a more peaceful world climate?

"What if" we became truly active in the political process and communicated with our government representatives every single time they failed to act or threw up opposition to a good idea because of personal prejudice or values?

"What if" we held them all responsible?

"What if.................."

'Rani

[tinyj316]

I'll just leave this here...
http://www.thefoxnation.com/media/2009/10/...ot-good-america

[Hippo_Master]

I'm racist, I voted for Nader. Again.

[Sonthert]

I think somebody said that a Republican wouldn't win the Nobel Peace Prize? Thats true...except for Theodore Roosevelt. My vote for the worst President of the 20th century, with Harding in a close second. Bush wins it hands down for the 21st century. Much worse than Obama.

Bear in mind that T. Roosevelt said that the United States needed to get involved in wars to win territory and colonies. He also is credited with saying If I have to choose between peace and righteousness, I choose righteousness. Why he is among the most popular Presidents can only be explained by people confusing him with F.D. Roosevelt. My Top 20th Century Presidents would be Dwight D. Eisenhower, then Jack Kennedy.

Hey Rani, don't worry about it. Idiot Conservatives don't have to have a reason to argue. They can intentionally read anything they want to anyway they want to. Thats why they're conservatives in the first place.

[Rani]

Hey Rani, don't worry about it. Idiot Conservatives don't have to have a reason to argue. They can intentionally read anything they want to anyway they want to. Thats why they're conservatives in the first place.

Oh, no worries - I like intellectual debate quite a lot..... Old saying......

The worlds worst prison is a closed mind.

"Rani

[Sonthert]

I always like to say:"The worst punishment for ignorance is to do nothing at all."

[FiveSpeedF150]

I don't honestly expect too much from any politician. Probably because I'm a cynic who thinks our entire government needs a major overhaul.

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe

[Sonthert]

Who was it that said something like 'What a strange time we live in; man is not quite savage and not quite evolved.'? I say pass a few laws regarding politicians and hold them to the same standards the policeman on the beat is, put 20 year jail terms as a minimum and half of them will be gone one way or another within a year. That might work, too.