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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 9, 2009 - 06:57am PT
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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?_r=1&hp/
Obama got it.
I was hoping for a climber dude that drinks tea and builds schools...
but hey...
Cheers,
DD
Children of our Era
We are children of our era;
our era is political.
All affairs, day and night,
yours, ours, theirs,
are political affairs.
Like it or not,
your genes have a political past,
your skin a political cast,
your eyes a political aspect.
What you say has a resonance;
what you are silent about is telling.
Either way, it’s political.
Even when you head for the hills
you’re taking political steps
on political ground.
Even apolitical poems are political,
and above us shines the moon,
by now no longer lunar.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
Question? What question? Dear, here’s a suggestion:
a political question.
You don’t even have to be a human being
to gain political significance.
Crude oil will do,
or concentrated feed, or any raw material.
Or even a conference table whose shape
was disputed for months:
should we negotiate life and death
at a round table or a square one?
Meanwhile people are dying,
animals perishing,
houses burning,
and fields growing wild,
just as in times most remote
and less political.
- by Wislawa Szymborska
Nobel Prize Poet
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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I too was hoping for a school building climber.
At least our neocons can no longer maintain that Obama isn't popular in the world and that the policies of the recent past were anything but hated.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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applause and smiles from my heart.
raise a cheers tonight to our commander-in-chief!
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philo
Trad climber
boulder, co.
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Yep if it couldn't be a tea drinking failed K2 climber then Obama is a wonderful choice.
Turning the world's image of the American Presidency around in less than 9 months is amazing.
A significant political "climate change" to be sure.
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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"So soon? Too early. He has no contribution so far. He is still at an early stage. He is only beginning to act," said former Polish President Lech Walesa, a 1983 Nobel Peace laureate.
"This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act," Walesa said.
In further analysis, offered by MSNBC this morning: "The award appeared to be a slap at Bush from a committee that harshly criticized Obama's predecessor for his largely unilateral military action in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks....emissinsan ter asben itlesiniicntreucio i gobl ucear stocpiles since Obama took office."
I think the reporter was taken out on a gurny.
Something the Swede's never consider is that they are, on the margin, meddling in our internal affairs. (Hey did I ever tell you about my epiphany while traveling in Sweden? I sat in an outdoor café watching the good looking women walk by—Gottenberg is a university town—and thinking about how they are not all blonds, as is a requirement for American boy Swedish fantasies whose knowledge of the world is based on beer commercials. Beautiful, nevertheless. So much for beer based knowledge. Then it hit me: blond roots!!!!)
I am waiting for the AM radio set to comment.
I thought for sure that Letterman would get the nod, even if Greg deserves it. But Greg will never win: no political payback and he actually has done something.
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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 9, 2009 - 09:38am PT
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"Something the Swede's never consider is that they are, on the margin, meddling in our internal affairs"
Interesting observation...
I think to some degree you may have a point. It certainly could be construed as political that's for sure.
Bush probably had as much to do with Obama getting it as anyone.
And, before you lump me in the Obama fan club consider my comment. What you and I think of Obama is one thing, what the world perceives is a whole other kettle of fish.
Maybe this too;
"This is probably an encouragement for him to act. Let's see if he perseveres. Let's give him time to act," Walesa said." is true...?
Cheers,
DD
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reddirt
climber
Elevation 285 ft
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This is both a carrot to uphold the expectations that Obama's Presidency created (creates) & as close to a Fawk You to Bush/Cheney/Rove that a group of dignitaries can come up with.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of this selection, perhaps it can still benefit Greg.
Perhaps we can all send snail mail & email & urge Obama & Michelle to donate some of the prize money to Greg Mortenson! Maybe even enclose a copy of Three Cups of Tea. If Obama/Michelle receives mutiple requests (and copies of the book), it would be very convincing.
email
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
snail mail:
You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Please include your e-mail address
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ahad aham
Trad climber
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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 9, 2009 - 09:46am PT
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Actually Red I heard (and ya hear the strangest things in this part of the world...) that Obama already is supporting Greg (at least the projects).
I know not if it's true, and if so in what way, but I sure wouldn't put it past him (them).
Pakistan is really a focus on many fronts, the fact that many of those schools are being ripped apart (?) is motivation for the Admin...
I hope and trust.
Cheers,
DD
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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 9, 2009 - 09:47am PT
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Ahad...
please explain...
DD
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Jan
Mountain climber
Okinawa, Japan
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In response to Roger-
When you are the world's only superpower with the ability to destroy any country you target, and intervene frequently around the world at multiple levels, you no longer have the option of keeping your internal affairs to yourself. They become the concern of the world. Those who have any power whatever, from a suicide bomnber to a Nobel committee will definitely try to influence you.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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DD, Ahad's post is from Big Brother in 1984.
Backwards speak.
It's still a great and powerful book.
Good ol' Tom Jefferson said the government bears close watching!
Love your country always, love your government only when they deserve it.
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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 9, 2009 - 10:01am PT
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Ah, thanks Survival...
Hope things are well with you.
Cheers mate,
DD
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mdavid
Big Wall climber
CA, CO, TX
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after Arafat it's just hard to take the Nobel Peace Prize seriously.
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Roger Breedlove
climber
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
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I don't disagree with your sense of the world, Jan. The committees for the Nobel Peace Prize and Nobel Prize for Literature have both become transparently political (and to some, laughably so).
The Swedes (edit: this mistake gets pointed out several times down thread) are entitled to their opinion, but an open question is what good it does to help Obama. He doesn't need the money to do what he is trying to do--tax payers are footing that bill--whereas Greg, for instance, could really use the money for what he is doing. Obama does not need the publicity, whereas Greg does. Since the Noble Peace Prize has no impact upon the evil doers in world, the only question remains, will the American people provide more support for Obama's efforts, which Obama does need?
My snide comment about the meddling in our affairs is directed to that last part of the equation. The political forces attacking Obama--the AM radio set--will have a field day with this.
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raymond phule
climber
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The swedes are actually not involved in the peace price. It is the norwegians that decide who is getting the peace price.
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Nominations closed after he'd been in office for TEN DAYS!
Indeed a farce.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Hiya DD, I've been hoping for another installment of your India photos!
Mdavid, it's true that they don't always get everything right.
I'm wishing that we would hear some more about some of the lesser known peace makers. You know, like Greg, but there are so many even less known than he is. I am a hopeful supporter of the Prez, but I agree that this is all based on expectations rather than current results. Let's hope that he is able to come close.....
I nominate Jan from our crowd.
Hey, how about the supertopo "People That Matter Prizes"?
I think you'd be surprised to know how much Jan has done to foster goodwill in other countries.
I NOMINATE JAN FOR SUPERTOPO PEACE PRIZE!!!!!
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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RB...Opps? Is that a word I need to be brought up to date on?
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