And the Nobel Peace Prize Goes to ... The EU ?

[cbelt3]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/12/world/euro...?hpt=hp_t3


ohhhkay....

Not to any individual or organization that has actually had a hand in ending a war ? But just because they haven't blown up in a cascade of blood and steel ?

Or heck.. even award it to a politician because they hoped he'd do something good ? :biggrin:

Is it just me, or is that kind of a weird award ?

[August West]

It's not just you. I didn't understand that when I heard the blurb this morning. To me, it seems to cheapen the award.

[$tevie]

The award got cheapened when Kissinger won it. It's a silly award at this point and not worth the hand wringing which it creates every year.

[Acer]

Well, Europe had been killing itself continually for the previous 2000 years, so the EU is a success in peace in that way. Would we had that kind of "cheap" peace in the Middle East.

[hal]

The Peace Prize has gone in the same direction as Time's Man of the Year. No longer worthy of discussion...

[mrbigstuff]

they gave it to Obama, but it was really for "the American people."

[$tevie]

mrbigstuff wrote:
they gave it to Obama, but it was really for "the American people."

Yeah, they handled that poorly. I think they mistakenly thought the President of this country represents its citizens, when in fact at any given time half of us don't feel that way at all.

[Ca Bob]

A minority view here, but if you read The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman, and then look at Europe as it exists today, there is a point to the award. The EU has allowed for peaceful travel across borders, commerce, and a collection of countries that have no need to argue their differences at the point of a bayonet. The current Euro crisis shows how collective security can deal with a very difficult situation without blood curdling threats. I think they have a long way to go, but perhaps the prize is meant to be cautionary, in the sense of "don't blow this chance."

[Dennis S]

It does seem a little weird, but I think I understand their pick.

[Chakravartin]

Ca Bob wrote:
A minority view here, but if you read The Guns of August by Barbara Tuchman, and then look at Europe as it exists today, there is a point to the award. The EU has allowed for peaceful travel across borders, commerce, and a collection of countries that have no need to argue their differences at the point of a bayonet. The current Euro crisis shows how collective security can deal with a very difficult situation without blood curdling threats. I think they have a long way to go, but perhaps the prize is meant to be cautionary, in the sense of "don't blow this chance."

Plus, another $1.4 million goes to Greece's bailout fund!