Some of us in the United States would like to think that the Norwegian Nobel Committee did not confer the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday to Barack Hussein Obama, our 44th president, as a prize for a promise yet unfulfilled but, rather, as a reward for a deed in the form of change; change which has already occurred, one brought about by and through Obamas words. At least thats our hope and that this award is in no way prepaid recompense for other anticipated future deeds.
Unfortunately, not just for Americans but every citizen of this planet, the United States is a nation divided, just as divided as the Sunni and Shia are in Iraq the Kurds probably prefer to secede and any journalist or political commentator making use of the words some, many or most, when referring to our population, must be careful in their use. The glue that held together a commonality of purpose for Americans before, one arising from a uniquely superior standard of living over most of the world, has now lost all its adhesive characteristics even if the government keeps clinging to it by creating phony wealth, worthless dollars and IOUs backed by trust in a nation whose economic better days are being left behind vis-ą-vis other nations whose economies are coming of age.
But, divided or not, Americans elected Barack Obama as their president, and by so doing, and this charismatic leaders cry for change, in both domestic and foreign policy, a signal was sent to the rest of the world: a message of hope, a call for renewed efforts for peace. And the world saw the walls of an American Jericho, built by an insane and arrogant Bush, collapse at the sound of the trumpets of change blown by this American Joshuas army. Not just the pre-election call for change, but change that Obama has called for during the nine months of his presidency. From his early trip to Cairo and his rapprochement with the Muslim world, to his commitment for dialogue with any and all nations including North Korea and Iran and an extended hand to Russia by way of desisting from activating a missile shield close to her borders, this American president has demonstrated a strong desire for peace, although strong forces and voices within the United States will fight him all the way when it comes to peace in the Holy Land, or finding a solution in Afghanistan where Americas military wouldnt have the upper hand.
Be that as it may, and whether the world would like to see deeds of peace come from Obama, the message it has sent back to America via the Nobel Prize should be not only welcome by its recipient but the rest of Americans as well. The world is happy to see the US act as a responsible nation, not unilaterally as its bully, in matters affecting both peace and its very survival through climate change.
True, Obama may have only changed the peace atmospherics but, given his position as president of todays only superpower, what more can anyone ask of him?
The same Friday that Obama was being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, eight sun hours away in the West Coast of the United States, I was confronting during my attendance of weekly management meetings the reality of such an honor with another reality: how much Obama is hated by many in the US business community, and a very strong contingent of unchristian Christians who have joined forces with Corporate America to form a new political force which has taken over the Republican Party and asphyxiated any decency which existed in the once proud, conservative GOP.
Today, a day later, as if to put the final accent on the issue of a divided nation, I woke up to find an email from Michael Steele, Republican National Committee Chairman, with a satirical (cynical would be more correct) subject: Nobel Peace Prize for Awesomeness. In this email, this peddler of his partys hate, without mincing words, led the readers to conclude how meaningless a once honorable and respected award has become by virtue of having his unworthy compatriot, Barack Obama, become its recipient; adding in a postscript to the letter Trendy slogans and international esteem dont create new jobs for Americans, reduce the national debt, or keep our country safer in a dangerous world. Nothing has changed in how GOP-America views the world: as both irrelevant and dangerous not an iota different from the way George W. Bush did.
As a consolation, such garbage of a message, appropriately landed between two other spam missives, one advertising fake pharmaceuticals masked as Viagra and Cialis, the other peddling university diplomas for a small fee. Chairman Steele could not have been in better or more apropos company.
Unfortunately for the president of this United States, the unsavory reality is that true changes in foreign policy may never be allowed to occur by those holding the ultimate power; not unless he is able to shift support from the other America to his, something not likely to happen unless some miracle takes place, and the economy, even if only temporarily, shows improvement and he is permitted to take credit for it.
Meantime, our politically-pugilist leader keeps taking punches from the right and from the left and even progressives like me accuse him of being a centrist caving in to the wishes of the Right, being neither a forceful pursuer of peace abroad or of social justice at home.
At the end, hope springs eternal, even if only deeds by Obama can ultimately become sempiternal.
The world is happy to see the US act as a responsible nation, not unilaterally as its bully, in matters affecting both peace and its very survival through climate change.
The world is scared shitless, because the Once Great Nation that could be counted on in any type of global turmoil or calamity, is now representing itself as just another voting member of the UN. The world once looked upon the Once Great Nation as a *leader*. Lesser nations found comfort in that, and despots and troublemakers found restraint. No more, and the proof lies in the future, and will make fools of one side or the other. I just hope to God that I'm long dead as opposed to being able to say I told you so.
You know, Iran has sentenced to death, 3 people who were part of a group who protested against their corrupted election in June. We all want peace and freedom for all people just like the Norweigans do, but what is their peaceful solution to situations such as this?
Edit to add: where were the Norweigans when Saddam was murdering his own people? The author labels George Bush as insane and arrogant. I didn't see any "peaceful" nations taking actions to provide a hopeful future for their fellow man. It's very easy to sit back and do nothing, and therefore be a "peaceful" people. Very easy, indeed.
This message has been edited by Carolyn826 on Oct 10, 2009 7:31 PM
Today, a day later, as if to put the final accent on the issue of a divided nation, I woke up to find an email from Michael Steele, Republican National Committee Chairman, with a satirical (cynical would be more correct) subject: Nobel Peace Prize for Awesomeness.
So what divides the nation. Hate? Do you mean we cannot dissent without hate? Do you mean that following Obama is the only path that leads to the mountain top? Nonsense. People can dissent without hate but obviously they cannot in the view of liberals.
In this email, this peddler of his partys hate, without mincing words, led the readers to conclude how meaningless a once honorable and respected award has become by virtue of having his unworthy compatriot, Barack Obama, become its recipient;
So what did Obama do to earn the award? Nothing!!!. that makes the award meaningless. If something isn't earned, it's worthless.
adding in a postscript to the letter Trendy slogans and international esteem dont create new jobs for Americans, reduce the national debt, or keep our country safer in a dangerous world.
Well, is that a correct statement or is in incorrect?
Nothing has changed in how GOP-America views the world: as both irrelevant and dangerous not an iota different from the way George W. Bush did.
So was the view of defending liberty so evil? Do you really believe that we should just lie down and play dead when people want to enslave us? That appears to be the problem with liberalism. They stand for nothing and they reward people for nothing as though they have really accomplished something. But the reality is , they would not follow Bush and now the Obama Administration wants to be followed as though they are filled with wisdom.
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Glenn Beck hates 9/11 survivors. Shocking as Glenn Beck claimed that he hates 9/11 survivors. The Fox news personality and media clown has always been an outrageous demagogue, a pied piper to the illiterate, unwashed masses that make up the Fox news audience. Michael Stone,Examiner.com
Of course not, unless you listen to how conservatives referred to liberals who dissented between 2000 and 2008. Then, of course it was BDS and anti-American and unpatriotic, and a product of hate.
Of course, then it was accurate. Now, of course, when you call Barack Obama a "hitler" it is just honest dissent.
You apparently wear your hypocrisy on your sleeve.
Of course not, unless you listen to how conservatives referred to liberals who dissented between 2000 and 2008.
Did you read about Betty Williams. she received the worthless Peace Prize and wanted to kill Bush. Did you not read the notices of those plays, and articles of how to assassinate Bush? Of course--you are left eared because you cannot hear right things.
Then, of course it was BDS and anti-American and unpatriotic, and a product of hate.
Well you don't recall the liberals in Congress who said our troops violated the rules of decency. Remember Dickj Durbin. Hey, he lied about the troops but he is still that wonderful liberal who can do no wrong. You hear and see only from the left side. No wonder =you never get things right.
Of course, then it was accurate. Now, of course, when you call Barack Obama a "hitler" it is just honest dissent.
And nolw, Jim. You have taken leave of your senses. I have never called Obama "Hitler." Appears you can't get anything right. You're too far to the left.
You apparently wear your hypocrisy on your sleeve.
Jim..
Well, if you ever gort anythiong right, you could be right. But you never get anything right.
This message has been edited by Poetse12 on Oct 10, 2009 9:59 PM
Think I should take my time to run a spell checker for your benefit? No way. Spelling errors are the opnly thing you and Janie are capable of finding. Would be great if you coulddebate. But you can't.
BTW Susan's board is really great. those people have a sense of humor. They are not like the spread-the-misery liberals on this board.
They are not like the spread-the-misery liberals on this board.
Huh?
The neocons are the ones who spread-the-misery on this board.
They are the ones who say that Obama is responsible for our current National Debt, or that Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, or disclaim Global Warming, not to mention like I said before calling this Nation a Fascist Nation. Talk about spreading the misery.
They are the ones who say that Obama is responsible for our current National Debt,
Come now, let us reason together, Obama could have refused to spend money. He did not have to spend money. He is in charge of spending and cutting spending would have been the proper thing to do. In fact he said we would examine those items and reduce spending and eliminate programs that are not working. Where were you when he said that?
or that Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize,
Since he got it for what he said, his speech writers should be the recipients.
or disclaim Global Warming,
More and more scientists are realizing globalwarming is a hoax. Al gore is a politician and not a scientist.
not to mention like I said before calling this Nation a Fascist Nation.
Where were you when J2 was posting the Fascists Bush administration?
Talk about spreading the misery.
Well, I think I did rather well in refuting your points. Now you refute mine.
They are the ones who say that Obama is responsible for our current National Debt,
Come now, let us reason together, Obama could have refused to spend money. He did not have to spend money. He is in charge of spending and cutting spending would have been the proper thing to do. In fact he said we would examine those items and reduce spending and eliminate programs that are not working. Where were you when he said that?
And you keep saying this is Obamas Administration as a means of deflecting the fact he inherited this Debt from Bush and Previous Administrations(Including Clintons addition to the National Debt). Besides Obama was not the first one to use a bailout to try and stem the bad economy we are in. I believe Bush was first.
or that Obama does not deserve the Nobel Peace Prize,
Since he got it for what he said, his speech writers should be the recipients.
ZURICH (AP) Turkey and Armenia signed a landmark agreement Saturday to establish diplomatic relations and open their sealed border after a century of enmity, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton helped the two sides clear a last-minute snag.
Enough said on this account.
or disclaim Global Warming,
More and more scientists are realizing globalwarming is a hoax. Al gore is a politician and not a scientist.
Try telling that to Jim, who sees the affects of Global Warming in his own State.
not to mention like I said before calling this Nation a Fascist Nation.
Where were you when J2 was posting the Fascists Bush administration?
On that I will admit that Bush did fulfill the 14 danger signs of a fascist government. However I have never heard from the liberals that I should love my President or leave this country. Something I have heard countless times from the neocons during the Bush Administration.
May I add that on the thread for Susan to way in, I spoke up on your be half, yet we have yet to hear from Gus on that particular thread. So you got support from me but not all of your neocon friends, just some of them.
This message has been edited by fisconsoclib on Oct 10, 2009 10:48 PM
Current Topic - Two messages of hope: from and to America
