Sunday, October 11, 2009

On Undeserved Prizes, and the wisdom of accepting them...

President Obama, he of questionable wisdom (and citizenship, and probity) and unmatched skill at cleverly and strategically hurling allies under sundry buses, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on October 9, 2009 - less than a year into his first term as U.S. President, after an ineffectual career as a U.S. Senator, part-time state legislator, sometime attorney, and occasional author.

"I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize," he said. "I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the challenges of the 21st century." - Barack Obama, 9 Oct 2009

He'd be better off humbly rejecting it, and the award itself better served.

When an individual accepts an obviously undeserved award historically given for vast accomplishment for, essentially, "we sure hope you make the United States more European and self-emasculating" rather than any actual achievement - that individual is lessened, and their credibility diminished... tarnished by accepting an award unjustly given.

At the same time, when a committee gives an award such as the Nobel Peace Prize for, effectively "being black AND not George Bush", it tarnishes the award for all future recipients by ladling layers of political whimsy over what is intended as an award to recognize actual human achievement (rather than often unused potential).

The committee ill-served both the award and the recipient, damaging both. Obama made the second best available response to such egregious ass-kissing, and did himself and the nation no favors in making that choice - the wisest course would have been to graciously decline the Prize, and express hope that, after he steps down as President, perhaps the committee will be better able to evaluate his achievements.

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