Is The Nobel Prize an Honor?

Since I’m aware of the dubious history of the Nobel Peace Prize, I wasn’t one of those people left aghast by the choice of the Norwegian committee to award it to Barrack Obama three weeks ago. Unfortunately, there was no reason to expect a more rational choice from them. However, it makes sense to understand exactly why that choice is wrong, especially since Obama still has over three years left in office. And possibly, another four to follow… On this matter, I came across a pertinent article titled ‘The Nobel War-is-Peace Prize’ by Edward Hudgins, a scholar at the Objectivist Center.

In his article, Hudgins offers a ruthless criticism of some of the explicitly stated reasons for which Obama received the prize and of Obama’s policies themselves. While the arguments and criticisms are very broadly generalized and may be a little difficult to follow for those who are not familiar with Ayn Rand’s perspective on the nature of a rational government, individual rights and socialism, this is not to doubt that Hudgins’ essential assessment is, in fact, accurate. He has made it clear why neither Obama nor the Nobel Peace Committee truly represent peace.

In fact, here I have quoted some of the reasons offered by the committee for choosing Obama. The comments that follow are mine.

“Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.”

So, is America expected to sit across a conference table and ‘negotiate’ with irrational terror regimes such as Iran, North Korea, Hamas and the Taliban, that would embrace any opportunity to hit America and its allies?

“The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations.”

Of course, the country that has the maximum ‘disarmament’ and ‘arms control’ to do and therefore, the maximum security compromises to make, is America.

“The USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting.”

…by proposing a climate and energy bill, which will hinder certain industries through billions of dollars worth of taxes and caps on fossil fuel utilization.

“(Obama’s) diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.”

Even if the ‘majority of the world’s population’ share a hatred for America’s industrial and military strength, and want it cut down to size?

"Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

This is from Obama himself. So, Americans are no longer just their ‘neighbor’s keepers’, but should now be ‘global keepers’! Of course, so should everyone else…

Click here to read the entire statement from the Nobel Peace Committee on this matter.