Saturday, October 10, 2009
'The Peace Prize judges won't see it this way ...'
I'm feeling much better about the Nobel Peace Prize after reading Obama's post-award remarks, the explanations of Nobel committee members and generally just letting the shock wear off. It's still a ridiculous award. It's a sign of creeping Time-magazine marginalization. It also contains, yes, more than a hint of patronizing anti-Americanism. (I mean, seriously, Euro-weenie elites without condescending attitudes? WTF?) ...
But, as I said yesterday, if Obama can find a way to gracefully accept it on behalf of America (and past American presidents, BTW), then fine. Many Europeans -- especially the young -- haven't a clue how much we argue and cuss and fight over here about our country's leadership role in the world. They haven't a clue how much their cherished social programs were and are subsidized by vast expenditures and taxes over here on a military and foreign-policy apparatus that serves as an effective security umbrella for them, so that they can hold their giant puppet shows that reduce realpolitik history and sacrifices to fairy tails and boasts about how upper-middle-class Euros are so artistic. I disagree with Peggy about the 'wicked' nature of the award. But she's right the president can't and shouldn't accept the award on his own behalf -- and that mischievous Europeans need to hear a thing or two about America that their anti-American-infested media isn't telling them. ... Obama text via Dan and Noonan column via BK.
I'm feeling much better about the Nobel Peace Prize after reading Obama's post-award remarks, the explanations of Nobel committee members and generally just letting the shock wear off. It's still a ridiculous award. It's a sign of creeping Time-magazine marginalization. It also contains, yes, more than a hint of patronizing anti-Americanism. (I mean, seriously, Euro-weenie elites without condescending attitudes? WTF?) ...
But, as I said yesterday, if Obama can find a way to gracefully accept it on behalf of America (and past American presidents, BTW), then fine. Many Europeans -- especially the young -- haven't a clue how much we argue and cuss and fight over here about our country's leadership role in the world. They haven't a clue how much their cherished social programs were and are subsidized by vast expenditures and taxes over here on a military and foreign-policy apparatus that serves as an effective security umbrella for them, so that they can hold their giant puppet shows that reduce realpolitik history and sacrifices to fairy tails and boasts about how upper-middle-class Euros are so artistic. I disagree with Peggy about the 'wicked' nature of the award. But she's right the president can't and shouldn't accept the award on his own behalf -- and that mischievous Europeans need to hear a thing or two about America that their anti-American-infested media isn't telling them. ... Obama text via Dan and Noonan column via BK.
