Travis
PEACE PRIZE?
Why did Barack Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize?
How was he even in consideration?
The following paragraphs in italic are from an article you can find on www.msnbc.msn.com.“President Barack Obama said Friday he was surprised and humbled to win the Nobel Peace Prize and would accept it as a "call to action" to work with other nations to solve the problems of the 21st century.
Nobel officials said their stunning pick was meant to build momentum behind Obama's initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.
Many observers were shocked by the unexpected choice so early in the Obama presidency, which began less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline and has yet to yield concrete achievements in peacemaking. Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee said their choice could be seen as an early vote of confidence in Obama intended to build global support for his policies. They lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama's calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.
Aagot Valle, a lawmaker for the Socialist Left party who joined the committee this year, said she hoped the selection would be viewed as "support and a commitment for Obama."
"And I hope it will be an inspiration for all those that work with nuclear disarmament and disarmament," she told The Associated Press in a rare interview. Members of the Nobel peace committee usually speak only through its chairman.
The peace prize was created partly to encourage ongoing peace efforts but Obama's efforts are at far earlier stages than past winners'. The Nobel committee acknowledged that they may not bear fruit at all.”
"Some people say, and I understand it, isn't it premature? Too early? Well, I'd say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now," Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. "It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us."
So, basically, he is receiving this award because of his PLANS for the future? Since when does anybody get rewarded for plans to do something? For saying he/she is going to do something? I’ve never heard of a coach winning a super bowl without playing the game, but, just because he had plans to do so…..I’ve never seen a boxer win a fight without fighting, but, because he said he wanted to…..
This is almost like saying we should never have our electric cut off if we don’t pay the bill, because hey, we plan on paying the bill in the future……This is ridiculous and it’s a slap in the face of previous winners and those who may have won it this year for actually DOING something if not for this brand new “rock star” of a president we have!
Why is Obama pushing a $13 billion expense to give senior citizens who receive social security $250 checks due to no increase in social security payments next year?
Let me get this straight. We aren’t increasing social security next year, but we will spend $13 billion to give everyone a check for $250? My grandpa receives social security. It comes once a month at the beginning of the month. That’s 12 checks a year. Quick, what’s 250/12? It’s somewhere around $21 a month. Is that not an increase? Maybe not a huge increase, but an increase none the less. So why do this for the seniors all at once? He knows many seniors don’t support this healthcare reform that he wants so very much. Do you smell what I do? Maybe a little pork cooking?
Maybe I am wrong, but it makes sense. We see it every day with this administration. With Obama. Why do you think he was so adamant about trying to get the Olympics to come to Chicago? Does he really think we’re all so dumb to realize these things? Well I DON’T!!!!
We are watching stuff like this happen and we’ve been watching long enough. I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being treated like I am too stupid to know what’s best for me. I am tired of the government trying to speak for me. I have a voice and I will make it heard. We all have a voice and it is time that WE make that voice heard!!!!!
Thank you for reading.
QUESTIONS
I am not a republican. I am not a democrat. I do not believe I am anything that has a label. I have a set of beliefs that has been built over the years by influence of friends and family, along with teachers and people I have met along the way. I believe in working hard for everything I get. Values which were instilled in me early in my life by my parents and grandparents. I believe that this country is the very best place to live on this earth because those very values (hard work and perseverance) are the cornerstone to everything we are and will be. I love the United States of America.
My love for history is evident. My favorite subject in high school was American History. One of the most influential people I met in my life (beside my very best friends grandma and grandpa) was my history teacher Mr. Jones. On our last day of senior year he said two words that have been imprinted in my thoughts ever since. He said “If I could give you guys one piece of advice that I’d really want you to listen to it would be this: QUESTION EVERYTHING.” It was a very moving moment for me. No piece of advice ever hit me the way those words have. I took his words to heart. I knew what he meant. Never let someone tell you what to think, feel, see, etc. Find the answers for yourself.
I heard a lot of people claiming that they had never been involved in politics until this last presidential election. Whether it be on the news or at work it was always there. People were excited at the possibilities of electing an African American president. Even I was in awe the night I learned he had been elected. It made me think of how far our country has come. How everything we say about this country is true when we talk of the possibilities of what one can become. We all heard it when we were children. “If you put your mind to it and work hard, you can be anything you want to be.” To me, that statement was realized that night. I, like a lot of people, never really paid attention or gave much thought to politics until that night.
In the days after the election I watched a lot more news than I ever had before. I watched as our president began embarking on his journey of “change”. Then something happened. Like I always do, I began questioning his ideas. I wanted to find out for myself why our government was doing what it was doing. I started reading ( by the way, I haven’t read for leisure since my first year of college ). As his term has moved along, I have been very involved. I want to know now what I didn’t care about then. I realized MY future was at stake and that my children’s (if I am fortunate enough to be a father) future was at stake. It was time for me to educate myself. I realized that I had a lot of questions that I wanted to find the answers to.
This blog is entitled “questions”.
Why did it seem like the governments responsibility to bail out the banks and auto industry?
Has anyone read the preamble to the constitution? I have it hanging on my wall. It states “We the people of the United States. In order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, PROVIDE for the common defense, PROMOTE the general welfare…….and so on. My point here being the word in bold. It does not say the government is here to distribute handouts. It clearly says Promote the general welfare. It was not the governments job to give these businesses money. So, why did it seem that way?
Why is obama so eager for healthcare reform?
I understand that our healthcare system is flawed, but don’t we (America) have the very best healthcare available in the world? Another question on this subject would be where are all the doctors and nurses going to come from if we do add 47 million people to the mix? Don’t programs exist where you can get healthcare if you can’t afford it (Medicaid) or for the elderly (Medicare)? How has the government done in running those programs? I am in no means an expert, but I do have common sense, and something isn’t right about this healthcare reform being pushed on us.
Why did Congressman Joe Wilson have to apologize?
I agree, he may have been out of line when he interrupted our president and called him a liar. But, didn’t the democrats in congress during George W Bush’s term do the same thing? In fact I do believe the went so far as to call him a loser among other things. They didn’t just call him a liar. They attacked him personally. Did they ever apologize? Were they ever “investigated”? Seriously, he disagreed with Obama and called him a liar and he had to be investigated?
Why Am I a racist if I disagree with Obama?
This is getting old. It seems like the only argument I ever here now from those who support Obama’s ideas. This is not an issue of race at all. This is a right being exercised. We are allowed to disagree with our leader regardless of skin color. The issue isn’t race here. I really think this is a desperate cry the Obama supporters use simply because they have no valid arguments against the opposition. It’s only a race issue to those who cry racism! That is a weak and insignificant argument that is filled with desperation.
Why does Obama want to put a muzzle on conservative talk radio?
Seems to me there exists a document that contains something about freedom of speech. It’s disguised as a “fairness” movement that states we need more local programming, but I’m not crazy enough to believe that’s all it is. Don’t we all have the right and ability to change the channel if we don’t like what’s on? Aren’t there more pressing issues than talk radio he should be worried about?
What happened to the US Constitution being the “Law of the Land”?
I believe every American needs a copy of this document. I also believe everyone needs to read it. This was and always will be the foundation this great country was built on.
Finally the most important questions I have:
Doesn’t the government work for us? Don’t we pay their salaries? Doesn’t the government get it’s money from we the tax payers? And the most important question I have: Why are we letting this happen?
This country still belongs to us, it is our responsibility to make sure it stays that way!
I have many more questions. They will be covered in many more blogs. Thank you for reading.