You May Say I'm A Dreamer...
On this day in 1940, John Lennon was born. Today, 69 years later - and 29 years after his murder - many people around the world still consider him a cultural icon and hero, and his songs still find meaning, particularly within the struggle for peace.
In other recent news:
NASA bombed the moon last night, in search of water. The explosion was intended to send up a plume through which a special spacecraft would fly, hoping to detect water particles. The hope being that where there's water, there may be life...to which i respond, "So WHAT?" Here's my fear: finding any scrap of water/life on the Moon may allow us to more legitimately imagine moon colonies, which further separates us from the urgent need to manage the population and planet we ALREADY HAVE.
President Obama receives Nobel Peace Prize while waging two wars. It's a shocker to many...my early read of things is that most people of all stripes think it a little heavy and premature and cheapens the value of the award (though possibly improving the U.S.'s image), while smaller pockets of fanatics continue to hail Obama as either the messiah or satan. This NYTimes article seems to do a good job of describing the challenges and options on the President's table relative to Afghanistan. The Nobel Committee's own literature and a statement by Chairman Jagland remind us that the Prize has historically been given sometimes as an incentive to continue peace work that one has begun, not necessarily in recognition of goals accomplished.
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Comments (11)
Having been married to 2 NASA engineers, you're in the dark. All the technology for the past 45 yrs. has been developed by NASA. You wouldn't be writing on your PC without NASA, or have digital anything, etc. As for finding water on the moon, the US wants to claim the moon as their own to set up satellites to beam back to earth. Our sky has become overloaded with satellites, like for your cell phone for instance. In order for a colony to be set up on the moon, there would have to be water up there to survive on. As for the Nobel Peace Prize to O-what in the h*ll for? He hasn't done anything besides run this country into h*ll.
Comment #1 Posted by: Cara | October 9, 2009 10:52 AM
NASA didn't invent the PC nor the internet (no, Al Gore didn't either).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Internet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_personal_computers
And come now, who ran this country into the ground? Were we at the very apex of civilization on January 19th? Please.
Comment #2 Posted by: Tyler | October 9, 2009 12:29 PM
Nor did NASA invent:
the microprocessor
the hard drive
RAM
and funny enough, not even Tang.
I still like NASA, and think it has made important contributions, but stick to the facts if you want anyone to believe you know what you're talking about, Cara.
Comment #3 Posted by: Tyler | October 9, 2009 12:38 PM
My jaw dropped when I heard that President Obama was awarded the Nobel prize this morning. While I believe that Mr. Obama is a charismatic leader who has uncorked the hopes and frustrations of millions after 8 years of the Bush presidency – by the mere fact of his election, I do not believe that his track record justifies receiving such an accolade.
Frankly, I think that this is simply political brown-nosing on the part of the Nobel selection committee, and that it demeans and cheapens the very value and prestige of the prize. Don't get me wrong, I contributed my vote to help put Mr. Obama in the White House, but besides beautifully scripted speeches and eloquently delivered promises, I have yet to see anything deserving of a prize, let alone a Nobel peace prize!
Comment #4 Posted by: Robert Lamarche | October 9, 2009 02:10 PM
Robert Lamarche,
This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.
But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.
That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.
This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.
So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Comment #5 Posted by: From President Barack Obama | October 9, 2009 03:32 PM
From Michael Moore:
Congratulations President Obama on the Nobel Peace Prize -- Now Please Earn it!
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/10/09-8
Comment #6 Posted by: From Michael Moore | October 9, 2009 04:28 PM
That award has been cheapened for a long time now. Henry Kissinger won a Nobel Peace Prize. Henry Kissinger. It couldn't get anymore tainted after that, in my opinion.
Comment #7 Posted by: Tanya | October 9, 2009 05:32 PM
tyler and tara,
the internet, the pc and the lava lamp were all invented by milleimum twain.
Comment #8 Posted by: snuffy | October 9, 2009 05:58 PM
Yasser Arafat was a co-recipient of the award.
I put him in the "most improved" category
Comment #9 Posted by: mk | October 9, 2009 06:03 PM
OK, my jaw dropped, too, especially amidst the coming troop build-up in Afghanistan. I was perplexed and bothered all day, until...well, Rachel said it best: (how quickly we forget!)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#33249779
Take a moment to watch, and be proud to be an American, again!
Comment #10 Posted by: judy k | October 9, 2009 10:35 PM
Has anyone considered this approach to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama? Considering our recent history of political assassination, just the fact of his running for President qualifies him, in my opinion. I am sure there are groups at this moment planning on ways to get to him, yet he has made himself as available as he can. Personally, I would be hiding under the bed. tgs
Comment #11 Posted by: Tom Stafford, former resident now living in Costa Rica | October 28, 2009 06:04 PM