A prize for the racists

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A prize for the racists

Posted by Chris Morris on 9th October 2009

I like Obama. I think he’s brought a new spirit of hope into the White House and it’s resonated throughout the world.

I also feel closer to America – and Americans – since he took office. Maybe that’s an odd thing to say because, diplomatically, our countries’ relationship is now more strained than it has ever been in my lifetime. But I think British people are lightening up about the yanks again. We feel closer. When you listen through the chatter, the common mantra that Bush was dumb has been neatly replaced by an audacious hope that yes we can build a brighter future – and I think that’s a much better direction to be headed in, together.

But a Nobel Peace Prize? Come on! Did five people have a bowl of stupid for breakfast, or what?

It’s only been six months, and he’s just getting started.

I blame the racism. And by the racism I mean the patronising “ooooh, he’s black” kind of racism that media people seem to have fallen in love with lately. It’s patronising and offensive. And it’s set up this surreal situation where it looks like the very real bravery of Morgan Tsvangirai is valued less than Obama’s hope and rhetoric.

Nobody could have designed a more media-friendly way to undermine Obama today. By praising his efforts to bring peace, the Prize committee provoked millions of people to shout back: “what peace?”.

Twitter almost collapsed under the weight of everyone tweeting their snorts.

Yet Obama has done a lot, and he will do a lot more. The slogans are what it takes to get through the door these days. His presidency is a work in progress and no presidency should be judged after only six months.

We should treat him as a human being – an outstanding human being – and not as The First Black President.

We should give him time to walk his path.

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8 responses:

Jonathan 9th October 2009 (6:03 pm): Well said, Chris. I don’t share your enthusiasm for Obama, but it’s interesting that even those who do like him cannot understand this absurd choice. He should have declined to accept. But no, he took it. It will probably do him more damage than good, but I won’t cry too much over that.

The man has literally done NOTHING of note, especially in terms of peace. What he has started doing *might* bring peace, but might also make things much worse. So how can they award him a peace prize based on that?

The nobel prize was a joke before today. Now it’s a bad joke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT5Kl38fSVY
Carol 9th October 2009 (7:17 pm): I like how you think
TwistedByKnaves 10th October 2009 (12:07 am): Someone is clearly being very stupid here.

Maybe it’s us? I wonder whether the committee and their advisors may have a rather more balanced view of the man’s achievements to date than we get from the press and the Twittersphere?

I don’t get to meet many world leaders personally, as they do, so it’s kind of hard for me to judge.
a-nony-mouse 10th October 2009 (12:21 am): Hey Chris,
am loving your blog and always tune in.
I am going to go against the public opinion with this one as Obama has cancelled a European defence shield, easing relations with Russia and is reducing the nuclear arms race…we hope. He has also reached out in agreeing to speak with Iran and the Islamic world. Perhaps unheard of before!
Most importantly this prize sets a standard he will have to live upto or risk feeling incongruent and loose public faith. So the awarding of this prize could be a very proactive move on the part of the nobel peace prize that will ensure he continues his high moral stance.
Oh yes….all this not to mention national health. Pretty major stuff to my mind. The standard of a country, as far back as the ancient Greek civilizations, is how it cares for its weak and needy.
In Love
Youval 11th October 2009 (11:18 am): Yasser Arafat won the same prize… do i need to say more ?!
Adrian Reynolds 13th October 2009 (1:02 am): I am so easily swayed, after nodding while reading Chris’s take, and doing the same after reading http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernardhenri-levy/no-doubt-obama-deserves-t_b_317910.html
Benjamin 13th October 2009 (10:16 pm): Barak Obama campaigned and has led on the message of hope – in a nation were ‘going negative’ has long been the norm.
He has inspired millions across the world to raise their expectations.
His message alone brings peace to the hearts of millions who have suffered and a collective exhale of relief.
The prize is for daring to lay down the path he is expected to tread- that of holding ourselves to higher standards, promoting a greater understanding, thinking first and acting second.
A Jew With A View 18th November 2009 (11:59 pm): I loathe Obama with a passion. I’m a Brit, but I was clapping and cheering when Obama got elected, as along with many people, I thought it was wonderful.

Until I realised that Obama was preparing to hand Israel over on a platter to the Palestinian Arabs. I mean, purleeease – issuing edicts to Israel to the effect that new construction in parts of Jerusalem is BANNED?

Obama is delusional:
The Madness Of Barack Obama
http://www.ajewwithaview.com/?p=470

And as for Obama’s Love Letter to Islam – how NON Muslims actually made it through that speech without having to sprint off to find a bucket, I will never fathom.

Obama is a weak leader whose foreign policy involves bowing before as many heads of states as possible – Saudi despots included.

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