Noble, Nobel. Can't we just get along?

 Yep, like many others this morning, I too woke up and scratched my head, having to look twice, when I saw President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

 Along with countless others, I too agree Obama has not accomplished enough to make him what one would think was a worthy recipient of the prize. I support Obama but I wish he would accomplish more.

 Obama has two major problems (three if you include the fact that he is black and his election has stirred up a lot of latent racism). One is that his election pissed off his opposition more than most expected. I thought the hard core conservatives went around the bend when Clinton was elected president. Little did I know. The conservative, one might even say ultra-conservative, wing of the Republican party has thrown a monkey wrench into their portion of the deal to govern the country. The party is being led by people acting more like bratty children who go around with their hands over their ears screaming: “I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you.”

 Secondly, Obama did not pick a very good inner circle from what it seems to me. Maybe Rahm Emmanuel should just deal with Congress and somebody — also a grownup — might possibly step in as chief of staff. Something needs to be done because an extremely likable, popular and intelligent individual is being squandered in his role as leader of the free world.

 Now as for the opposition crying out about the latest thing to stir them up, namely the Obama, er, sorry, the Nobel Peace Prize. The pundits have to find something to show themselves that they are wise so they listen to the rabble who are rousing their like-minded. Steele, the idiot GOP chairman, Jeez Louise! The Democratic National Committee also didn’t do themselves a lot of favors with their response. The false assumption that the opposition is anti-American worked because the right wing had people who listen to anything, no matter how stupid it is. The DNC should remember who they work for.

 I can see, from what the Nobel folks said, what logic they followed in awarding Obama the prize. It is somewhat logical. That’s the best I can say for their decision. What people need to keep in mind though is that — with the exception of certain contests of skill or sport — most awards are subjective and don’t mean jack when it comes right down to it.

 After working for nearly 20 years in the newspaper industry I won awards and I didn’t win awards I thought and others thought I should have. Mostly newspaper awards are for prestige of the owners, publishers or higher-ups. Many of the awards that bear my name today sit in the lobby or on the wall of newspapers where I once, but no longer, work. I may have received a certificate. Oh gee. Thanks. Couldn’t you have given me a T-shirt or a hat?

 Although I found it bizarre and puzzling that Obama won the peace prize, it is one of those subjective awards that he won, along with a million-something bucks. And most likely, Obama won’t even get to keep the money. But it is a prize and a prize like most other awards need to be kept in proper context.

 If people are going to have a cow, they shouldn’t go popping one out over this.