Africa: The Growing Campaign to Revoke Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize that President Obama received 40 months ago has emerged as the most appalling Orwellian award of this century. No, war is not peace.


George Carlin used to riff about oxymorons like "jumbo shrimp," "genuine imitation," "political science" and "military intelligence." But humor is of the gallows sort when we consider the absurdity and tragedy of the world's most important peace prize honoring the world's top war maker.

This week, a challenge has begun with the launch of a petition urging the Norwegian Nobel Committee to revoke Obama's Peace Prize. By midnight of the first day, nearly 10,000 people had signed. The online petition simply tells the Nobel committee: "I urge you to rescind the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to Barack Obama."

Many signers have added their own comments. Here are some samples:

"It is with very great regret that I sign this petition, but I feel it is morally the right thing to do. I had phenomenally high hopes that our President would be a torch bearer for the true message of Peace. Instead he has brought death, destruction and devastation to vast areas of the world, and made us less safe by creating more enemies." Sushila C., Punta Gorda, FL

"War is nothing to be given a peace prize for." Brent L., San Diego, CA

"President Obama has clearly demonstrated that he is undeserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. Revoke his prize and give it to Bradley Manning!" Henry B., Portland, OR

"Perhaps a better president than Bush or Romney, but not a Nobel laureate for peace." Arun N., Woodinville, WA

"I honestly cannot understand how they could bestow that honor on President Obama to begin with; I'm still puzzled!" Cindy A., Phoenix, AR

"Giving the prize to President Obama has degraded the esteem the Nobel Prize once had as a means of recognizing the best of us. It now represents a pat on the back for the thugs that roam freely amongst our governments. That decision has made me question the integrity of all previous nominations, and wonder if the entire Nobel Prize program is nothing but a sham." Juan F., Arcata, CA

"Continued occupation of Afghanistan and drone strikes across national borders are NOT the actions of a peacemaker. Mr. Obama has defiled the good will of the Nobel prize." Dudley D., Chicago, IL

"His actions are speaking louder than his words. He has continued Bush's torture policy and both wars. He has sent armed drones in to remote places and only questionably killed terrorists, but definitely killed civilians. He does not deserve it." Katherine M., San Diego, CA

"Les espoirs envers Obama étaient élevés, les résultats décevants." André T., Quebec City, Canada

"A President for Peace? Tell that to the thousands of innocent men, women and hundreds of children that have been killed in drone strikes during the Obama administration. It was laughable that this coveted prize was given to him in the first place but now it is just obscene!" Barlee R., Antioch, CA

"Allowing the Nobel Peace Prize to remain in Obama's name forsakes the very creed the prize is meant to represent. Please don't (continue to) be a hypocrite -- no way in Hell does that man deserve to be credited in any way for being a peacemaker. I said the same for Bush by the way -- so don't think I'm just some partisan nutcase obsessed with bashing Obama. I simply speak the Truth as often as possible and let the chips fall where they may. Many of us peaceful, compassionate folks would like to have this message droned into your collective heads. Obama is just another puppet doing the bidding of the greedy, mass-murdering global elite." Greg C., Manhattan, KS

"The peace prize should be awarded to Pfc. Bradley Manning instead." Robert F., Santa Clara, CA

"This would be an extraordinarily bold move, but it certainly would send a message to the world that peace means peace, not war." David G., Portland, OR

"I so wish President Obama had lived up to the award he was given. Instead he has chosen to continue and expand the horrors being perpetrated by our country. War is not ever the answer." Carol G., Goshen, IN

"Droning people to death is not peace." William S., New York, NY

"Not being George W. Bush was never sufficient ground for this award, and Mr. Obama's enthusiastic support for the extension of empire, fossil fuels, raw military power, and other violence against the earth and its people is further evidence of its unwisdom." Scott W., Durham, NC

"One must walk the walk of peace, not just talk the talk of peace in order to earn the Peace Prize." Paul M., Los Angeles, CA

"Drone Bombs create more terrorists than they kill." Jay J., Roachdale, IN

"A war criminal is not worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize." Lars P., Afton, WI

"Our President had an unprecedented opportunity to effect a turn-around in foreign policy after the illegal and failed wars of his predecessor. He was hired to do so; but he has squandered the opportunity and has in fact increased U.S. aggression. He does not deserve to be known as a Nobel Peace Prize recipient." Lynn J., Roslyn, PA

"The PEACE prize should be given to those that work toward PEACE, not the ones that only talk about it." Karen W., Weirsdale, FL

"Take it from Obama and give it to its rightful owner, Bradley Manning." Rand K., Hotchkiss, CO

more here: http://allafrica.com/stories/201304050267.html?page=6