![\"obama550\"](\"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/thickculture\/files\/2009\/10\/obama5501.jpg\" "\\"obama550\\"")
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I was up in the wee hours when I saw the BBC announce that Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. \u00a0I recall reading years ago that the process is not necessarily a rigorous screening, in that the decision can be guided by a select few. \u00a0I wondered if this was perceived as a contrast effect, with Barack being perceived as an internationalist, despite being in the office for a very short period of time when the nomination was submitted. \u00a0A friend of mine put on my Facebook wall a link to this article<\/a><\/strong> were Polish Solidarity leader Lech Wa\u0142\u0119sa echoed the sentiments of many…too fast.<\/p>\n Malcolm Gladwell had this\u00a0Tweet<\/a><\/strong>::<\/p>\n “Question: Is the goal of the Nobel Peace Prize committee to reward progress of an individual or to encourage the progress of society?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n If we think about progress in peace, what would that look like? \u00a0What should be the next steps, globally, for the Obama administration? \u00a0It’s tough given the state of the economy, as the electorate is less interested in peace and more interested in jobs and the healthcare issue. \u00a0So, will this be a headache for him as the US decides what to do in Afghanistan? \u00a0 Is there pressure for him to act in a certain way? \u00a0At the end of the day, it’s the US electorate that matters. \u00a0It might spur some thinking about creative solutions for situations like Afghanistan where peacekeeping is an oxymoron no matter the deployment of resources. \u00a0It might also accelerate some housecleaning of US detention policies of foreign suspects. \u00a0Like the Nobel Peace Prize committee and the world, we shall see.<\/p>\n Twitterversion:<\/strong>: \u00a0Obama wins #Nobel Peace Prize, but what does it represent? What r next steps,globally? Natl security polcy? #ThickCulture http:\/\/url.ie\/2mcp\u00a0@Prof_K<\/a><\/p>\n Song::<\/strong> If I Had A Rocket Launcher – Bruce Cockburn<\/a><\/p>\n