Obama's Peace Prize Speech

**Deku Trii** · 12-13-2009, 05:43 PM

Here's a link to Obama's acceptance speech:

Text of Barack Obama Nobel Prize acceptance lecture | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times

What do you think? What role does war have in the pursuit of a better world?

Metal Mario · 12-13-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deku Trii

What role does war have in the pursuit of a better world?

Well, it destroyed fascism, abolished slavery, and gave birth to America. All of those things are pretty awesome.

Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I'm leaving.

Lurch1982 · 12-13-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Mario

Well, it destroyed fascism, abolished slavery, and gave birth to America. All of those things are pretty awesome.

Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I'm leaving.

You didn't read it, did you?

***CaptHayfever*** · 12-13-2009, 09:28 PM

Hmm, no mention of the odd timing. Though I appreciate his outlining a plan of what he will do to promote peace.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Crazyswordsman** · 12-13-2009, 09:50 PM

Right wingers are already using the speech to try and gear up support for an Iraq-style war against Iran. -CSM

**Deku Trii** · 12-14-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Mario

Well, it destroyed fascism, abolished slavery, and gave birth to America. All of those things are pretty awesome.

Yeah, yeah. Don't worry. I'm leaving.

Why would you leave? That discussion is the point of this topic. Here's a few snippets from the speech.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obama

I make this statement mindful of what Martin Luther King said in this same ceremony years ago – “Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones.” As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King’s life’s work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there is nothing weak –nothing passive – nothing naïve – in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.

But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake: evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler’s armies. Negotiations cannot convince Al Qaeda’s leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force is sometimes necessary is not a call to cynicism – it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Obama

So part of our challenge is reconciling these two seemingly irreconcilable truths – that war is sometimes necessary, and war is at some level an expression of human feelings. Concretely, we must direct our effort to the task that President Kennedy called for long ago. “Let us focus,” he said, “on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions.”

What might this evolution look like? What might these practical steps be?

To begin with, I believe that all nations – strong and weak alike – must adhere to standards that govern the use of force. I – like any head of state – reserve the right to act unilaterally if necessary to defend my nation. Nevertheless, I am convinced that adhering to standards strengthens those who do, and isolates – and weakens – those who don’t.

***Heroine of the Dragon*** · 12-14-2009, 06:50 PM

It was an interesting speech. Very thought-provoking in some places and sad in others. *shrugs*

ZeldaGirl · 12-14-2009, 07:55 PM

Oh my god, Hottie posted in PP&R...

Zharen · 12-14-2009, 08:40 PM

Giving that award to Obama was incredibly premature. Basically they just gave him a medal for being the first black President who promises to bring peace to the world, but hasn't done anything to achieve that yet. As much as I do like Obama, the guy should have declined and sent it back. Not only was it not deserved but it makes the Nobel prizes into a joke.

Lurch1982 · 12-14-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyswordsman

Right wingers are already using the speech to try and gear up support for an Iraq-style war against Iran. -CSM

That's not really too far fetched.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zharen

Not only was it not deserved but it makes the Nobel prizes into a joke.

Wasn't this the same prize that was given to the head of an organization that bombed civilians?

heh · 12-14-2009, 10:54 PM

the peace prize is already a joke honestly, but the others are cool

Jere · 12-15-2009, 04:24 AM

For good heavens, it's not like when they have the prize to Adolf Hitler, that was something that came back and bite then later

***Booyakasha*** · 12-15-2009, 08:25 AM

Good speech. Made some strong points.

12-13-2009, 05:43 PM	#1
Deku Trii PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texas Gender: Posts: 9,031 Thanks: 521 Thanked 1,099 Times in 583 Posts	Obama's Peace Prize Speech Here's a link to Obama's acceptance speech: Text of Barack Obama Nobel Prize acceptance lecture \| Top of the Ticket \| Los Angeles Times What do you think? What role does war have in the pursuit of a better world?

12-13-2009, 09:28 PM	#4
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,661 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	Hmm, no mention of the odd timing. Though I appreciate his outlining a plan of what he will do to promote peace. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

12-13-2009, 09:50 PM	#5
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	Right wingers are already using the speech to try and gear up support for an Iraq-style war against Iran. -CSM

12-14-2009, 06:50 PM	#7
*Heroine of the Dragon* The Grinnie Fool! ♥♥♥ VGFCodes Staff Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Twinklebutton Wintersprout Gender: Posts: 31,454 Thanks: 864 Thanked 851 Times in 632 Posts Blog Entries: 1	It was an interesting speech. Very thought-provoking in some places and sad in others. shrugs

12-14-2009, 07:55 PM	#8
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	Oh my god, Hottie posted in PP&R...

12-14-2009, 08:40 PM	#9
Zharen Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Modesto, CA U.S. Gender: Posts: 7,085 Thanks: 21 Thanked 71 Times in 35 Posts	Giving that award to Obama was incredibly premature. Basically they just gave him a medal for being the first black President who promises to bring peace to the world, but hasn't done anything to achieve that yet. As much as I do like Obama, the guy should have declined and sent it back. Not only was it not deserved but it makes the Nobel prizes into a joke.

12-14-2009, 10:54 PM	#11
heh Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: lo-ca-tion; Noun- 1. a place or situation occupied: That house is in a fine location Gender: Posts: 9,849 Thanks: 710 Thanked 955 Times in 628 Posts	the peace prize is already a joke honestly, but the others are cool

12-15-2009, 04:24 AM	#12
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	For good heavens, it's not like when they have the prize to Adolf Hitler, that was something that came back and bite then later

12-15-2009, 08:25 AM	#13
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	Good speech. Made some strong points.