On Friday morning I was up earlier than usual. I made my coffee, made my bed and turned on the television. That’s when I learned that in the very wee hours of the morning something unexpected had happened.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am so glad that Barack Obama is the president of the United States that, if given the chance, I’d gladly vote to have his portrait replace Andrew Jackson’s on the $20 bill. Hell, in the spirit of Andrew Jackson’s criminal tendencies, I’d even vote twice.
I’ll probably never have the opportunity to cast that vote, though. Another issue I’ll most likely never be able to vote my opinion on concerns the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. I don’t think I would have voted to give the award to Barack Obama. I think I would have voted for someone who has committed his or her heroics off camera in a more immediate, one-on-one capacity. That said, I do think that Obama has done more for my country’s standing in the world in less than 12 months than the Bush family did in 12 years. If there is any hope for a peaceful future – and I am not convinced that there is – we have to have people in power who bring an inherent sense of respect to the equation. In my opinion, W. and Condoleezza Rice were abysmal failures in that regard, and I for one am glad their reign is over.
I expect the worst of people who speak into microphones for a living, but even I was appalled at the tantrum that started before sunrise on Friday morning: This isn’t fair! This is undeserved! This is just more of the liberal agenda being forced down our throat! He should give it back!
For a while it was amusing. Then a radio host in Portland said that awarding someone a prize based on aspirations rather than accomplishments just isn’t how we do things in America. I was tempted to call the radio station and explain to whomever was unfortunate enough to be on telephone duty on Friday morning that Nobel prizes are based in Sweden, with the peace prize being awarded in Oslo, which is in Norway, and that’s to honor a union between the two countries – Sweden and Norway – that was in effect at the time of Alfred Nobel’s death, so it’s kind of not so surprising that it isn’t done our way. But instead of getting on the telephone I made another pot of coffee and went out on the front porch for a smoke (it was a gorgeous morning in Portland), and that’s when it occurred to me that the whole thing was being talked about as if it were Dancing with the Stars or American Idol or some other utterly brainless contest show that encourages zombies from around the world to text in their fakeness so that they can feel like they’re part of something relevant.
Of course, I do feel kind of left out and neglected. Nobody called me from Sweden prior to the announcement, and nobody called from Norway. Even the White House hasn’t called me to find out what I think, and how I feel, which is too bad, because I know exactly what I’d say: Good morning, President Obama. Congratulations.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I am so glad that Barack Obama is the president of the United States that, if given the chance, I’d gladly vote to have his portrait replace Andrew Jackson’s on the $20 bill. Hell, in the spirit of Andrew Jackson’s criminal tendencies, I’d even vote twice.
I’ll probably never have the opportunity to cast that vote, though. Another issue I’ll most likely never be able to vote my opinion on concerns the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. I don’t think I would have voted to give the award to Barack Obama. I think I would have voted for someone who has committed his or her heroics off camera in a more immediate, one-on-one capacity. That said, I do think that Obama has done more for my country’s standing in the world in less than 12 months than the Bush family did in 12 years. If there is any hope for a peaceful future – and I am not convinced that there is – we have to have people in power who bring an inherent sense of respect to the equation. In my opinion, W. and Condoleezza Rice were abysmal failures in that regard, and I for one am glad their reign is over.
I expect the worst of people who speak into microphones for a living, but even I was appalled at the tantrum that started before sunrise on Friday morning: This isn’t fair! This is undeserved! This is just more of the liberal agenda being forced down our throat! He should give it back!
For a while it was amusing. Then a radio host in Portland said that awarding someone a prize based on aspirations rather than accomplishments just isn’t how we do things in America. I was tempted to call the radio station and explain to whomever was unfortunate enough to be on telephone duty on Friday morning that Nobel prizes are based in Sweden, with the peace prize being awarded in Oslo, which is in Norway, and that’s to honor a union between the two countries – Sweden and Norway – that was in effect at the time of Alfred Nobel’s death, so it’s kind of not so surprising that it isn’t done our way. But instead of getting on the telephone I made another pot of coffee and went out on the front porch for a smoke (it was a gorgeous morning in Portland), and that’s when it occurred to me that the whole thing was being talked about as if it were Dancing with the Stars or American Idol or some other utterly brainless contest show that encourages zombies from around the world to text in their fakeness so that they can feel like they’re part of something relevant.
Of course, I do feel kind of left out and neglected. Nobody called me from Sweden prior to the announcement, and nobody called from Norway. Even the White House hasn’t called me to find out what I think, and how I feel, which is too bad, because I know exactly what I’d say: Good morning, President Obama. Congratulations.
