For some reason, Scandinavians tend to be negrophiles or blackophiles or Africophiles or whatever the p.c. term would be these days. Agent 1 says that in his half-dozen years in Zimbabwe, he saw countless examples of the Swedes, Norwegians and Danes throwing praise and money at the Africans, to aid and encourage the "noble savages". (OK, they didn't use that phrase, but it sums up their attitude.)
The latest recipient of Scandinavian largesse is U.S. president Barack Obama, who quite unaccountably has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. It is reported that the Nobel Committee's decision is "designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism".
Maybe I'm getting old, but I can remember when prizes were awarded when you actually did something. Like winning a race, for example. They didn't hand out the medals at the beginning of the competition, but at the end, when the result was known.
So how does Obama qualify for a prize. By its own account, the Nobel Committee recognized initiatives that have yet to bear fruit: reducing the world stock of nuclear arms, easing American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthening the U.S. role in combating climate change.
Obama has done is make some motherhood-and-apple-pie pronouncements. He has not one solid accomplishment to his credit. But what the hell. Let their be prizes for all men (people, surely? ed.) of good will and good intentions. And let's give out the Olympic medals on opening day, to save all the fuss and expense of the games.
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