Friday, October 10, 2014
the Peace Prize
I'm pleasantly surprised by the announcement of this year's Nobel Peace prize. First, it is going to actual human beings, and second, the winners really seem genuinely deserving. Both Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzai have campaigned against systematic oppression and exploitation of fairly helpless people, both at great personal risk. It's nice that Alfred Nobel's wishes are being fulfilled for a change.
Yes, the Norwegians could not help themselves and had to introduce some nonsensical political correctness, emphasizing that they had picked a Hindu and Muslim to share the prize, as if religion, race, etc. is an important criterion, instead of actual accomplishments -- but these are, so far as I can tell, two really good and courageous people who indeed have real accomplishments -- even if it is mostly just standing up publicly against bad guys. So -- for a change -- good on the committee. And congratulations to Ms. Yousafzai and Mr. Satyarthi.
And who knows, maybe a joint prize really will help reduce Pakistani-Indian hostility at the margin. I hope so.
Yes, the Norwegians could not help themselves and had to introduce some nonsensical political correctness, emphasizing that they had picked a Hindu and Muslim to share the prize, as if religion, race, etc. is an important criterion, instead of actual accomplishments -- but these are, so far as I can tell, two really good and courageous people who indeed have real accomplishments -- even if it is mostly just standing up publicly against bad guys. So -- for a change -- good on the committee. And congratulations to Ms. Yousafzai and Mr. Satyarthi.
And who knows, maybe a joint prize really will help reduce Pakistani-Indian hostility at the margin. I hope so.
