glueslabs:

Howard Zinn:

I was dismayed when I heard Obama was given the Nobel Peace Prize. A shock, really, to think that a president carrying on wars in two countries and launching military action in a third country (Pakistan), would be given a peace prize. But then I recalled that Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Kissinger had all received Nobel Peace Prizes. The Nobel Committee is famous for its superficial estimates and for its susceptibility to rhetoric and empty gestures, while ignoring blatant violations of world peace.

I’m glad President Obama was humbled by the announcement that he would win the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, because frankly he doesn’t deserve it.

I’m also becoming increasingly frustrated and just plain pissed off by Obama supporters who seem to turn a blind eye toward the fact that his presidency so far has amounted to very little real change. So far, he’s turned out to be less of a true progressive and more like Bill Clinton Part 2.

He’s better than Bush? So what. I’m better than Bush. That just isn’t enough. Where’s the change we were promised? Here’s what he’s done: continued two foolish and extremely expensive wars, selected Wall Street goons to fix the failing economy, been way too weak and ineffective on pushing for health care reform. And you’re fucking kidding yourself if you don’t realize that he’s just as beholden to corporate interests as the rest of them.

So far, I’ve seen none of the change that I voted for last year. I knew it was too good to be true.

This Peace Prize thing only highlights the fact that in this world, if you can talk the talk, you will be rewarded. Real action is secondary. Actual change is afterthought. And simply thinking good thoughts will make them come true.