The awards to Pope John Paul II and Lech Walenska at the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and emancipation of Poland are good examples of that. They bolstered and protected those involved in the struggle and focussed the eyes of the world on those people making it harder to pull underhanded or criminal manouvers on them.
It is difficult to make a case for Obama's award, even using that criteria, of activism. He doesn't need protection or more attention. Frankly, I just don't get it.
A more typical award for a politician would resemble that given to Lester B. Pearson, a Canadian politician and former Prime Minister, in 1957. Here's the Wikipedia note on the event in his life.
en.wikipedia.org...
In 1948, Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent appointed Pearson Minister of External Affairs in the Liberal government. . . . In 1957, for his role in defusing the Suez Crisis through the United Nations, Pearson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The selection committee claimed that Pearson had "saved the world."
The United Nations Emergency Force was Pearson's creation, and he is considered the father of the modern concept of peacekeeping. Leaders of America, France, Russia, and Great Britain (for best example) all had vested interests in the natural resources around the Suez Canal. He was able to organize these leaders by way of a 5-day fly-around, and is by effect responsible for the development of the structure for the United Nations Security Council.
[edit on 9-10-2009 by ipsedixit]
It was intended as a joke.
