Award criticized
Letters to the Editor I am saddened by the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award Barack Obama the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. As much as I love and respect our President, this was a hasty decision that will not bring good consequences. To me it seems that the requirements to receive the Peace Prize have, in the last decades, become so diluted that only famous and rich politicians are able to be awarded the prize. Here I think of Carter, Al Gore, and now our current president. These public servants have already received so much recognition and fame that they do not need the prestigious peace prize.
What about the thousands of common people who have devoted their entire lives for peace? They should be the ones who are considered. Martin Luther King and Desmond Tutu, for example, received the Peace Prize because they gave their lives to working against violence, especially racially motivated violence, and war.
True, our president has fostered a new climate of diplomacy and openness in Washington, and in the world – a vast improvement over his bomb-first, ask-questions-later predecessor. But campaign promises and political realities aside, he has yet to demonstrate a commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Afghanistan. And there are many among us, even his supporters, who remain skeptical of his actions in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Jesus says we will know a tree by its fruits. Even the best fruit takes time to ripen. How can our president – as good-willing as he might be – bear meaningful fruit after less than a year in office? The Nobel Committee should do better than this. I hope that many other voices will join me in expressing their disappointment in this decision.
Johann Christoph Arnold
Rifton, N.Y.
Corn roasts are becoming a big party in this area. Some of the hosts of these roasts have no idea how many people come and go during the party hours. Some are underage drinkers and some are just bullies who shouldn’t be there.
My daughter attended one in August 2009. While she was at the corn roast someone assaulted her. This person then left the party before others could get to her. When I was called about her injuries and arrived on the scene, the hosts couldn’t get us to leave fast enough.
Trying to cover up a problem isn’t going to keep a person from getting to the information needed to solve it. My daughter was unconscious when I arrived, and no one seemed to know how long. A few men helped her until I arrived. We finally left and went directly to the hospital for further evaluation.
To anyone that attends corn roasts in the future: 1. Beware of your surroundings. 2. Tattle tales, as an adult, are not adult but childish. 3. Hosts need control of their party. Anyone that misbehaves should be asked to leave. 4. Cowards lie when questioned during any incident, no matter where they are. 5. If one cannot control their temper while drinking, stay home.
Any and all situations like this could be avoided if the hosts are in control and deal with their guests accordingly.
Donna Teeter
New Salem