The Ugly

Good people get passed over for a variety of honors all the time. So, does it make any difference at all that Mahatma Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt got passed over, despite their many accomplishments? Gandhi managed to gain Indian independence without a violent war against an imperialist power. Roosevelt worked tirelessly for women's rights and children. Then she co-authored the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Their accomplishments are their accomplishments. Nobody can take that away from them. However, shouldn't their work be celebrated and used as an inspiration for others who may follow in their footsteps? And wouldn't the Nobel Peace Prize (the most prestigious award for peace) be the fitting tribute to their life work (plus it does not hurt to get the $$$$)? Please post a response by Wednesday, May 29.

The Good

Now that we have looked at the accomplishments of Mother Teresa (1979 winner) and Jody Williams (1997 winner), assess their impact on peace. Did they deserve it? Mother Teresa is a role model for the world. But does helping the sick, needy, and hungry of Calcutta really get us closer to world peace? She may temporarily alleviate suffering and give some hope to people, but it does not come close to solving the issues of conflict in the world. Jody Williams managed to organized several groups to get a treaty banning landmines, but there are so many other weapons and weapons systems that are just as deadly or more deadly (think nuclear bombs, drone strikes, automatic guns, etc.) that are not banned. Does this really get us to stop the violence of war? Shouldn't political leaders who hold real political power (Clausewitz) be the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize? After all, they are the ones who can really stop wars! Please post your comments by Tuesday, May 28.

The Bad

After we finish covering Yasser Arafat (1994 winner) and Henry Kissinger (1973 winner), explain if they are deserving winners. Arafat was a terrorist, ordering the murder of innocents. Kissinger ordered the bombing of Cambodia, which directly impacts the genocide that occurred there. However Arafat began a peace process with Israel that while not complete may lead to peace and stability in that volatile region. Kissinger helped to negotiate the Paris Peace Accords ending the Vietnam War. We are all complex beings; sometimes we do good things, and other times we fail. Do the good things they accomplished outweigh their less-than-noble past? Please respond by Thursday, May 23.