Posted on 09/17/2006 8:04:11 PM PDT by FlyVet
Nobel Peace Prize Winners Take Aim at U.S.
By CHASE SQUIRES, AP
DENVER (Sept. 17) - Ten Nobel Peace Prize laureates chbishop called for world peace and took aim at U.S. policy makers, asking an enthusiastic crowd of 7,000 youth to demand that the United States pull back its military, spread its wealth and offer aid to developing countries.
The Archbishop Desmond Tutu had stern words for the Bush administration. "Then how can you commit Guantanamo Bay? Take back your country," he said.
Only the Dalai Lama, whose speech at the three-day PeaceJam convention at the University of Denver was interrupted when a fire alarm went off, did not take a direct jab at the U.S.
"After the painful events of September 11, I wish that America would have built a school in Afghanistan in the name of every victim," said Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian judge and 2003 Peace Prize recipient. "When someone claims he has a vision from God to bring war to Iraq, this is a kind of terrorism."
The Dalai Lama called on the world to open itself to religious tolerance.
PeaceJam, a Colorado-based program in its 10th year, hosts conventions around the world, bringing teenagers together with Nobel laureates to talk about what they can do to promote peace.
Founders Dawn Engle and Ivan Suvanjieff say the interaction between the teens and laureates can build a generation that will tackle the big issues of poverty, disease and war.
One after the other Saturday night, the laureates called on Americans to do something about their government's foreign policy. From efforts to close the border with Mexico to Iraq to arms exports, the Nobel laureates had words for the U.S. government.
"Stand up. Take action," said Jody Williams, the 1997 recipient for her work opposing land mines, and the only American to take the stage. "Don't try to bring democracy to people you don't understand through the barrel of a gun and leave them with civil war."
The Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who praised the U.S. for its fight against South Africa's apartheid and its history of justice and democracy, also had stern words for the Bush administration.
"You taught us no government worth its salt can subvert the rule of law. We believed you," he said. "That's part of what you have as a gift for the world. Then how can you commit Guantanamo Bay? Take back your country."
09-17-06 08:16 EDT
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What is the Nobel Peace Prize worth today? I'll bet less than a bucket of spit.
Tutu=Archbishop of Hell
The last time I cared about Nobel winners was while watching the film, The Prize. (end/sarcasm)
BTW, good older film if you've never seen it. Pretty predictable plot, but great cast with Edward G Robinson, Paul Newman, Diane Baker, Elke Sommer.
It's hard to believe that it was only a few decades ago that the awarding of a "Nobel" prize was a serious matter that held prestige and meaning. But like so many institutions that have faded over time, the thing is now little more than a curiosity, an item in the newspaper's back pages that you quickly peruse, wonder to yourself if perhaps you've seen the names somewhere before, and then shrug off as you proceed to the (more relevant) funnies.
You're absolutely right...it's already been done to death. If they want to shock anyone, they should try saying something nice about the US...that'd shock people...right before the liberal campuses revoke their speaking engagements.
All they are saying is give peace a chance.
In the Boulder paper they glorified the event, trying to get local youth "interested." The event participation fees were either $400 or $700 per person. Complete scam!
What's a one L lama? A Tibetan Holy man.
What's a two L lama? A South American pack animal.
What's a three L lama? A big fire in Boston.
You might take your own advice. The Dalai Lama didn't say a thing about the U.S. not being tolerant of Muslims.
The Dalai Lama called on the world to open itself to religious tolerance.
In fact he didn't specify anyone on either side of the equation. It could just as easily apply to the secular liberal intolerance of Christianity in this country as anything. Or it could apply to the extreme fanatical intolerance of all religions by Muslims.
In South Africa, Desmond TuTu is looked upon as a joke; always has been one to them. It is ONLY western LIBERALS who fawn all over him.
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