Top 10 Reader comments at the New York Time
Brian
location:CT
date:October 8th, 2010
time:7:46 am
As a Chinese living abroad, I have high respect for the Nobel Prize committee’s decision this time:, especially at a moment when most countries are in desperate need of cash, and when the Chinese government has become so skillful in using the deep pocket it accumulated by extorting its own people to influence other countries’ decisions.
I am amazed to have witnessed, over the past few years, how successful the Chinese government has become in using a weird combination of nationalism and high living cost to make its people lose interests in politics; and how shining stories of the new riches and ridiculously high housing cost for the rest have made most Chinese so “pragmatic” that the majority nowadays have either forgot what happened on Tian’anmen Square or rationalized the Chinese government’s actions. It is also of my utmost disgust to see how the anti-government forces outside the country turned themselves into lost souls, squabbling about each faction’s “authority” or “righteousness”, without doing anything meaningful; and worse still, turned from anti-government to anti-China, thus further alienating themselves from the Chinese people.
At a time: when I don’t see any hope for China’s moral future, a Nobel Peace Prize is the best possible boost, for people who are “naive” enough to still believe in freedom and decency, and that sincerity and integrity still hold their authorities in our judgement.
Recommended by 316 Readers
Sridhar Chilimuri
location:New York
date:October 8th, 2010
time:5:30 am
Finally they got it right. He deserves it. The Nobel peace prize has restored its moral stature.
Recommended by 232 Readers
location:Bryn Mawr, PA
date:October 8th, 2010
time:5:24 am
Given China’s increasing propensity to throw its weight around and act like a bully, this is a courageous decision. Well done Norway!
Recommended by 191 Readers
T E Low
location:Kuala Lumpur
date:October 8th, 2010
time:7:35 am
Well, at least this year’s Nobel Peace Prize is less of a joke than last year’s Nobel Peace Prize…
However, I must question the motives behind the committee’s awarding of this year’s Peace Prize. Are they awarding the Prize objectively; i.e. has there been any tangible result from Mr. Liu Xiaobo’s activities that actually contributed to world peace? Or are they (the Nobel Committee) just trying to send a message to the Chinese government and China?
Frankly, I think the Chinese government should be awarded the Peace Prize. Their ability to pull their country out of poverty without engaging in any wars (*cough* US warmongering *cough*) has been a great contribution to world peace in itself….
Recommended by 178 Readers
neel economist
location:new delhi
date:October 8th, 2010
time:5:31 am
Kudos to Nobel committee to stick to their guns, unfazed by Chinese pressure.
it was really funny to see superpower trying to use its socalled superpower to block a peace prize for one of its citizen.
Recommended by 177 Readers
Chris
location:Western Europe
date:October 8th, 2010
time:8:09 am
Frankly this is as bad as Obama’s Nobel last year. The peace prize has become a complete sham. Mr. Liu’s Charter 08 was aimed at reforming the Chinese political system. While thats laudable and deserves merit and acclaim it is does nothing to improve the world. Once again the Peace Prize was used to advance petty symbolism and finger wagging. It is up there with Arafat’s and Obama’s Pointless Prize. Nothing was actually accomplished. Mr. Liu is going to continue to languish in prison. The award will only further anger the Chinese government, who’ll feel snubbed, which is what the Nobel Committee obviously set out to do. Other peacemaker have been passed over. No joint Nobel’s for the people who helped unify Europe, such as Germany’s Helmut Kohl or many of the European leaders from that era. 20 years after the end of the Cold War it might have been nice to see that recognized. Instead many elder statesmen are going to be passed over, while the Nobel Committee continues to act as a Top of the Pops barometer. What a disgrace!
Recommended by 164 Readers
Hong Zhou
location:Germany
date:October 8th, 2010
time:8:16 am
Actually, I don’t see how this political award will in anyway enhance “peace” in the name of which the award is given.
It is shameful that someone is locked up for what his political beliefs and activist activities, for sure. But using the case to sharpen a political, or even a cultural confrontation with a “superpower” is more about satisfying one’s political ego than promoting peace, which should be a notion that transcends politics, ideology, and culture.
It is delusional to think that the Nobel Prize committee is wrestling against an evil “government”, on behalf of the people of China. Liu Xiaopo actually does not have wide support inside China, and he is often viewed amongst the Chinese intelligensia as shallow and light-weight. (even though, as I said, that in no way warrants locking him up). So by using the award as some sort of political weapon, the Nobel Prize committee is setting itself up against, not for, a large segment of humanity, who does not necessarily care for the parochial institutions that the West proselytizes to other cultures, earlier with the help of gunboats, now in the form of ideologies and Nobel Prizes.
The “fight” that the Nobel Prize committee and its supporters perceive doesn’t actually exist. The real change is already underway with a rapidly ascending China that is both richer and more culturally confident. Social political transformations in the world occur in directions no one can anticipate, and they depend on factors that are much more basic and fundamental than ideological loudspeakers.
The Nobel Prize committee will be disappointed about the effect of their decision. In fact, they will probably be soon forgotten, passing into the oblivion of history.
Recommended by 162 Readers
SouthSea
location:CA
date:October 8th, 2010
time:8:29 am
Ridiculous decision. More ridiculous than giving a Nobel prize to Obama.
Liu Xiaobo did not do any real things in China except touting “democracy”. However, the fact is that China’s GDP, GDP per capita, and happiness index are much better than most of the so-called “democratic” countries including Iraq and Afghanistan.
The current political system works well in China because it fits the Chinese culture. Very few Chinese like Liu Xiaobo’s idea of adopting Western democracy in China. If so, Liu Xiaobo would have already obtained a lot of donation from overseas Chinese, who are not afraid of retaliation of the Communist Party and who are wealthy.
The fact is that most of the overseas Chinese who are living in the U.S. or E.U. reject the idea of applying Western democracy to China. The liberal democracy can work well in Western countries but it does not fit China, just like it does not fit Iraq and Afghanistan.
Western countries should stop preaching its so-called value everywhere. Not all people like Western value and ideology.
Recommended by 148 Readers
American Expat
location:Vancouver
date:October 8th, 2010
time:8:12 am
If the Nobel peace prize committee did it out of a purist, if somewhat naive idealism for freedom of speech, I respect that. Unfortunately too many time:s the Oslo committee has taken itself too serious and wanted to use this vehicle, a strangely sexy power bestowed on a number of people whose qualification to define the meaning of peace for us is understood by no one, to promote their pet idea of where the world should be going. Really, is there a consistent message from this committee over the years? Just think of awardees, the likes of Obama, Kissinger, Le Duc Tho, etc. What is the message? Where is the consistency? For the science Nobels at least the prizes awarded are more or less in line with a global consensus. The peace prize seems like too much influence monopolized by a bunch of insulated, sanctimonious people. It is a little scary. But then, anyone is free to take it serious or not. It would be interesting to know how the world has really changed, because of, or in spite of, the keen desire of these committee members to change it through this tool according to their pet beliefs.
Recommended by 125 Readers
Brent
location:New York NY
date:October 8th, 2010
time:7:39 am
I’m simply estatic. The fascist Chinese Communist Party deserves nothing less than a slap in the face. The Party has killed more Chinese than the Japanese did in WWII. Kudos to the Nobel Committee. God bless you, Mr. Liu. [from
