Exploited teenager and climate activist Greta Thunberg was the odds-on favorite to win the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for her global movement of getting kids to walk out of school to protest climate change or something.
But alas, Greta Thunberg did not win, according to the early-morning announcement on Friday. Instead, the prize went to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for “his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea,” according to the Nobel Peace Prize committee.
BREAKING NEWS:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.#NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/uGRpZJHk1B— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 11, 2019
While I’m sure few people would argue that he doesn’t deserve the prize, many on the left are miffed that Greta Thunberg was seemingly “snubbed.” The Washington Post even has a story “Why didn’t Greta Thunberg win the Nobel Peace Prize?” Much of the coverage of the announcement appears to question why she lost instead of celebrating the man who actually won.
Reactions on Twitter were mixed. With some people upset, and others glad:
Greta Thunberg deserved the Nobel Peace Prize this year. pic.twitter.com/Ehz2KMF0VK
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) October 11, 2019
Oh thank goodness. Someone who actually DESERVES it. Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (go home Greta Thurnberg!)https://t.co/SWGIjNH4PG
— Christine (@chrisndepilepsy) October 11, 2019
I'm so happy today as Greta Thunberg didn't win the Nobel Peace prize…✌😂
— Shubham Sharma ⚡ (@shubhsharma34) October 11, 2019
Greta Thunberg may be Denied the Nobel Peace Prize, but she has won something greater, the respect, the Admiration and the Hearts of the Caring people of the World !
— Kamahl AM (@OfficialKamahl) October 11, 2019
Why were so many people wrong in thinking Greta was a shoo-in? I believe that the Nobel committee has likely been well aware of the damage to their reputation following Barack Obama’s winning of the award in 2009—a move that the Nobel secretary now looks back on with regret. Had Thunberg won this year it would have likely further damaged the prestige of the award.
Still, it’s disturbing to see how coverage of the Nobel Peace Prize announcement has described Thunberg of being “snubbed” or “denied” the prize as though it should have been hers but the honor was stolen from her. She didn’t deserve the prize any more than Obama deserved his, and had she won it, it would have delegitimized the prize once again.
I hope the left stops crying over Greta’s “defeat” and instead starts to celebrate Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. It’s quite clear he was far more deserving of it.
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