By CONOR FUCCI
Columnist
Recently, I found out that America’s best friend and foreign Internet celebrity, Vladimir Putin, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. An accomplishment that would be complimented in most situations has left me nothing more than baffled.
I understand that Putin’s involvement in the neutralization and eventual elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile is commendable and helped create peace in the region. I do not want to understate the importance of this effort and how it certainly saved a number of innocent Syrian civilians; but, to nominate a man like Vladimir Putin for something that signifies peace is simply offensive.
To illustrate how out of place Putin is on the list of nominees, I will name some of the past winners and their accomplishments. Henry Dunant was the first winner in 1901. He was one of the founders of the Red Cross, one of the most successful charitable organizations on earth, catering to the needs of millions of people every year.
Another winner was Aung San Suu Kyi, a famous non-violent protestor in Myanmar who was living under house arrest for 23 years.
Finally, the European Union won in 2012. It is one of the most successful modern international organizations and for 60 years has been advancing international relations in Europe.
Now, we are left with Putin, a man notorious for his questionable political practices is up for a prize that has to do with peace.
Have we forgotten that Russia invaded and occupied the nation of Georgia just a few years ago under the leadership of Putin? Have we forgotten about the members of the band Pussy Riot that are locked up for their apparent political dissidence? Have we forgotten about the law passed by the Russian parliament making it illegal to so much as speak about homosexuality? What about when they banned adoptions to the United States and Sweden? These are questions we need to ask ourselves.
Putin has not been awarded the Peace Prize at this time, nor do I think that he will be awarded the Prize in the end. I feel that even his nomination is offensive on the basis of the crimes that his nation has committed while under his leadership.
There have been people who have been awarded the prize with very little justification, such as President Obama only one year into his term. But, needless to say, Mr. Obama never attempted to discriminate against a major part of his people for being homosexual, something over which they have no control.
We shall see how the selection process goes. Regardless, I can only hope that some of the other nominees have a better resume than Putin.