By Walt Zlotow
Famed political satirist Tom Lehrer, who died in July at 97, long lamented the end of his beloved political satire career. That occurred in 1973 when the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Henry Kissinger the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the Paris Accords designed to end the Vietnam War. The ceasefire quickly fell apart allowing the war to grind on for two more years till North Vietnam overran the South, sending the US military fleeing in chaos.
Kissinger, architect of Nixon’s vaunted peace plan that elected him in 1968, voraciously promoted endless war for 3 years prior to the award that killed over a million Vietnamese as well as 20,000 US soldiers. Not a single one of those deaths were necessary. Yet, Kissinger proudly accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1973, then spent his remaining half century endlessly defending his murderous war policies.
Lehrer remarked at the time, “Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.” He felt real-world political events had become so absurd that satire could no longer effectively lampoon them.
Fifty-two years later the Nobel Prize continues to go to figures more deserving a War Prize. This year the Committee selected Venezuelan opposition political figure María Corina Machado who for over 20 years has been supporting US efforts to overthrow the socialist Venezuelan governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicholas Maduro. She currently backs Trump committing mass murder obliterating small unarmed boats in the Caribbean near Venezuela and has endorsed US land strikes in Venezuela which appear imminent.
Her strong ties to Israel’s Likud government have increased since they began their genocide of Palestinians in Gaza two years ago. One reason is her opposition to the Maduro government’s support of a Palestinian state.
If Tom Lehrer were alive today, he’d no doubt remark how right he was 52 years ago… one can’t satirize such an absurd, senseless Peace Prize pick.
Walt Zlotow, West Suburban Peace Coalition, Glen Ellyn IL
Keep Independent Journalism Alive – Support The AIMN
Dear Reader,
Since 2013, The Australian Independent Media Network has been a fearless voice for truth, giving public interest journalists a platform to hold power to account. From expert analysis on national and global events to uncovering issues that matter to you, we’re here because of your support.
Running an independent site isn’t cheap, and rising costs mean we need you now more than ever. Your donation – big or small – keeps our servers humming, our writers digging, and our stories free for all.
Join our community of truth-seekers. Donate via PayPal or credit card via the button below, or bank transfer [BSB: 062500; A/c no: 10495969] and help us keep shining a light.
With gratitude, The AIMN Team
Might it be time to dump the Peace Prize… there’s only so much absurdity and indefensibility that can be tolerated? Theodore Roosevelt, George C. Marshall, the Jewish terrorist Menachem Begin, Kissinger, Shimon Peres, Barack Obama… all of these individuals participated in or were instrumental in varying degrees of conflict and yet were awarded the Peace Prize. Beyond ridiculous, as Lehrer noted.
You cannot “dump the Peace Prize” until Donald has had his turn. This is a man who has not only made America “great again”, he has also made the Western world sweat. You should be ashamed of your self for even suggesting such a thing.
Can’t see anyone objecting to dumping the prize.
However it is a category that NZ hasn’t beaten us!!!!!!!!!!!