Snowden and the Nobel Peace Price

The deadline for nominations to the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize expires tomorrow, i.e., nominations need to be post-stamped by tomorrow. Only certain people are qualified to nominated, and those qualified include members of national legislatures. Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee may suggest other candidates at the meeting where the nominations are recorded, i.e., committee members in reality have an extended deadline.

Some Norwegian MPs have apparently nominated Mr. Edward Joseph Snowden for the Nobel Peace Price for 2014.

While it is absolutely beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr. Snowden deserves this prize more than some of the past laureates, I cannot see how his actions are covered by the terms in the late Alfred Nobel's last will and testament.

It has been argued in the defense of the Norwegian Nobel Committee that one needs only keep to the spirit of the will. However, that spirit has been stretched a wee bit far. Fredrik Hefermehl, a Norwegian critic of said committee, has said that one could allow interpretations beyond the strict wording of the will. An example of that, in yours truly's judgment, would be the reduction of nuclear arms. That is not strictly speaking the reduction of standing armies, but it is reasonably within the spirit of the will.

Edward Snowden has done a great service to humanity, but the Nobel Peace Prize is not meant for him.

Rudolf of Austria-Hungary

Five quarters of a century ago today, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary passed brutally from this world at Mayerling.

Mencken Passing at 58

Two years short of six decades ago today, H.L. Mencken passed away.

A quote from Notes on Democracy:

The heritage of freedom belongs to a small minority of men, descended, whether legitimately or by adultery, from the old lords of the soil or from the patricians of the free towns. It is my contention that such a heritage is necessary in order that the concept of liberty, with all its disturbing and unnatural implications, may be so much as grasped - that such ideas cannot be implanted in the mind of man at will, but must be bred in as all other basic ideas are bred in.

Holberg at 260

A baker's dozen score years ago today, Norwegian writer Ludvig Holberg passed away.

He was the author of – amongst many other works – The Political Tinker, which made fun of know-nothing people wanting influence in politics. Can we imagine what he would have thought of universal suffrage? Or of lots of other features of the wonderful modern mass democracy that we all are supposed to be praising?

The Rage against Monarchy

Over at RadixJournal.com, formerly Alternative Right, yours truly has a recent article on a quite recent attack on monarchy as an idea. It is yours truly debut article at the site.

Kaiser Wilhelm II at 155

155 years ago today, then future Kaiser Wilhelm II was born.

Royal World noted last year a German Prince speaking out for restoration.

Some Monarchist and Reactionary Thought

Something to reflect on:

My Blank Ballot

A hundred days ago today, a so-called right-wing Cabinet was appointed by the King of Norway after an election victory for the so-called right.

Over at Liberaleren, yours truly has an article today on that occasion (in Norwegian).

Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

375 years ago today (Jan 14 in the Julian Calendar), the first American colonial constitution, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, was adopted.

A Prince of Norway

A dozen and three years short of two centuries ago today, Prince Oscar Frederik of Sweden and Norway was born to Crown Prince Oscar and Crown Princess Josephine.

Louis XVI Slain

221 years ago today, King Louis XVI of France was brutally killed at Place de Louis XV.

Tea at Trianon quotes from the King's will and defense.

Faber 2014