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Friday, October 9, 2009

Savage Love Savage Love Letter of the Day

Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 4:55 PM

This seems like a perfectly batshit end to a perfectly batshit day:

I'm a long-time reader and have a sincere appreciation for your logical, direct approach to sexuality.

I was reading about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize and found myself, despite having voted for him, thinking that it is both premature and, at least at this point in time, unwarranted. But it did get me thinking about the kind of person who ought to be nominated for such a prestigious award, and it occurred to me that you, sir, have contributed much to the cause of acceptance (ie, peace). Acceptance of one's own sexuality, of the sexuality of others. You travel and give speeches, write about these things, give interviews, et cetera. It is a job that you do quite well, and you serve as an inspiration to others. But above and beyond that, you do all of this with a consistency that seems to indicate a true passion and belief that the individual matters. That the well-being of even one person, gay, straight or oscilllating in between, is worthwhile.

Honestly, I'd like to nominate you for this award. I am going to investigate how to go about doing that, and I think there are more than 5 people out there who will agree with me. Just warning you that this is coming.

Thank you, Dan, for what you do so well.

K.W.

The whole world's gone mad—including at least one of my readers. K.W.? If nominated I will not, um, run (do you run for those things?); if selected by the committee—pffffffffffffft!—I will not be going to Oslo. Well, not unless I get to take this home with the check and the medal.

Comments (26) RSS

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Quick! Someone tell Brendan Kiley! Dan Savage is being tacky!!

Posted by bobbo on October 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM

Whew! "Perfectly batshit" is right.

Dan, you're a great guy and all, but there are at least 100 people who deerve this more than you do. (Those same people deserve it more than Obama too, but that's another story.)

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty

on October 9, 2009 at 5:12 PM

don't do it. a norwegian will always break your heart.

trust me.

Posted by plum on October 9, 2009 at 5:15 PM

Oh good lord.

Posted by Rotten666 on October 9, 2009 at 5:17 PM

Norwegians are hot!

Posted by Will in Seattle

on October 9, 2009 at 5:18 PM

Almost all of the Nobel judges are women. They aren't hot (more matronly) but they have great credentials. The lone guy on the committee is wearing a pink tie, so he might vote for Dan.
http://nobelpeaceprize.org/en_GB/nominat…

Posted by dnt trust me on October 9, 2009 at 5:27 PM

@ 6

Inger-Marie looks unlikely to support ...well, anyone =\

Posted by Dee on October 9, 2009 at 5:33 PM

Isn't that one of the puppets from Dark Crystal?

Posted by NotNobel on October 9, 2009 at 5:33 PM

You stupid man, why would you pass on a free trip to Oslo? They have a park with a giant phallic statue. And a mini bottle museum. A MINI BOTTLE MUSEUM!

Posted by erp on October 9, 2009 at 5:37 PM

Jesus sweet Jesus.

All due respect, someone is out of touch in a big, very big way.

Posted by Cynic on October 9, 2009 at 6:09 PM

Got to get you elected to the presidency first Dan.

Posted by Paulikin on October 9, 2009 at 6:15 PM

In case you readers were wondering, I didn't write this.

Posted by Baconcat on October 9, 2009 at 6:16 PM

So glad you introduced us to him during ESC this year.

Posted by The Psion

on October 9, 2009 at 6:35 PM

Yes, but first they'll have to order some new Nobel statues...one's that look like penises.

It will say "Nobel Peace Prize" and have a penis on it.

Other than that, I have not problem with this award going to Dan Savage.

Posted by King Harald V on October 9, 2009 at 7:00 PM

I agree, the world has gone crazy. Time to do damage on a bottle of EC.

Posted by kim in portland

on October 9, 2009 at 7:03 PM

oslo's just like any other city, except for two things: the gustav vigelands sculpture park (aforementioned phallic statue, but also many, many statues with actual phalli), and its proximity to the west coast of norway, which is THEE most beautiful stretch of scenery in the entire world, bar none.

if you don't go to oslo, can i have your ticket?!

Posted by Valkyrie on October 9, 2009 at 8:11 PM

look
at
me.

Posted by Danno on October 9, 2009 at 8:19 PM

BTW, Dan, you missed a much more informative photo of Chace Crawford earlier today.

Posted by rob!

on October 9, 2009 at 9:27 PM

The Nobel "Piece" Prize?

Posted by Harry Lime on October 9, 2009 at 10:02 PM

@18: Damn...

Posted by Dan Savage on October 9, 2009 at 10:19 PM

To nominate someone for a Nobel Prize, you have to be a national leader, a member of a legislature, a university professor well-established and reputed in one's field, or a Nobel laureate.

You can find out more info at the Nobel website. There are hundreds of nominees every year. Some people have been nominated every year for many years annd never receive the award. I believe Jimmy Carter was nominated for the Peace Prize about 25 times before he got his. And then there's the politics involved with winning (all of the committees are, I understand, VERY political - particularly the Literature award).

Since the Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee - a five member board appointed by the Norwegian Parliament - it's possible that it may be the least political of the awards.

Posted by Bauhaus I on October 9, 2009 at 11:30 PM

Oh God Alexander Rybak. Did you see his winning Eurovision performance on Youtube? It's a great song and act and Norway sure deserved the win.

Posted by kribban on October 10, 2009 at 12:59 AM

I enjoy Dan as much as the next guy, but truthfully, he's more of an antagonist then a spreader of peace.

But then, someone has to do it.

Posted by Frau Blucher on October 10, 2009 at 1:29 PM

Hey, Dan, the Nobel prizes are presented in Stockholm in December. So, if you were nominated and indeed won, you'd have a chance to check out these guys in person:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tugvsldyc…

Posted by tma1dc on October 10, 2009 at 7:17 PM

Why has no one commented on the fact that Obama has won a Nobel Peace Prize for doing exactly nothing? What world changing events did he orchestrate? Brokering peace between a Cop and MIT professor does not count as world changing. When did this award become so mundane? He is not a Ghandi or Winston Churchill? So far he cannot even get his own party to agree on healthcare.....

For me this award used to stand for people whose contributions to the world made a difference. Now you dont have to make a difference to get one, just be very popular.

Posted by stormblade on October 13, 2009 at 1:56 AM

I actually assumed the Peace Prize was given to Obama at the urging of Fredrik Reinfeldt; I think he's putting together a power play involving his current holding of the rotaing presidency of the EU, the Stockholm conference, and the Nobels to get new, lower, carbon emissions agreed to, and he needs the US to make it work.

And yeah, I think he does have some influence over the Nobel committee.

Posted by Evil Jenny on October 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM