Will 503 million people please step forward….?

Will 503 million people please step forward to receive the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize?

Got you with that one, right? LMAO.

Wait! I double checked! The Norwegian Nobel Committee DID give this year's Peace Prize to the 27 nations of the European Union, and all 503,497,812 people living there, "for the advancement of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe."

I'm in favor of the advancement of peace, reconciliation and that stuff…

I think it's goofy to give the Peace Prize to 27 countries, half of whom would like to tear out the throats of the other half at least some of the time. On the other hand, we didn't have World War III in Europe last year, so maybe those diffidently benevolent Norwegians have some kind of point…

If they had asked me for suggestions, I would have recommended these potential recipients higher on the list than the EU:

All the folks who risked their lives fighting tyranny during the Arab spring.

Every man and woman below the grade of E5 serving in the armed forces of every country in the world.

All elementary school teachers everywhere.

All pets who answer to "Good dog!" and "Nice kitty!"

….feel free to add your favorites to the list.