SCOTT SIMON, HOST: But even beset by economic crisis, France and other European states no longer worry so much about war breaking out on their continent. After the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday, Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament, thanked the Nobel Committee on Twitter. That's how statesmen put out the word these days. Deeply touched, honored, he tweeted, that the EU has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Reconciliation is what the EU is about. It can serve as inspiration. But Britain's Guardian newspaper rounded up some more skeptical tweets. Nigel Farage, a member of the European Parliament and leader of the U.K.'s libertarian Independence Party said: This goes to show the Norwegians really do have a sense of humor. Benedict Brogan of the Daily Telegraph tweeted: I suppose could have been even sillier. They could have awarded EU the Nobel for economics. Ben Fenton of the Financial Times said prize money for the Nobel Peace Prize is given in dollars, so it will at least be worth having. Our researchers say the prize will be paid in eight million Swedish krona - equal to $1.2 million - and will reportedly go to charity.
This week, the European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize, getting some folks all "twitterpated." Many went to Twitter to make fun of the choice. Weekend Edition host Scott Simon has some of the funnier responses.