The Medal of Freedom was established by President Harry Truman in 1945 to recognize civilians for their efforts during WWII. President John F. Kennedy reinstated the Medial of Freedom award in 1963.
Today, President Barack Obama awarded 16 remarkable people the Medal of Freedom. The awards ceremony was a moving experience to see all these legends or their representatives all together.
Recipients:
Stephen Hawking Mary Robinson Desmond Tutu Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh Harvey Milk Sidney Poitier Rev. Joseph Lowery Billie Jean King Senator Ted Kennedy Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Senator Jack Kemp Joe Medicine Crow Chita Rivera Sasan G. Komen/Nancy Brinker Dr. Pedro Greer Dr. Janet Davidson Rowley
Chief Joseph Medicine Crow was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Freedom 2009 awards. He was born in 1913. From Wiki:
WOW! Amazing, MH, about Chief Joseph. What a guy!
I’m wondering why Ted Kennedy is getting this award. I know he has brain cancer (and that’s really sad) but what’s the criteria? We’re going to put him in the same category as Desmond Tutu? I don’t get it.
He has served the country for at least 4 decades. Do you like your existing health care? Thank Teddy. He has pushed for the reforms you have for decades. You feel strongly about immigration reform? Kennedy was behind that.
He is one of the senior senators–the Lion of the Senate. He has lost 3 brothers in service to this country: Joe Jr, JFK and Bobby. He is gravely ill. I believe both George Bush, Daddy Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama would all have recognized him at this particular time in his life.
MH, what kinds of reforms did he push for?
Moon… “He has served the country for at least 4 decades. Do you like your existing health care? Thank Teddy.”
I thought that health care reform was because of how BAD and HORRIBLE our current health care is… now we are giving a career politician a Medal of Freedom for something that apparently sucks?
‘Sucks’ is in the eye of the beholder, just don’t go to a government managed medical facility to get it removed!
Thanks for the thread, Moon-Howler. I watched the ceremony on C-Span and it was very touching and inspiring. Each recipient has contributed something meaningful and valuable to humankind. It certainly was an uplifting experience especially in the midst of so much of the crap we have to listen to today.
The schips health plan for kids was done under Kennedy’s guidance for starters.
Totally agree, Marie. Each in his or her own way made tremendous contributions without intending to do so or ever considering a Medal of Freedom Award. What a welcome relief that ceremony was.
Teddy has done some good things in Congress (yes, Schips is good), but I just don’t see him in the same light as the other recipients, especially with the Chappaquiddick incident. Ted has always struck me as a gangsta.
Why not just give him a Congressional award or something? To me, it’s just inappropriate to put him with the others.
Overall, however, you and Marie are correct that awarding exceptional people, especially now, is a positive step.
A gansta? Give me a break. A gansta from Martha’s Vineyard? (raising an eyebrow) Chappaquiddick effectively nixed any chance Kennedy had of becoming president. That was many years ago, 40 to be exact. I am not a Kennedy fan but I also don’t carry around an axe over the family. Teddy is an old, very ill man, who has been a senator since 1962. That is coming up on 50 years of service. Only Senator Byrd of West Virginia has more seniority. How does he compare to Jack Kemp, Pinko? I thought it was very decent of Pres. Obama to recognize him during his lifetime. Too bad jack Kemp wasn’t around to accept his own award.
As for comparing him to Desmond Tutu–I don’t think those recipients can be compared. Each was a notable human being in their own right. I am sure each of us could raise an eyebrow over someone in that list.
I know Kennedy is ill and has been in Congress a long time. I don’t wish him pain or ill will, and yes, he has served the country for decades. He’s just someone I don’t trust.
Incidentally, you can be a Congressional gangsta as much as any gangsta rapper. You just wear a suit is all.
I have never heard of a congressional gansta.
Father Joe Kennedy may have been a mobster in a suit. I don’t think the children are. I don’t distrust Kennedy more than I do most people in congress.
I doubt that any one person likes all 16 of the people selected. I had never heard of a couple of people who where honored.
Okay, then let’s talk about something more important.
Sidney Poitier ROCKS!