Friday, July 31, 2009

Obama Selects 16 Medal of Freedom Recipients

Obama has announced his list of 16 people who will receive the Medal of Freedom.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-medal-freedom31-2009jul31,0,1309581.story

"President Obama, attempting to spotlight those who have acted as "agents of change," announced Thursday that he would bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor, on a cast of living and deceased figures widely known in politics, the arts and sciences, sports and social movements.

The 16 honorees named by the White House include Harvey Milk, ... late Republican congressman Jack Kemp, a onetime pro football standout as well, and ailing Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.

The president's choices, who will be honored at a White House ceremony Aug. 12, include the Rev. Joseph Lowery, an American civil rights activist; and Desmond Tutu, the South African archbishop and Nobel laureate. They include a pioneer in sports for women, tennis star Billie Jean King; and the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Actor Sidney Poitier and singer Chita Rivera were also named. Among the honorees from the international scene are British cosmologist Stephen Hawking and Mary Robinson
"

Ace is none to pleased with at least two of the selections;

http://ace.mu.nu/archives/290334.php

"You all remember Rev. Joe's disgraceful benediction from the inauguration (YouTube link, sorry, embedding disabled):



'Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when


Black will not be asked to get in back;

When Brown can stick around;

When Yellow will be mellow;

When the Red Man can get ahead, man;

And when White will embrace what is right.



That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen...



The theme (WTF?) of this years list according to the White House is "Agents of change. . . . They have blazed trails and broken down barriers." So, of course, they had to include Ted Kennedy, famous for breaking glass and climbing to safety.

"

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