The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a decoration bestowed by the President of the United States and is, along with the equivalent Congressional Gold
Medal bestowed by an act of Congress, the highest civilian award in the United States. It is designed to recognize individuals who have made "an
especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or
private endeavors." The award is not limited to United States citizens and, while a civilian award, can also be awarded to military personnel and
worn on the uniform.
Source
Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama:
1. Joseph Medicine Crow: Native American, Historian about Native American Culture.
2. Chita Rivera: Puerto Rican: Actress and dancer.
3. Harvey Milk: Gay politician and activist.
4. Sandra Day O’Connor: First woman on the Supreme Court.
5. Muhammad Yunus: Bangladeshi banker who invented micro loans (What Obama’s mother was engaged with while in Indonesia).
6. Desmond Tutu: South African Archbishop.
7. Stephen Hawking: Scientist.
8. Sidney Poitier: African American Actor.
9. Senator Ted Kennedy: Major player in Obama Campaign.
10. Pedro Jose Greer, Jr.: Cuban American doctor who runs an entity that provides medical services to homeless people.
11. Rev. Joseph Lowery: African American civil rights leader. Said this at Corretta Scott King’s Funneral, “We know now there were no weapons of
mass destruction over there. But Coretta knew and we know that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health insurance.
Poverty abounds. For war billions more but no more for the poor!” and spoke at the Obama inauguration saying, “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. Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen! Say Amen! And Amen!”
12. Senator Jack Kemp.
13. Billie Jean King: Female tennis player, advocate against sexism.
14. Nancy Goodman Brinker: Woman’s activist against breast cancer.
15. Dr. Janet Davison Rowley: She is a Scientist and geneticist from Chicago University.
16. Mary Robinson: First female President of Ireland.
Take what you want from this list. I think it reflects the Obama agenda. He throws in Stephen Hawking and Senator Jack Kemp so that the list isn’t
completely devoid of strait white men. Ted Kennedy isn't white, he is red from all the booze he consumed over the years.
[edit on 12-8-2009 by finemanm]
