Do We Sometimes Focus Too Closely, Just To Make a Point?

[MineralMan]

I think so. President Obama gave GHW Bush a medal just the other day. That sparked about a dozen threads decrying Obama for doing such a thing. I read most of those threads. Very seldom was there a mention of the other people who got that same medal in that same ceremony. How many of their names do most DUers know from that ceremony. And, of those, how many would earn our praise, if only we knew their names.

Well, here's the transcript of the ceremony:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/15/remarks-president-honoring-recipients-2010-medal-freedom

Please go have a look. See if most of them aren't very praiseworthy and deserving of this honor for yourself.

We focused on one name, an honoree who many feel deserves no such honor. And in that focus, some of us criticized the President for his choice. But, we forgot to counter that with all of the other honorees' stories and their reasons for being honored.

Life isn't simple. Our focus is sometimes too sharp on the things with which we disagree, and we don't even see the rest. How often do we do that on DU? How often do we find a thing to criticize and miss many things to praise?

Go look at the other names and read what President Obama says about them as he presents their awards. Truly, it's worth your time.

[MineralMan]

1. Oh, yeah, just in case your mouse isn't working, here's the

pertinent part of the ceremony. It is a government document, so there is no copyright:

These are the recipients of the 2010 Medal of Freedom. So now, it is my great pleasure and my great honor to present them with their medals. (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: John H. Adams. At a time when contaminated waterways and polluted air threatened too many of our communities, John H. Adams co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council to encourage responsible stewardship of our natural resources. A staunch defender of the wonders of our planet, he served as executive director and, later, as president of the NRDC, challenging Americans to live up to our responsibilities to leave something better to our children with an urgency matched by few others.

John Adams’ decades-long commitment to safeguarding the Earth has left our air purer, our water cleaner and our planet healthier for generations to come.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Maya Angelou. Out of a youth marked by pain and injustice, Dr. Maya Angelou rose with an unbending determination to fight for civil rights and inspire every one of us to recognize and embrace the possibility and potential we each hold.

With her soaring poetry, towering prose and mastery of a range of art forms, Dr. Angelou has spoken to the conscience of our nation. Her soul-stirring words have taught us how to reach across division and honor the beauty of our world.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Warren E. Buffett. As a world-renowned investor and philanthropist, Warren E. Buffett’s business acumen is matched only by his dedication to improving the lives of others. He is a co-founder of The Giving Pledge, an organization that encourages wealthy Americans to donate at least 50 percent of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Warren Buffett’s example of generosity and compassion has shown us the power of one individual’s determination and inspired countless women and men to help make our world a brighter place.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

The Honorable George Herbert Walker Bush. (Applause.) From his time as a decorated Navy pilot to his years in the White House as the 41st President of the United States, President George Herbert Walker Bush has led a life marked by a profound commitment to serving others. As President, he upheld the American value of liberty during a time of renewal and promise. As a private citizen, he has united Americans in times of crisis, lending his tireless efforts to men and women whose lives have been upended by disaster. Over the arc of his life, President Bush has served our nation as a tremendous force for good, and we proudly salute him for his unwavering devotion to our country and our world.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Jasper Johns. Bold and iconic, the work of Jasper Johns has left lasting impressions on countless Americans. With nontraditional materials and methods, he has explored themes of identity, perception, and patriotism. By asking us to reexamine the familiar, his work has sparked the minds of creative thinkers around the world. Jasper Johns’ innovative creations helped shape the pop, minimal and conceptual art movements, and the United States honors him for his profound influence on generations of artists.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Gerda Weissmann Klein. Gerda Weissmann Klein’s life is a testament to the tenacity of the human spirit. A Holocaust survivor, she was separated from her parents and sent to a series of Nazi labor camps. In 1945, she was one of a few survivors among those forced to undergo a 350-mile death march to avoid the progress of liberating Allied forces.

From tragedy to triumph, she and her husband proudly started the Gerda and Kurt Klein Foundation to promote tolerance, respect and empowerment of students throughout the world.

By sharing her stories and encouraging others to see themselves in one another, Gerda Klein has helped to advance understanding among all people.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

The Honorable John R. Lewis. From his activism in the civil rights movement to his nearly 25 years in the House of Representatives, John R. Lewis has dedicated his life to shattering barriers and fighting injustice. The son of sharecroppers from Alabama, he rose with courage, fortitude and purpose to organize the first student sit-ins and the earliest freedom rides. The youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington, a fearless advocate and a distinguished member of Congress, John Lewis has earned our lasting gratitude for a lifetime dedicated to the pursuit of equality and justice for all.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Elizabeth Little, accepting on behalf of her husband, Dr. Thomas Emmett Little. Dr. Thomas Emmett Little was an optometrist who devoted his life and skills to those in need. Starting in the 1970s, Dr. Little and his wife lived largely in Afghanistan in order to provide vision care to the people of that nation. Even as they dedicated their lives to healing others, Dr. Little and nine of his team members were murdered in Afghanistan in 2010. Our nation mourns the loss of these humanitarians who paid the ultimate price in pursuit of their ideals, and we look to Dr. Little’s example of generosity and goodwill so we can better know the meaning of sacrifice and the necessity of peace.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Yo-Yo Ma. Recognized as one of the world’s greatest musicians, Yo-Yo Ma’s talents know no boundaries of genre or culture. Since performing at the White House for President Kennedy at the age of seven, he has recorded more than 75 albums, won more than a dozen Grammy awards and established himself as one of our nation’s most acclaimed and respected artists. His music has bound us together and captured our imagination, and the United States proudly honors this prolific cellist and ambassador for the arts.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Sylvia Mendez. Sylvia Mendez was thrust to the forefront of the civil rights movement when she was just a child. Denied entry to the Westminster School because of her Mexican heritage, she sought justice and her subsequent legal case, Mendez v. Westminster, effectively ended segregation as a matter of law in California. The arguments in that case catalyzed the desegregation of our schools and prevailed in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, forever changing our nation. Today, Sylvia Mendez continues to share her remarkable story and advocate for excellence and equality in classrooms across America.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

Stanley F. Musial. Stanley F. Musial represents the best of American sports icons. His name is synonymous with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team on which he played for his entire 22-year career. A perennial all-star and three-time Most Valuable Player, he won accolades as a player and championships as a teammate. Nicknamed “Stan the Man” Musial, he played the game with unrivaled passion, and his humility and decency remain a model for all young Americans to this day.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

William F. Russell. Basketball was a different sport before William F. Russell donned a uniform. With unmatched skill, he led the Boston Celtics to an unparalleled string of titles and earned the distinction of being named the National Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player five times. He broke down barriers on and off the court, becoming basketball’s first African American coach and serving as a passionate advocate for civil rights. Bill Russell can reflect with pride on helping change the culture of a sport and the course of our nation.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

The Honorable Jean Kennedy Smith. The eighth of nine children to Joseph and Rose Kennedy, Jean Kennedy Smith joined the family business of helping her fellow Americans in improving our world. In 1974, she founded Very Special Arts, a nonprofit organization that promotes the artistic talents of young people living with disabilities. On the international stage, Jean Kennedy Smith played a pivotal role in the peace process in Northern Ireland while serving as United States ambassador to Ireland. With intelligence, compassion, creativity and grace, Jean Kennedy Smith has contributed volumes to her family’s outstanding legacy of service to our country.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

John J. Sweeney. As a champion for the American worker, John J. Sweeney has strengthened our families, our economy and our country. The son of Irish immigrants, he worked his way up in the labor movement, serving as president of the Service Employees International Union and president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, all the while reaffirming our nation’s commitment to rewarding the enduring values of hard work and responsibility. The United States proudly honors John Sweeney for a lifetime of courageous service on behalf of working people.

(The medal is presented.) (Applause.)

[dionysus]

3. kick

[TheKentuckian]

2. Poppy cannot be whitewashed by other recipients.

We are talking about George Herbert Walker Bush here. The others don't make it okay at all.

[blondeatlast]

5. And he's too trivial to tarnish the others a bit. there's a forest, and there's some trees.

You choose which of those to observe.

[MineralMan]

6. Thank you. We forget all the good for one flaw.

Too bad for us.

[TheKentuckian]

19. To call him trivial, I assume is tongue in cheek?

That fucker holds strings.

[MineralMan]

8. This is not about that, you see. This is about the other

recipients. It's not about President Obama, either. It is about the people who received the honor. You may disagree with one, and appreciate all the rest...if you bother to look at the rest. You are missing my point entirely.

[SoCalDem]

4. Like a nice ice cream sundae....but

someone put shit sprinkles on top..:grr:

[MineralMan]

7. Scrape them off and enjoy the rest, eh?

Some amazingly good cheeses require you to cut off the outer moldy skin before enjoying the cheese. If you refuse to do that, you miss an excellent experience.

[quinnox]

9. Angela Merkel was the one that surprised me

I found it very interesting that a German right wing leader was given the American "Medal of Freedom" award.

Its a profound mystery to me. :wtf:

[MineralMan]

10. Yes, that one was a bit odd. I only listed those who were present

to accept the honor, so I left out Sandra Day O'Connor, too.

[upi402]

11. King George I did some very bad things

Some of us need to pay attention a good bit more closely.
He should be in court, not getting a medal! In America, the bigger the crime, the better the reward.

[MineralMan]

12. Yes, but what about the other honorees?

Can you say anything about them? Did you even know who they were? If not, you make my point.

[upi402]

16. Your attempt to drag the intent of other threads -off their topic

makes my point. You try the Repuke tactic of 'misdirection and distraction'. Not valid argumanetation, and you know that don't you.
But thanks for playing!

[MineralMan]

17. Actually, this is my thread, and I brought up the points I

wanted to raise. I mentioned that a group of threads looked at this a different way. That is a fact. I raised a different issue, and supported it.

Not every thread that mentions other threads is a call out. I couldn't even tell you who started any of those other threads. I'm treating them as a general group of threads discussing the ceremony.

I'm not actually arguing with anyone.

[upi402]

18. 'argumentation' is not 'arguing with'

anyway, no worries

[Scurrilous]

13. Thanks.

K & R :thumbsup:

[MineralMan]

14. You're welcome. There are some great people in that list, and

nobody even noticed them, mostly. A pity.

[damntexdem]

15. One has ot focus closely to make a point -- otherwise, one just makes a wide circle.

Sometimes it's important to see the trees despite the forest.

[madinmaryland]

20. I actually watched the whole thing live. Really quite interesting. I didn't realize

that Stan Musial was still alive and I remembered Bill Russell from his Celtics days. All of the awardees had a very interesting story.

Don't know the point of Bush 41 being there. I thought it would be for work he had done with Clinton, but there was no mention of that.