From The Lead:
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Anglican Archbishop emeritus of South Africa, Desmond Tutu will be among those receiving the US Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.
Desmond Tutu is an Anglican Archbishop emeritus who was a leading anti-apartheid activist in South Africa. Widely regarded as “South Africa’s moral conscience,” he served as the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) from 1978 – 1985, where he led a formidable crusade in support of justice and racial reconciliation in South Africa. He received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work through SACC in 1984. Tutu was elected Archbishop of Cape Town in 1986, and the Chair of the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995. He retired as Archbishop in 1996 and is currently Chair of The Elders.
Others named for the medal are:
Billy Jean King
Rev. Joseph Lowery
Joe Medicine Crow
Harvey Milk
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sidney Poitier
Chita Rivera
Mary Robinson
Janet Davison Rowley M.D.
Muhammad Yunus
Harvey Milk
Billie Jean King
Check out the post at The Lead to view the accomplishments of the others on the list.
That's grand, isn't it? It's a fine list, with the exception of O'Connor. It's wonderful and all that she was the first woman on the Supreme Court, but she also gave us George Bush as president, snatching the job away from the man who won.
Of course, the medal is a tad tarnished from being given to Rummy and George Tenet, but this list of recipients will help restore its luster.
All images from Wiki
As I mentioned at Susan's blog, the gay guy is dead. Do we read anything into that?
ReplyDeleteI think it highlights the paucity of gay heroes in the current age. Harvey Milk was assassinated 30 + years ago. And there is no one still to take his place.
IT, I don't know what to read into the fact that Harvey Milk is included 30 years after his death. Why do you think there is no one of his stature to take his place?
ReplyDeleteHmmm... Interesting to read and moreso after IT's comment.
ReplyDeleteThere are more people active now so harder for one person to stand out? Harvey Milk in part was exceptionally well known because he was willing to be active when so many others weren't (as well as being good at it).
ReplyDeleteI would say Gene Robinson has it in part though he can't be a full time leader due to his duties as a bishop. Others?
Erp, you make a good point that, at the time, there weren't others out there willing to take on the role, and Harvey did it well.
ReplyDeleteWe have not had another African-American leader of the stature of Martin Luther king, either. The reality may be that true, inspirational leaders are few and far between. And both were killed for their efforts.
Archbishop Tutu was such a leader for South Africa. It may be that the great ones are not only leaders, but prophets. Thanks be to God that Tutu was not killed.
South Africa also had Nelson Mandela.
ReplyDeleteYes, Mandela, too.
ReplyDelete