Seriously?
Sure, if you hosted a fundraiser for his campaign. :dubious:
From Wikipedia, “The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by the President of the United States ‘for especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.’” And the statement from the White House says, “[Gloria] Estefan became one of the first mainstream Hispanic artists to crossover between English and Spanish language music paving the way for countless other Latin artists to follow.” So, yes, forming the Miami Sound Machine qualifies.
Well, they gave one to Ben Carson, so it’s not that exclusive of a club…
So you’re saying that paving the way for Pitbull qualifies for the Medal of Freedom. Got it!
Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying.
So . . . do you disagree with the White House’s assessment of Gloria Estefan’s culural significance? If so, in what way?
Well, there’s your answer. Who knows what kind of war-ravaged hell we’d be living in if we didn’t all learn to come-on-shake-your-body-baby-do-the-conga?
For perspective’s sake, here’s more arts & entertainment people given the PMF under Obama’s watch: Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Jasper Johns, Sidney Poitier, Maya Angelou, Willie Mays (WOW he’s still alive?!?), Ernie Banks, Loretta Lynn, Tom Brokaw, Oprah Winfrey, Yo-Yo Ma… just to name a few. Yeah, it’s a meaningless photo op but hey, that’s the fuckin’ job.
And Bush gave the Medal of Freedom to Hank Aaron, Carol Burnett, Julia Child, Aretha Franklin, Andy Griffith, B.B. King, Rita Moreno, Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Reagan, and Fred Rogers.
It’s like an American knighthood. You can receive it just for being famous.
“…one of the first mainstream Hispanic artists to crossover between English and Spanish language music paving the way for countless other Latin artists to follow.”
How about a Presidential Medal for Awesome Guitar Riffs, and award it to Carlos Santana?
Well, Julia Child worked for the OSS, the which later became the CIA. She really did help protect the security interests of the USA.
But you’re right - it’s essentially an American Knighthood. I don’t have too much of a problem with it, except that I wish it went to more scientists and thinkers instead of movie stars and sports figures.
There was a petition years ago to get Rick Rescorla the Medal of Freedom. It still hasn’t happened. Singing “Come on, shake your body baby, do the conga” is more worthy than saving thousands and dying while trying to save more.
Shrug I have “Turn the Beat Around” on my mp3 player, but I’m not prepared to give her a medal for it.
If they’re really going to award it to anyone & everyone who was famous a couple decades ago, then they really should rename the award. “Medal of Freedom” implies that your actions advanced freedom in some way. Maybe they should call it the “Legion of Merit” or something similarly generic.
[quote=“buddha_david, post:8, topic:737744”]
Well, there’s your answer. Who knows what kind of war-ravaged hell we’d be living in if we didn’t all learn to come-on-shake-your-body-baby-do-the-conga?
In your criticism, you only quote items 1 and 2 and leave out item (3) “cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” which followed immediately after.
I think that was the reason the medal was given. And the same reason that many Presidents gave the medal to many entertainers.
nm
There ARE awards for scientists, and for math and science teachers. But they don’t get any press because they don’t go to popular entertainers. If President Trump started giving the Medal of Freedom only to Nobel-quality scientists, you would stop hearing about it very quickly.
Yes, it’s a silly name. But the laureates have always included people who did nothing to advance freedom. Tony Blair got one from GWB in 2009, despite having substantially retarded the cause of freedom.