For the record, I'm also not sure of the answers to my own questions. I'm sure I would not be happy if someone was receiving this award who was also an avowed racist, for instance. But I also wonder where we should draw the line on opinions people are allowed to hold, especially if they are being honored for something else.

 

I totally understand your point and I'm glad you have decided to address the matter in a serious manner. If I did great deeds but became the honorary chair of the KKK, should I receive the Medal of Freedom for my great deeds? I don't think so and I'd think any President would be heavily criticized for awarding me that honor. Let's not forget that the Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor given by this country.

 

Ms. Huerta, I'd think, could freely choose not take the honorary chair title and I'd think would do so if she didn't agree with principles and beliefs of the DSA, wouldn't you?

I don't have a problem with a racist being honored for something not pertaining to their racism. Just because they are racist and have an obvious personality flaw doesn't mean they can't be a productive member of society who earns awards for their productivity.

 

But we aren't talking about just some award; we are talking about the Medal of Freedom. How in the world could a racist receive any award dealing with the ideals of "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors"? In my opinion an avowed racist would be automatically disqualified from receiving the Medal of Freedom and it is particularly surprising to me that you feel differently.

 

If a sports announcer can be fired for a slip of the tongue racist comment that he/she apologizes for, how can an avowed racist receive the Medal of Freedom? That's impossible for me to understand.

But we aren't talking about just some award; we are talking about the Medal of Freedom. How in the world could a racist receive any award dealing with the ideals of "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors"? In my opinion an avowed racist would be automatically disqualified from receiving the Medal of Freedom and it is particularly surprising to me that you feel differently.

 

If a sports announcer can be fired for a slip of the tongue racist comment that he/she apologizes for, how can an avowed racist receive the Medal of Freedom? That's impossible for me to understand.

 

 

I was just saying I wouldn't have a problem with it. I don't think it would happen. PR nightmare.

I was just saying I wouldn't have a problem with it. I don't think it would happen. PR nightmare.

 

It's the fact that you wouldn't have a problem with it is what I find so hard to understand. Since you are an African American who has suffered mightily from racism and seen the hatred of racism, I just can't fathom that you would be okay with an avowed racist receiving the highest civilian honor presented by a President no matter what other great accomplishments the honoree may have made to the Country.

If a soldier is a skinhead or a skinhead sympathizer but earns the Medal of Honor should he not receive it because he has ties to skinheads?

 

Totally different animal. One's actions determine their worthiness for the MOH and I have to suspect that with the extensive vetting process a skinhead would not get the MOH.

It's the fact that you wouldn't have a problem with it is what I find so hard to understand. Since you are an African American who has suffered mightily from racism and seen the hatred of racism, I just can't fathom that you would be okay with an avowed racist receiving the highest civilian honor presented by a President no matter what other great accomplishments the honoree may have made to the Country.

 

Because I see no difference in an avowed racist and a behind closed doors racist. I'd speculate that there have been racists in the past who have received this award from a President we just didn't know the person was racist. It's all the same to me.

I think Pat Summit got one too.

 

And my man, Zimmy.

I'm going to disagree with my friend LN.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those 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".[3] The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.

 

I don't see that her political viewpoint or her viewpoint about corporations and profits do factor in or should factor into this decision. She simply thinks the country should be run differently. Ds think it should be run differently. Rs think it should be run differently. Libertarians..... and so on.

 

This award came from her work and not her political viewpoints. She helped a group of people who had little or no voice. That's noble.

 

Unless this award gives her a say in how this country is run then I don't see where her political philosophy should be anything but an interesting sidebar.

 

I would argue it's also different that the cited example of a racist winning it. That person is filled with hate. This lady is filled with ideology that doesn't pick out a particular race, sex, or religion.

Totally different animal. One's actions determine their worthiness for the MOH and I have to suspect that with the extensive vetting process a skinhead would not get the MOH.

 

Good point. General question to all - which of this woman's actions go against her worthiness for the MOH?

I'm going to disagree with my friend LN.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those 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".[3] The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.

 

I don't see that her political viewpoint or her viewpoint about corporations and profits do factor in or should factor into this decision. She simply thinks the country should be run differently. Ds think it should be run differently. Rs think it should be run differently. Libertarians..... and so on.

 

This award came from her work and not her political viewpoints. She helped a group of people who had little or no voice. That's noble.

 

Unless this award gives her a say in how this country is run then I don't see where her political philosophy should be anything but an interesting sidebar.

 

I would argue it's also different that the cited example of a racist winning it. That person is filled with hate. This lady is filled with ideology that doesn't pick out a particular race, sex, or religion.

 

We certainly can and do disagree. Rs and Ds and Ls can and do disagree over policy issues. But I don't see those Parties calling for socialism for this country. Again, socialism. The DSA stands for policies way beyond anything the Rs, Ds and Ls believe in: the total replacement of capitalism with socialism. I'm not talking about the socialism that conservatives like to scream about when minimum wages are raised or income taxes are raised. I'm talking true socialism; that's what the DSA is advocating for this country. That is a very scary notion to me and is very dangerous in my opinion.

We certainly can and do disagree. Rs and Ds and Ls can and do disagree over policy issues. But I don't see those Parties calling for socialism for this country. Again, socialism. The DSA stands for policies way beyond anything the Rs, Ds and Ls believe in: the total replacement of capitalism with socialism. I'm not talking about the socialism that conservatives like to scream about when minimum wages are raised or income taxes are raised. I'm talking true socialism; that's what the DSA is advocating for this country. That is a very scary notion to me and is very dangerous in my opinion.

 

Her ideals may be whacked but that shouldn't disqualify her from receiving an award for something unrelated to her ideals. It's not like this award is going to give her the power to act on her ideals.

It would be discriminatory and ironic IMO if she was not allowed to win the Medal of Freedom in a country where she has the freedom to have and express any views she chooses on anything.

I'm going to disagree with my friend LN.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States. It recognizes those 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".[3] The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.

 

I don't see that her political viewpoint or her viewpoint about corporations and profits do factor in or should factor into this decision. She simply thinks the country should be run differently. Ds think it should be run differently. Rs think it should be run differently. Libertarians..... and so on.

 

This award came from her work and not her political viewpoints. She helped a group of people who had little or no voice. That's noble.

 

Unless this award gives her a say in how this country is run then I don't see where her political philosophy should be anything but an interesting sidebar.

 

I would argue it's also different that the cited example of a racist winning it. That person is filled with hate. This lady is filled with ideology that doesn't pick out a particular race, sex, or religion.

Sums it up perfectly. I also heard that she may have been born in Kenya.

We certainly can and do disagree. Rs and Ds and Ls can and do disagree over policy issues. But I don't see those Parties calling for socialism for this country. Again, socialism. The DSA stands for policies way beyond anything the Rs, Ds and Ls believe in: the total replacement of capitalism with socialism. I'm not talking about the socialism that conservatives like to scream about when minimum wages are raised or income taxes are raised. I'm talking true socialism; that's what the DSA is advocating for this country. That is a very scary notion to me and is very dangerous in my opinion.

I agree that socialism is very scary but nobody is awarding her for work done to further a socialist economic model.

I agree that socialism is very scary but nobody is awarding her for work done to further a socialism economic model.

 

I obviously realize the award wasn't given to her because of her support of socialism.