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Desmond Tutu, Hawking, Yunus, Kennedy among 16 getting top US award

Jul 30, 2009, 21:50 GMT

Washington - President Barack Obama on Thursday said he would award the highest US civilian honour to 16 people around the world hailing from all walks of life and disciplines.

The recipients of the Medal of Freedom include South Africa's anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, physicist Stephen Hawking, micro-banking founder Mohammed Yunus, US Senator Edward Kennedy, tennis star Billie Jean King, actor Sidney Poitier and long- time US civil rights leader Reverend Joseph Lowery.

Also on the list are Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland and Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Supreme Court justice in the United States.

More than 20,000 people have been awarded the Medal of Freedom since it was created by former president Harry Truman in 1945. Obama will formally hand out the awards at a ceremony on August 12.

Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected politician in the United States, and former Republican congressman and vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp will be honoured posthumously.

Other recipients include US health-care advocates, an American- Indian tribal chief and Hispanic actress Chita Rivera.

'Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change,' Obama said.

'Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way.'



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SP4: living proof thatJul 30th, 2009 - 23:00:28

...a lifetime of good deeds can wash away the moments of utter evil and corruption. Positively Christian.

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@ SP4: living proof thatJul 31st, 2009 - 01:44:54

Yes I believe that someone as evil as you would think they knew evil, you only know how to lie and live with it. What a joke.

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sh*tpile4 is jealousJul 31st, 2009 - 06:26:49

because awards aren't handed out to dope smoking dopes. Suck it up, a-hole. Get a life.

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SP4: really!?...Jul 31st, 2009 - 15:56:41

...Bill clinton was a dope smoker and got numerous awards...true, he lied to a federal judge, was impeach and lost his license to practice law..(maybe those WERE THE AWARDS.......hollywierdos get numerous awards and smoke dope...Al Gore got a nobel peace prize for...who knows?...and smoked dope...maybe he was lvack MB...who knows?

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@ SP4: really!?...Jul 31st, 2009 - 17:08:50

Hey liar, please send me the post where Clinton got 'impeached', I guess I missed that.

Its OK to be wrong, but don't you get tired of being a liar? Or don't you take offense at someone calling you a liar? I guess you on the right are just used to that fact.

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I guessJul 31st, 2009 - 17:10:20

that Clinton smoking dope is almost as bad as being a coke head (GWB) a known alcoholic (GWB) and a deserter (GWB)? Your heros are so pure. What a joke you are idiots stick.

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SP4 is alsoAug 1st, 2009 - 02:09:16

the supplier of dope the the editors. That's why they don't ban his illiterate, ignorant, racist, lying ^ss.

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tonny from belgiumAug 5th, 2009 - 11:02:57

Take it easy guys
Don't let SP4 ruin your day.Just consider he is entitled to an opinion.There is no reason why the lesser gifted should not have the same rights,even as by coincidence lack of intelligence and moral standards go hand in hand .You should understand that his entire life is devoted to haunting this site ,he has nothing else at all.Please indulge and be happy you are not him.

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