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Elton john medal of freedom12/13/2023 ![]() It's a choice we make to choose union over disunion, progress over chaos, and literally truth over lies a choice to remember history, not erase it, no matter how hard it is that people try to sometimes erase it.Īnd that's what great nations do: They face reality. It has to be fought.ĭemocracy is a choice. And I don't know how many times in graduate school and undergraduate school I learned that democracy has to be fought for every generation. He knew the greatness of a nation was measured not only by the strength of its army and the vastness of its geography, the size of its economy, it was also measured by the vitality of its culture-and the culture forged in the freedom of expression to speak and to think freely.įreedoms that must always be defended for democracy is a covenant-a covenant we have with each other. the ornament and happiness of human life." General Washington wrote, and I quote, "The arts and sciences essential to the prosperity of the State and. Rescued by Dolley Madison after the British torched this very space, a life-size portrait of our Founding Father, who, in the midst of a war of independence, wrote a letter to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which had recently made him a member. That's the only object still here.Īnd I want you to know an Irishman designed the White House. This past-this-and like this portrait of George Washington painted by Gilbert Stuart, it's the only object still here since the White House was opened in 1800. A place to work, a national park, a museum, as well as an-art and artifacts capturing the soul of our Nation for many years. It's a residence for the First Family, but it's really the people's house-and it really is. Welcome to the White House-a sacred place for many reasons. Vice President Harris, the Second Gentleman, former President Selina Meyer. Please-please have a seat.Īnd you know, I'm going to say, starting off-and say, "Good evening." I think they thought we'd take longer in the other room. Hello, hello! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Alongside Blanco, the latest medal recipients include “The Joy Luck Club” author Amy Tan, musician Elton John and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson.The President. ![]() In its announcement, the NEH said Blanco was nominated for “breathing life into the identity and idea of America.” His storytelling “challenges the boundaries of culture, gender, and class while celebrating the promise of our Nation’s highest ideals,” the endowment said in a statement. ![]() Previous medal recipients include author James Patterson, chef José Andrés and journalist Joan Didion. The National Humanities Medal is awarded to individuals or groups that have “deepened the nation’s understanding of the humanities and broadened our citizens’ engagement with history, literature, languages, philosophy, and other humanities subjects,” according to the National Endowment for the Humanities. Last year, he became Miami-Dade County’s first poet laureate. Blanco is a poet, educator, public speaker, civil engineer, Florida International University associate professor and author of several books, including his memoir, “The Prince of Los Cocuyos: A Miami Childhood.” Throughout his literary career, he has been invited to write and read his poetry to reflect on moments in history, like a presidential inauguration, the Pulse nightclub shooting and the reopening of the U.S. ![]()
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