The Medal of Freedom and Politicizing of Awards

Cal Thomas | Syndicated Columnist | Updated: Nov 21, 2013

The Medal of Freedom and Politicizing of Awards

Awards are so numerous and often so ideologically driven that they have lost value and meaning.

The Academy Awards, for example, feature liberals honoring liberals for films with vulgarities, bad language, and sex scenes. The Pulitzer Prizes are given to mostly liberal journalists by liberal journalists with an occasional bone thrown to a conservative, though never one who is socially conservative, and certainly not to anybody thought to be "religious."

Now comes the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, which is being passed out like candy at Halloween. This year's recipients include Oprah Winfrey, who said recently that racism won't die until old white people do; and Gloria Steinem, the radically pro-abortion feminist who thinks any restrictions on killing babies is an affront to individual freedom.

President Obama will present these medals at a White House ceremony. The problem with these awards is that with so many linked to politics, their meaning is diminished. One award, though, remains unique. It is the Medal of Honor. You can't politicize that one.

I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.

Publication date: November 21, 2013

The Medal of Freedom and Politicizing of Awards