Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn Awarded Medal of Freedom 149
3l1za writes ""President Bush on Thursday announced the recipients of this year's Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civil award." Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn -- for their design of "the software code used to transmit data over the Internet" -- are among those to be honored next Wednesday. "
MM Ok (Score:5, Informative)
"The medal was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize notable service in the war.
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy reintroduced it as an honor for distinguished civilian service in peacetime. "
And this is considered peacetime ?
Jack Nicklaus? (Score:5, Informative)
Jack Nicklaus? How is playing golf now worthy of a "Freedom" medal? Sounds like a pretty worthless medal.
Re:The history of the award, and the need. (Score:2, Informative)
"Members of the Board appointed under Section 3(a) of this Order shall serve without compensation."
Or was this sentence intentionally left out because it contradicts your claim that the board is "yet another cronyist bunch given very nice salaries" ?
Re:You're not really at "war". (Score:2, Informative)
Structurally, Europe, Russia and Asia were devastated. The loss of American life in the WWII is estimated at approximately 0.42 million or so. Meanwhile, you have the Soviets losing 23 million. Germany lost around 7.5 million. For every 1000 people, the US lost about 3, the Soviets 136, and the Germans 107. On the Asian front, Japan lost about 2.6 million people, or approximately 33 for every 1000 of their population.
When compared to what other nations suffered in WWII, the US received a minor pinprick.
Re:And the lies...? (Score:2, Informative)
Stupid name for the award... (Score:3, Informative)
Rename the damn award the "Presidential Medal of Achievement" or "Presidential Medal of Service", and then it won't be so incongruous to give it to golfers.
I do have to wonder about giving the highest civilian award to Nicklaus, whatever it's called. He was a great golfer, sure. But he was very, very well renumerated for that, and won all manner of sporting awards. Did he do something exceptional beyond that to improve the lives of Americans in any way? I don't think so. But, hey, it's your country, and my own is hardly pure as snow on this kind of thing... The easiest way to become Australian of the Year is to captain the Australian cricket team...