Presidential Medals of Honor: Now and Then

President Barack Obama smiles prior to presenting a 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to former President of
Ireland Mary Robinson, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in
Washington.  (AP Photo).

Jennifer Rubin at COMMENTARY:  “The Legacy of Mary Robinson:”

Whether one buys the incompetency theory, the tone-deaf theory (they knew about Durban but didn’t understand its toxic legacy in the Jewish community), the “one more finger in the eye of Israel” theory, or the “what’s not to like about Robinson?” theory (i.e., she’s a model of the pro-Palestinian, anti-West ideology that animates elements of the administration as well as some of the president’s own rhetoric), the decision to give her the Medal of Freedom now becomes a permanent blot on Obama’s record.

President George W. Bush congratulates Natan Sharansky after honoring him with the 2006 Presidential Medal of Freedom during ceremonies Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, at the White House. White House photo by Eric Draper.

“Americans first came to know Natan Sharansky as a voice for freedom inside an empire of tyranny. As a Jew applying to immigrate to
Israel, he was refused and harassed by the Soviet regime. Natan Sharansky became a leading dissident and advocate for human rights, and after a show trial he was sentenced to a gulag for 10 years. The authorities may have hoped the world would forget the name Sharansky. Instead, leaders like President Reagan and Ambassador Kirkpatrick spoke often of his persecution, and the case of Natan Sharansky became a symbol of the moral emptiness of imperial communism.

“Today the
Soviet Union is history, but the world still knows the name Sharansky. As a free man, he’s become a political leader in
Israel, winning four elections to the Knesset and serving more than eight years in the Cabinet. He remains, above all, an eloquent champion for liberty and democracy. Natan reminds us that every soul carries the desire to live in freedom, and that freedom has a unique power to lift up nations, transform regions, and secure a future for peace. Natan Sharansky is a witness to that power, and his testimony brings hope to those who still live under oppression.

“We honor Natan Sharansky for his life of courage and conviction. (Applause.)”