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Obama said: "From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, i

• Waterluvian 10y ago
  Artists are basically the support class of society. They don't producr anything directly, but the producers all benefit from, and kind of need them.
  • ternaryoperator 10y ago
    Jasper Johns once expressed this sentiment this way: "Artists are the elite of the servant class."
• wallace_f 10y ago
  >I'm glad that the award values contributions from creatives whose works and organizations have influenced entire industries and the masses. I don't disagree with that sentiment, but I do disagree that the award sold to the public as the highest public honor a civilian can receive has been awarded disproportionately to artists, politicians and athletes. There are more musicians alone who have received the award than all scientists combined. More movie stars than human rights activists, more athletes than any of: philanthropists, doctors, or environmentalists. The award is also awarded not without political consideration. Aside from very obvious examples of those who should have received it, some won't for purely political reasons. Journalists like Glenn Greenwald and Amy Goodman deserve the award, as two examples, but their work is by its nature critical of both parties who have been in power, and so neither one would award it to them.