South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Albie Sachs, South African Constitutional Court Justice, were honored last night with the Lincoln Medal. The Medal is awarded to those who are deemed to exemplify the character and legacy of the 16th President.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were both present at the function held at the Ford theatre. Obama spoke to the enthusiastic crowd and said that that the two honorees richly deserved the Lincoln Medal. He also spoke of how the founding fathers had inspired people around the world to seek freedom and how that message had been an integral part of the fight for freedom in South Africa.
Archbishop Tutu was introduced by Maya Angelou, the poet, and he immediately called for global peace and a need to respect one another. He also made it a point to condemn the heinous attack by Israel on the aid ship that was headed for Gaza. He said that revenge and retribution are not paths to be followed and that the barrel of a gun can never provide true security.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg introduced Justice Sachs and went on to praise how Sachs had defended the oppressed and how he had fought against the system during the Apartheid years. Among other things, Sachs spoke of meeting Obama when he was a Senator and how the teachings of Abraham Lincoln were influential to the new South African leaders.
Among the entertainment acts were Kelly Clarkson, Lionel Richie and Dick Van Dyke.