National Medal Of Arts And Humanities 2012: Obama Honors Al Pacino, Rita Dove And More

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday honored several artists, writers and organizations for their contributions to the nation, and pledged to make the arts and humanities a priority for as long as he is in the White House.

Obama bestowed eight National Medal of Arts and nine National Humanities Medals during a ceremony in the White House East Room. Among this year's recipients were actor Al Pacino, poet Rita Dove and the United Service Organization, which holds performances for American service members stationed around the world.

Before awarding the medals, Obama said the arts have the power to bring together people of different backgrounds and beliefs. And he urged the honorees to help mentor a new generation of artists and scholars, saying their role in the nation's future would be equally as important as the next generation of engineers and scientists.

"The arts and humanities do not just reflect America, they shape America," Obama said. "As long as I'm president, I look forward to making sure they are a priority for this country."

Others receiving arts medals:

_ Will Barnet, painter, printmaker and teacher.

_ Emily Rauh Pulitzer, curator, art collector and philanthropist.

_ Martin Puryear, sculptor.

_ Mel Tillis, singer-songwriter.

_ Andre Watts, pianist and teacher.

Receiving medals for the humanities:

_ Kwame Anthony Appiah, philosopher and novelist.

_ John Ashbery, poet.

_ Robert Darnton, author and librarian.

_ Andrew Delbanco, social critic and professor.

_ National History Day, program that celebrates history.

_ Charles Rosen, pianist and author.

_ Teofilo Ruiz, historian and professor.

_ Ramon Saldivar, writer and professor.

_ Amartya Sen, economist.

Comments

[mater]

06:51 AM on 02/14/2012

Crossing all political lines, I think the President honoring these diverse, creative and inspiring souls makes us better for having known their work, their contributions, in loud and quiet ways.

[DreamWeaver2nd]

02:40 PM on 02/14/2012

Excellent comment and much appreciated sentiment! Thanks, mater.

[joestatler]

04:26 AM on 02/14/2012

Is Al that short?

[DreamWeaver2nd]

02:37 PM on 02/14/2012

No, of course not. Our president is that tall!

[Holypat777]

04:15 PM on 02/15/2012

LOL! Nice.

[Duffy Sinclair]

11:20 AM on 02/17/2012

Pacino is probably 5'5" at most.

[Charles John Olesen]

02:16 AM on 02/14/2012

I'll Sell it on Ebay - a poem for Obama to award me

Obama I'm writing this poem to tell you that I would sell it on Ebay
The day I get it, it's gone
I'll take 10 thousand.
Cash rules everything around me
100 dollar bills y'all
Bernanke bucks it really sucks
America the beautiful is getting xxxxxx
Come on Obama give me an award to sell on Ebay
We all know it's all over anyway
You gave it your shot
Congress spent a lot
Little was done in Pelosi dome
The citizens got the bone
Where buffalos used to roam
So it's time to go home and fire up the computer
Even if my award is made out of pewter
It's good for folding money
I'll sell it on Ebay

[DreamWeaver2nd]

09:58 PM on 02/13/2012

I love Al Pacino!

[DreamWeaver2nd]

09:54 PM on 02/13/2012

This is very important. More important than many us realize -- in part, it's what can make the difference in keeping kids interested in learning and therefore stay in school. Art crosses all boundaries into understanding; the humanities.

"Obama said the arts have the power to bring together people of different backgrounds and beliefs. And he urged the honorees to help mentor a new generation of artists and scholars, saying their role in the nation's future would be equally as important as the next generation of engineers and scientists.

"The arts and humanities do not just reflect America, they shape America," Obama said. "As long as I'm president, I look forward to making sure they are a priority for this country."