The Medal of Freedom is the U.S.’ highest civilian honor and is given to those “who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

The medal has been received by people in various fields who have done something thought by the sitting president to have greatly affected the country.

During his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, a radio host known for his conservative viewpoints and sometimes controversial statements on his radio show “The Rush Limbaugh Show.”

Trump called Limbaugh “the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet” during his speech and thanked Limbaugh for his “decades of tireless devotion to (the U.S.).”

Trump said the honor was “in recognition of all that (Limbaugh has) done for (the U.S.)” and “all of the millions of people a day that (Limbaugh speaks) to and inspire and all of the incredible work (Limbaugh has) done for charity.”

Limbaugh is now among a list that includes Mother Theresa, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, but why? What has Limbaugh done to deserve the highest honor this nation has to offer civilians?

Limbaugh has been accused of being racist, sexist and an overall hatemonger.

Some of his controversial comments include “look, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons,” “have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson” and he accused Michael J. Fox of exaggerating the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. 

This is not a recipient deserving of the Medal of Freedom.

This is not a man who has “made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

The Medal of Freedom is meant to be given to people who have benefitted this country and contributed to its advancement.

We at The Daily Eastern News hope that in the future this award is taken as seriously as it should be and only given to those who have truly earned the honor.

The Editorial Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or dennewsdesk@eiu.edu.