Prince for the Congressional Gold Medal? It’s an embarrassment.

Posted

To the Editor:

What an outrage!

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Senator Amy Klobuchar have partnered to nominate Prince, the rock musician who died of an overdose of a fentanyl-related opioid, for a Congressional Gold Medal. This medal is Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements.

If approved, Prince will share this recognition with 173 other people, institutions, or events.

Some of those who he’ll be listed with include George Washington, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Ulysses Grant, Jonas Salk, Rosa Parks, Douglas MacArthur, The Tuskegee Airmen, Robert Kennedy, Jackie Robinson, the American Red Cross, Joe Louis, Elie Wiesel, Roy Wilkins, Jesse Owens, Rosie the Riveter ...

Get my point?

You can check out the entire list at https://history.house.gov/Institution/Gold-Medal/Gold-Medal-Recipients/.

I personally like Prince’s music — “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” “Raspberry Beret,” etc.

But what a travesty.

It’s hard to believe that we have members of Congress who are so disrespectful of this country as to suggest that Prince should qualify for its (by association our) “highest expression of appreciation.”

I think both nominators are deliberately pushing this woke effort as an affront to our nation’s true meaning and purpose. It’s an in-your-face insult. They mirror much of what is going on in this country today ... little respect for everyday-American values, traditions, and ideals.

It takes 290 House members and 67 Senate members to co-sponsor it.

Any reader knows where I’m going with this: please let your Congressional members know you are opposed to such an embarrassment.

Philip H. Johnson
Siler City