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VIA EUR:

President Barack Obama Wednesday conferred America’s highest civilian honor on 16 examples of unshakeable human spirit, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and screen legend Sidney Poitier.

Former Irish president Mary Robinson, British scientist Stephen Hawking and Bangladeshi economist and Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus were also honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony in the White House.

No barriers of race, gender or physical infirmity can restrain the human spirit, and that the truest test of a person’s life is what we do for one another,” said Obama, as he introduced the 2009 honorees.

There are many honors and privileges bestowed on the occupants of this house. But few mean as much to me as the chance to award America’s highest civilian medal to the recipients that are here today.”

Obama praised Tutu for preaching amid tear gas and police dogs during the horror of apartheid South Africa.

“Later, when a free South Africa needed a heart big enough to forgive its sins, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was called to serve once more,” Obama said, praising him as a “voice of the oppressed, cantor of our conscience.”

It’s been said that Sidney Poitier does not make movies, he makes milestones — milestones of artistic excellence, milestones of America’s progress,” Obama said of the famed star of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

Poitier, the president added, had not only entertained, but shifted racial attitudes, broadened hearts and brought Americans together.

Medal recipient Senator Edward Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, was missing from the ceremony, and was represented by his daughter Kara. Kennedy suffered another blow on Tuesday with the death of his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver. “The life of Senator Edward M. Kennedy has made a difference for us all,” Obama said.

Obama also presented medals to breast cancer crusader Nancy Goodman Brinker, medical campaigner Pedro Jose Greer Jr, tennis legend Billie Jean King, civil rights leader Reverend Joseph Lowery, native American tribal chief Joseph Medicine Crow, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, actress Chita Rivera, and cancer researcher Dr. Janet Davison Rowley.

He awarded posthumous medals to former Republican congressman, football quarterback and vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp and gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk.

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