CNN's Soledad O'Brien is gorgeous, intelligent, nice and has 4 young children who take up most of her time. She does cute, light segments for "American Morning." And as the Philadelphia Daily News reports, she's about to be honored by La Raza with its Ruben Salazar award. Because Soledad does seem to have normal self-awareness, she sounds a little embarrassed at being honored in Ruben Salazar's name:
"Soledad....will pick up an honor from the National Council of La Raza during a conference-closing gala...the half-Cuban, half-Australian broadcaster will receive the Ruben Salazar Award for Communication.
"'I'm a little overwhelmed and stunned,' said O'Brien in a recent phone interview. 'Ruben Salazar is a man who gave his life reporting on a story that he truly believes in, and to get an award in his name and to be among the list of people who have gotten the award is an honor.' Salazar, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times who was an outspoken activist and leader in the Chicano movement, was shot and killed by a tear gas projectile while covering a 1970 Vietnam War protest in L.A."
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/living/12137558.htm http://www.aztlan.net/default3.htm
There is a phenomenon of awards with enormous symbolic importance—like, for example, an award in the name of a journalist killed in the line of duty—being given to individuals who are nothing like the original inspirational figure. As the Washington Blade reports, a particularly rankling instance is that of Paris Hilton being honored by the gay rights movement:
“'How desperate can we get?' said Robin Tyler, a longtime gay rights activist. 'We’ve mistaken cultural visibility for civil rights.' Tyler was specifically referencing the selection of ubiquitous pop culture figure Paris Hilton and her mother, Kathy, as grand marshals for the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade on June 11."
http://www.southernvoice.com/2005/7-15/news/national/celebs.cfm
In Soledad’s case, because we love her so much, we’re happy for her. But give her credit for sounding a little incredulous.
