13th September 2010
Click to Buy Tony Blair’s ‘A Journey’
WE THEM THE PEOPLE
"Liberty is not acquired by accident," Tony Blair said, under the backdrop of the American constitution. "It's won by endeavour."
Perhaps it’s because the American people had to fight (us Brits) so hard for liberty that they seem to appreciate it and those who continue to fight for liberty far more than we Brits do. Although, of course many of us daft Brits think they the people have no idea. Oh, what an odd world, when friends are enemies and enemies are friends.
- PHILADELPHIA – SEPTEMBER 13: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (C), along with National Constitution Center’s president David Eisner (R), presents former Prime Minister Tony Blair (L) the 2010 Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center September 13, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Blair played a critical role in advancing peace in Northern Ireland during his tenure as British prime minister and is the 2010 recipient of The Liberty Medal, an annual award that comes with a $100,000 prize. Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images
Mr Blair was honoured for his work with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which promotes religious tolerance; for his initiative to improve governance in Africa; and for advancing peace in Northern Ireland and the Middle East, among other efforts. About time too! After accepting the award from former President Bill Clinton, Blair said that liberty is the result of “ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things in the midst of Earth-changing events.”
WATCH PRESENTATION HERE – Bill Clinton, Christiane Amanpour lead with their comments. Blair humour – “… around the world they say, looking at their problems, “ahh, it was the British that did that.” He followed with his 7 lessons of liberty. His wife Cherie, eldest son Euan and daughter Kathryn were in the audience. The spine-tingling “You raise me up” followed Blair’s speech. He sure does. Wonder when a British city will understand this enough to award him a FREEDOM medal? No breath-holding, please. It is ending with a song about Philadelphia Freedom. Now let me think – London LIBERTY? Maybe. I’ll write it, if London will sing it. Maybe at BLAIR’S London Olympics 2012? Any takers?
[Reference the reverberation: Bill Clinton has a mic problem. It’s TOO close to his mouth. Tony Blair, ever the pro, doesn’t have this issue.]
- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) speaks alongside former U.S. President Bill Clinton during a casual discussion event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 13, 2010. Blair will later accept the 2010 Liberty Medal. REUTERS/Tim Shaffer
Just in case the good ol’ British Myopics (press) forget to tell you, Tony Blair is about to receive the 2010 Liberty Medal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania tonight – Live info here. That, after meeting yesterday with President Abbas to discuss the Israel/Palestinian peace process. Before he is presented with the medal he is participating in a “conversation” with President Bill Clinton.
View and listen to Tony Blair & Bill Clinton, live video conversation
- PHILADELPHIA – SEPTEMBER 13: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks before the Liberty Medal presentation at the National Constitution Center September 13, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Blair will receive the medal for his Human right work with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation that promotes religious tolerance and better government in Africa. (Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)
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The below is at Tony Blair’s website
Dear Friend,
This week saw a unique event take place at the National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, when Tony Blair and President Bill Clinton sat down for a fascinating conversation about their time both in and out of office.
They had a frank discussion about the Third Way politics they pioneered as leaders, the lessons we can learn from Northern Ireland for the peace process in the Middle East today and the pressures of modern politics.
You can watch the whole conversation on our YouTube channel:
For all the latest news, follow Tony Blair on:
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More here on the history of the Liberty Medal
At the end Tony Blair mentions the two issues facing the world today. One major trend worrying Blair is the narrative that Islamist extremism is developing. Its roots are very deep, and there are genuine powerful forces at work. The second issue is the shift of power to the east.
Related Articles
- Tony Blair Honored at 2010 Liberty Medal Ceremony (phillyist.com)
- Phillyist Previews: 2010 Liberty Medal Ceremony (phillyist.com)
- News on Tony Blair, with pictures, here at DayLife
- SHARE TIME: Blair and Clinton get personal (politico.com)
- BBC video: Blair on “determination” of both sides for Middle East peace
- Listen to Simon Mayo, Radio 2, interview with Mr Blair, broadcast today
- Telegraph: Clinton praises Blair
- Fox’s Michael Goodwin – clear-eyed Blair c/w Obama on Islamist issue
- Tony Blair Office
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Recent comments:
“Mr. Blair is one of the finest politicians to have had the priviledge of serving the United Kingdom, and Britons are fortunate to have had him as their Prime Minister. Time will show that Mr. Blair’s approach to affairs in the Middle East were and remain correct. From a member of the Commonwealth, thank you, Mr. Blair, for your continued service to legitimate and lasting (and not convenient or politically expedient) freedom.”
AND – “Tony Blair was the greatest Prime Minister since Winston Churchill and the only regret I have he didn’t get my vote as I live in Canada.”
AND – “I am sick and tired of television and radio interviewers asking the same old questions over and over, regarding the decision to go to war in Iraq, presumably they hope Mr Blair will let slip some secret information which they would then use against him. History will show if the decision was the right one, (I believe it was) but people must accept that Tony Blair is a honourable man, and made his decision based on the known facts and not with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight.”
Tags: 2010, 2010 Liberty Medal, 2012, africa, Bill Clintob, Bill Clinton, Canada, Christiane Amanpour, Fox, Islamist extremism, Liberty Medal, live conversation, live coverage, London liberty, London Olympics, Michael Goodwin, Middle East, narrative, National Constitution Center, Northern Ireland, Obama, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Freedom, Philadelphia Liberty Medal, pictures, power shifting east, Third Way politics, Tony Blair, Tony Blair Faith Foundation, United States, US constitution, we the people, Winston Churchill
Tony Blair 
September 14, 2010 at 2:35 am |
It just shows how much affection and respect Bill Clinton and Tony Blair have for eachother. I hope in time, Blair’s tenure as Prime Minister will improve with the passing of history.
September 14, 2010 at 10:43 am |
It will improve, no doubt. Just hope it improves while he’s still around to notice it.
September 14, 2010 at 4:22 pm |
What does the british Media has to say about this?no much probabley,they are to busy on witchhunting!!!!!a medal well deserved mr Blair,stay in US,you will be more useful to the world there,rather than your own country where fightin a sick attitude some people have,in a way I dont blame the Media much in the UK,they are not used of having great leaders,they simply dont know how to portray them!I can oly laugh at them with a sense of despair!
September 14, 2010 at 4:56 pm |
Leonard,
Thanks for your comment It might be worth mentioning to readers where you’re from, and your personal experiences of Mr Blair’s peace-making. As you say, they’re not used to having great leaders in Britain.
September 15, 2010 at 7:35 pm |
Well I guess we are all on the same side here,we all support mr Blair.but we must unite together to fight the negative picture some people try to bring up about mr Blair.
September 15, 2010 at 9:33 pm |
And HOW do we do that, Leonard? Do you have a website or a blog? I was looking at a site earlier whre I had responded to a post saying “Should we be worried about Blairs Free of Speech” after he had cancelled his book-signing here in London. Of ourse they conclude we shouldn’t!
This site is called “Open Democracy”. It’d take some research but my belief is that this site is actually little more than an attack on democracy in Britain. Yet it has dozens, perhaps hundreds of contributors. Who ARE these people? Many of them are clearly not of British origin if their names are a guide to anything.
Setting up a blog is simple, and it doesn’t have to be written every day – once a week is fine. I really DO think people need to think about this. The forces raged against Blair and democracy in this country are extensive and come in all shapes and sizes.