A pioneer in civil rights By Rachel Robinson and John F. Kerry

[Pirate Smile]

A pioneer in civil rights
By Rachel Robinson and John F. Kerry

TODAY Washington, D.C., will temporarily become capital of Red Sox Nation. The Sox will be honored at the White House for their World Series victory, and one of the greatest players in the game's history -- Jackie Robinson -- will be honored for his contributions to our nation on and off the field.

-snip-
For some Americans it may be hard to understand the significance of Robinson playing in the big leagues. But Robinson broke that color barrier before our military was desegregated, before the civil rights marches in the South, before some of our major universities admitted African-Americans, and before the historic ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. Robinson not only persevered, he was great. He went on to win rookie of the year, a most valuable player award, six pennants, a World Series, and induction into the Hall of Fame in 1962. He was a leader within the NAACP, a co-founder of the FreedomNational Bank in Harlem, founder of the Jackie Robinson Construction Co. to build low-income housing, and an active member of church groups and community organizations.

Through the courage of his actions, Robinson engaged Americans in a constructive conversation about race long before the momentous events of the 1960s. He was a true pioneer. His life is a testament to how the struggle for equality has many fronts in America. It is carried on in Congress, in statehouses, on campuses, at the office, on the factory floor, across our kitchen tables, and even on the ballfield. The work continues today: to honor hard work and the dream of a better life, to give every child the best possible start in life, to end the worry of all the mothers and fathers who fear that their children may become casualties of unsafe streets, and to stop the hollowing-out of American cities.

Robinson once said: ''A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Robinson not only impacted lives, he impacted the very spirit of our country. He is more than a sports hero -- he is an American hero.

more at
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/02/a_pioneer_in_civil_rights/

The Ceremony today is at 2 p.m.
JACKIE ROBINSON-AWARD_Jackie Robinson, who broke the
color line when he made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in
1947, receives the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously, for his
legendary baseball career and his lifetime of breaking down
barriers and his fight for justice. Participants include Sen. John
Kerry, D-Mass., and Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., who both wrote the
resolution posthumously honoring Robinson; Rachel Robinson, his
widow; and President George W. Bush, congressional leaders and
other distinguished guests.
Location: U.S. Capitol Rotunda
Contacts: David Wade, 202-224-4159

It is on C-span 3 today live.

[bigtree]

1. Jackie said:

"Life is not a spectator sport. . . . If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life."

[Pirate Smile]

2. It looks like MSNBC is going to cover the ceremony.