Steve Jobs will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, according to a new press release shared by the White House today that lists the latest recipients for the Nation’s highest civilian honor, an award that President Kennedy established in 1963 to recognize “individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors.” Jobs, who led Apple before his death in 2011, is getting the award for his “vision, imagination, and creativity,” which enabled the creation of devices that have changed and/or transformed the way that the world communicates. Some of the devices that Jobs have been associated with include the iPhone, Apple II, and Macintosh.
President Biden has long said that America can be defined by one word: possibilities. These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith. They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities – and across the world – while blazing trails for generations to come.
Steve Jobs (d. 2011) was the co-founder, chief executive, and chair of Apple, Inc., CEO of Pixar and held a leading role at the Walt Disney Company. His vision, imagination and creativity led to inventions that have, and continue to, change the way the world communicates, as well as transforming the computer, music, film and wireless industries.
Source: The White House
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The guy was an irrational tyrant, horrible to his employees and ruined tech forever by turning it from something pragmatic into a fashion accessory.
And unlike other tech billionaires he never gave a cent to charity.
He died because he refused to let his doctors treat his very treatable cancer, preferring "alternative" treatments instead.
He was not a goddamn hero.
I don't like speaking ill of the dead, but the man was a goddamn fool who corrupted an entire industry, and is completely unworthy of any praise, unless that praise is in regards to his marketing, which essentially is praise for how to manipulate people with shiny objects.
This article in Forbes from back when he passed says all you need to know:
Edit: For decades I've speculated and said that Apple has ties in high places within the US Government. This just goes to show that those ties know no party lines either.
But Medal of Freedom? No, no way. He wasn't a good guy.
Uncompromising (not in the good way) prone to fits of rage, he had his entire office feeling like they were walking on eggshells.
He was the prime example of the type of "bad boss" people leave companies over.
I dare say that may have been his greatest contribution to the world. But I've also watched enough TV to know that the bad guys never stay dead, so it's a good idea to remain alert and on the lookout for a zombie roaming about wearing an Apple Watch and holding an iPhone. Though I suppose he'd blend right in with all the other smartphone-wielding zombies. 🧟♂️
Here are a few courtesy of Craiyon (Formerly Dall-E Mini)