{"id":3286,"date":"2025-05-17T13:18:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T13:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/what-kinds-of-things-do-you-think-a-person-could-do-to-earn-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html"},"modified":"2025-05-17T13:18:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T13:18:34","slug":"what-kinds-of-things-do-you-think-a-person-could-do-to-earn-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/what-kinds-of-things-do-you-think-a-person-could-do-to-earn-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html","title":{"rendered":"Need to make sure that the title is the best possible for SEO, triggers clicks, sparks curiosity, and has a humorous, offbeat, slightly absurdist tone. Only return the title, nothing else. Alright, first, the keyword. The main focus is on actions that lead someone to earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The title should answer that question in an engaging way. Using humor and absurdity can make it stand out. Maybe think of unusual or exaggerated achievements? Examples of absurdist humor might be things like"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id='video-container' data-video-id='m4LwGfFMcFM' style='width:100%; height:auto; max-width:587px; position: relative;'>\n<div class='image-video-plugin' style='background:url(\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/m4LwGfFMcFM\/0.jpg\") center no-repeat; background-size: cover;'><\/div>\n<p>        <span class='youtube-play-button'><\/span><br \/>\n        <noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=m4LwGfFMcFM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/a><\/noscript>\n    <\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>How do you earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom?<\/h2>\n<p>Ah, the Presidential Medal of Freedom\u2014the ultimate \u201catta boy\/girl\/person\u201d from the Commander-in-Chief. To snag this bad boy, you can\u2019t just fold your laundry neatly or finally fix that squeaky porch step. No, you need to do something <b>*checks notes*<\/b> \u201cespecially meritorious\u201d for U.S. security, world peace, or cultural endeavors. Think less \u201corganized your sock drawer\u201d and more \u201csaved the universe from existential boredom.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Step 1: Be vaguely superhero-adjacent (but without the cape)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Astronauts<\/b> who moonwalk better than Michael Jackson.<\/li>\n<li><b>Scientists<\/b> who turn lab coats into capes by curing diseases.<\/li>\n<li><b>Comedians<\/b> who make the president snort-laugh during classified briefings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class='global-div-post-related-aib'><a href='\/news\/duvet-cover-hack.html' class='post-related-aib'><div class='internal-div-post-related-aib'><span class='text-post-related-aib'>You may also be interested in:<\/span>&nbsp; <span class='post-title-aib'>Duvet cover hack:\u202fwhy\u202fllamas (yes,\u202fllamas)\u202fare\u202fthe\u202fsecret\u202fto\u202fnever\u202ffighting\u202ffitted\u202fsheets\u202fagain!<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s no formal application\u2014unless you count \u201ccasually revolutionizing your field while the White House watches from the bushes.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>The secret ingredient? Chaos (and timing)<\/h3>\n<p>This award thrives on whimsy. One day you\u2019re teaching kids to read, the next you\u2019re getting a call from the Oval Office because your literacy program <i>accidentally<\/i> inspired a national movement. Past winners include Mister Rogers (for weaponizing cardigans into kindness) and Dolly Parton (for outshining the sun itself). Pro tip: Master something niche, like <b>\u201cextreme humility\u201d<\/b> or <b>\u201cquietly out-awesoming everyone.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<p>So, if you\u2019re hoping to join the club, just do something extraordinary. Then? Act surprised when a medal arrives. <i>Optional:<\/i> Practice your \u201cWho, me?\u201d face in the mirror. (Note: Wrestling a bear is not required\u2026probably.)<\/p>\n<h2>How does someone get nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom?<\/h2>\n<h3>Step 1: Be so wildly impressive that the universe itself takes notes<\/h3>\n<p>The process begins when someone does something so mind-bogglingly exceptional that eagles spontaneously weep, bureaucrats feel genuine emotions, or a retired president mutters, \u201cHuh. That\u2019s neat.\u201d Essentially, you need to <b>out-awesome humanity\u2019s collective resume<\/b>. Think: curing a disease while juggling flaming torches, writing a bestselling novel in semaphore, or inventing a carbon-negative pizza. There\u2019s no official application form\u2014just a vague sense that you\u2019ve left permanent thumbtacks on the timeline of history.  <\/p>\n<div class='global-div-post-related-aib'><a href='\/news\/wirecutter-gardening.html' class='post-related-aib'><div class='internal-div-post-related-aib'><span class='text-post-related-aib'>You may also be interested in:<\/span>&nbsp; <span class='post-title-aib'>Unexpected heroes &amp; garden fails even your succulents judge! the definitive (and slightly unhinged) guide<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h3>Step 2: Summon the Council of Distinguished Civilian Service (or just get lucky)<\/h3>\n<p>Nominations are technically funneled through the *Distinguished Civilian Service Board*, a mysterious entity that probably meets in a soundproof room decorated with portraits of Benjamin Franklin\u2019s pet squirrel. While the process is opaque, we do know:  <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Anyone can nominate anyone<\/b> (yes, even your cousin Larry who thinks you\u2019d \u201clook great on a stamp\u201d).<\/li>\n<li>The board then does <i>~*~background checks~*~<\/i>, which may involve verifying you haven\u2019t secretly been a sentient Roomba this whole time.<\/li>\n<li>Finalists are sent to the president, who has the absolute power to say, \u201cSure, why not?\u201d or \u201cWait, is this person a <i>literal<\/i> superhero?\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Step 3: Presidential whimsy (with a dash of paperwork)<\/h3>\n<p>The president can, at any time, bypass the entire system and nominate someone because <b>Tuesday felt like a good day for confetti<\/b>. Maybe they saw a documentary about your life narrated by Morgan Freeman. Maybe your TikTok about saving endangered narwhals went viral. Or maybe you simply held the door open for the First Lady that one time. The criteria? It\u2019s a mix of merit-based meritocracy and \u201cvibes,\u201d served with a side of ceremonial cufflinks.  <\/p>\n<p>Of course, there\u2019s no guarantee. The medal could arrive via drone, owl, or a guy named Carl holding a velvet pillow. The only real rule? <b>Don\u2019t ask for it<\/b>. Unless you\u2019ve single-handedly terraformed Mars while composing a Grammy-winning polka album, in which case\u2014congrats, you\u2019ve already been nominated. Probably.<\/p>\n<h2>What are the criteria for the Presidential Citizens Medal?<\/h2>\n<p>Ah, the Presidential Citizens Medal\u2014the <b>\u201cI Did a Thing (And It Was *Really* Good)\u201d<\/b> award. Unlike that participation trophy from your third-grade soccer league, this isn\u2019t handed out for just showing up. To earn this honor, you\u2019ve got to do something so eyebrow-raisingly noble that even Uncle Sam pauses his eagle screeching to say, \u201cDang, that\u2019s cool.\u201d Think less \u201chelped a neighbor carry groceries\u201d and more \u201cinvented a teleportation device to rescue stranded kittens during a hurricane.\u201d Probably.<\/p>\n<h3>The Unofficial Official Checklist\u2122<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Heroic Shenanigans:<\/b> Did you perform an act of bravery so intense it made James Bond blush? Examples: tackling a rogue grizzly bear at a picnic, negotiating peace between rival squirrel factions in Central Park, or inventing a vaccine during your lunch break.<\/li>\n<li><b>Service So Selfless It Hurts:<\/b> We\u2019re talking decades spent teaching origami to penguins, building schools out of recycled TikTok trends, or single-handedly reviving the lost art of sending postcards. Bonus points if you did it while wearing a cape (metaphorical or literal).<\/li>\n<li><b>Impact That Defies Logic:<\/b> Your contribution must\u2019ve caused a ripple effect so profound that future historians will argue, \u201cWait, *one person* did all that? Sure, Jan.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>But Wait, There\u2019s Bureaucracy!<\/h3>\n<div class='global-div-post-related-aib'><a href='\/news\/will-still.html' class='post-related-aib'><div class='internal-div-post-related-aib'><span class='text-post-related-aib'>You may also be interested in:<\/span>&nbsp; <span class='post-title-aib'>Will still be the last penguin on mars\u202f? the answer involves a time machine and 37 rubber ducks<\/span><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Technically, the medal recognizes those who\u2019ve performed <b>\u201cexemplinary deeds of service for their country or fellow citizens.\u201d<\/b> But let\u2019s decode that: You can\u2019t just bake cookies for the PTA (unless those cookies stopped a meteor). It\u2019s about going above, beyond, and possibly into orbit. The president\u2019s team scours nominations like they\u2019re auditioning for a Marvel cameo\u2014except instead of superpowers, they\u2019re looking for <b>relentless kindness, creativity, or courage<\/b> that\u2019s borderline cartoonish.<\/p>\n<p>And no, you don\u2019t *have* to fight a bear. But if you *did* fight a bear, maybe lead with that. Just saying.<\/p>\n<h2>Can a non-US citizen get the Medal of Freedom?<\/h2>\n<p>Short answer? <b>Absolutely.<\/b> Long answer? <i>Well, technically yes, but you might need to either save the planet, invent a time machine, or make a president laugh so hard they snort their coffee.<\/i> The Presidential Medal of Freedom isn\u2019t picky about passports\u2014it just demands you do something so mind-bogglingly awesome that Uncle Sam himself tips his hat. Citizenship? Optional. Legendary status? Mandatory.<\/p>\n<h3>Past Recipients: A Rogue\u2019s Gallery of Global Greatness<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Mother Teresa<\/b> (1977): Literally a saint. Also, not American. The medal probably felt underqualified to judge her.<\/li>\n<li><b>Stephen Hawking<\/b> (2009): Explained the universe while British. Take that, tea taxes!<\/li>\n<li><b>Angela Merkel<\/b> (2011): Got the medal <i>before<\/i> saying \u201cnein\u201d to a certain orange-tinted phone call. Timing is everything.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Unofficial Eligibility Checklist<\/h3>\n<p>To join this elite non-citizen club, consider the following:<br \/>\n<b>1.<\/b> Have you ever stared down tyranny while sipping espresso?<br \/>\n<b>2.<\/b> Did your life\u2019s work inspire a Marvel movie\u2014or at least a decent meme?<br \/>\n<b>3.<\/b> Can you name-drop a U.S. president without breaking into hives?<br \/>\nIf you answered \u201cyes\u201d to any of these, congrats! You\u2019re now eligible to have a medal awkwardly draped around your neck while a Marine Band plays the <i>\u201cWait, who\u2019s that again?\u201d<\/i> symphony.<\/p>\n<p>Sure, the Medal of Freedom won\u2019t grant you citizenship, free burgers, or the right to argue about tax brackets. But hey, it\u2019ll look fantastic framed next to your expired visa. Priorities, people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom? Ah, the Presidential Medal of Freedom\u2014the ultimate \u201catta boy\/girl\/person\u201d from the Commander-in-Chief. To snag this bad boy, you can\u2019t just fold your laundry neatly or finally fix that squeaky porch step. No, you need to do something *checks notes* \u201cespecially meritorious\u201d for U.S. security, world peace,&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/what-kinds-of-things-do-you-think-a-person-could-do-to-earn-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom.html\" rel=\"bookmark\">Read More &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Need to make sure that the title is the best possible for SEO, triggers clicks, sparks curiosity, and has a humorous, offbeat, slightly absurdist tone. Only return the title, nothing else. Alright, first, the keyword. The main focus is on actions that lead someone to earn the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The title should answer that question in an engaging way. Using humor and absurdity can make it stand out. Maybe think of unusual or exaggerated achievements? Examples of absurdist humor might be things like<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3287,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fotobreak.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}