One really has to wonder what criteria was used in the selection of Jack Thompson for this award. This is a man who has gone to such lengths in the name of censorship that he is facing disbarment for more than two-dozen ethical violations, including lying to a tribunal and knowingly making false statements regarding a judge's integrity. In addition, this man has needlessly included uncensored homosexual pornography in court filings, making them part of the public record and available for viewing by anyone of any age. Recognizing such a man for his efforts to fight obscenity turn these awards into an absolute farce.

I feel sorry for the other recipients; they did not deserve to have the recognition of their very real accomplishments cheapened like this.

The point that Jack Thompson is being associated with the word 'freedom' is a slap in face of every freedom loving citizen of this country.

He isn't a freedom fighter, he is a massacre chase, using the pain and suffering of others to further his own importance. From inserting himself into cases he is not welcome, to belittling a suicide case and his friends,.. he is one of the worst examples of a good Christian I've ever known. Fighting against the freedoms of parents to raise their kids as they see fit, and against the freedom of adults to live their own lives.. threatening lawyers, individuals, judges, children..... anyone he sees as a threat.

Even others who fight for protecting children from violence and such don't want anything to do with him anymore. And don't even get me started on his attitudes towards women. His treatment of that Blank Rome lawyer was mind numbingly insulting, hateful, and offensive.

The fact he hides being 'persecution' is all the more disgusting. A loaded word to explain away anyone who calls him on his horrible behavior.

Jack Thompson is trying to regulate "free" speech of video games so I don't see how the hell he could be nominate by event associated with the name "freedom" festival. His conduct has been rude and he had been a bully to game developers but gets to be honored for it. Pathetic!

Jack Thompson is a horrible man. He should not be in any way associated with the Freedom Festival. This man is anti free speach in media, particularly video games. He does not embody freedom in any way and should be treated like the hack that he is. I am apalled that he was honored, and disgusted that he was honored here. Furthermore, I am angry that Brigham Young University was involved in this because I attended BYU-Idaho for two years. I am disappointed in Utah and BYU for bringing this awful person into the state where I live and honoring him for fighting against the freedoms that I love.

Jack Thompson is NOT an American hero.

He is not even a lawyer anymore.

Jack Thompson has been lying about Violent Videogames for over 10 years and even lied about the shooter from Vigina Tech playing Counter Strike.

Jack Thompson has been recommended for a 10-year disbarment by the Florida Bar

Jack Thompson has been judged guilty of 27 ethical offenses by a Florida judge, who is sending her recommendation to the Florida Supreme Court
the 27 offenses include things like:

"Knowingly making a false statement",

"Engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation"

and

" Engaging in conduct in connection with the practice of law that is prejudicial to the administration of justice"

JAck Thompson may no longer submit filings to the Florida Supreme Court, in part because he included porn pictures in a motion (and NOT in a pornography case)

Jack Thompson called for the impeachment of Utah's Republican Attorney General when the AG suggested that a video game bill written by Thompson would be unconstitutional

Whether one finds Thompson to be a hero of freedom or not, we can reasonably predict the controversial Miami attorney will be using this award to further his lackluster efforts against those he esteems are putting children in harm's way. Now alongside his mantra of "predicting Columbine" and "appearing on 60 Minutes twice," we will hear Thompson boast of his 2008 Freedom Award - given to him by one of the most conservative areas of America's most conservative state.

This award will do nicely for Thompson - who may be looking to another line of work after his legal career completely disintegrates after a decade of failed efforts against the videogame industry. However, if I were one of the other three recipients of the 2008 Freedom Award, I would have declined to appear so long as the man the ACLU listed as one of 1992's "Top Ten Censors of the Year Award" was scheduled to appear alongside me.

Jack Thompson? A man who was disbarred in the state of Florida after engaging in more courtroom theatrics than I can count? The same Jack Thompson who promised a reward of $10,000 for making a violent video game, then reneged when someone did, forcing the authors of Penny Arcade to donate that money to charity out of their own pockets?

Someone needs to give whoever was behind this award a serious reality check. They know not what they do.

Theoconservatives have perverted the word "freedom" to equate to "authority."

Jesse: Technically, Penny Arcade were not forced to do any such thing. The point was that they did it anyway without obligation to the charity or the situation as a whole, as opposed to promising the sum of cash for criteria to be filled out, then withdrawing the promise when completed.

Nevertheless, the point remains that this "award" ceremony is nothing more than a sham, if the likes of Thompson are to be handed honors for fighting against the very ideals of the ceremony itself. I feel sorry for the other recipients, knowing that their honors may or may not be taken seriously, if the judgment used to discern who was worthy of the award was used to decide that Thompson should be allowed an award.

Certainly, I feel I cannot trust the likes of those who ran and judged in this so-called "Freedom Festival". Dark be the day that people greater than they are of the same mind.

I can't believe I missed this. what a joke.

This is absolutely hilarious. If the judges awarding the medals had done just a little more research on Mr. Thompson, they'd never had presented him with this award. By giving Mr. Thompson the Freedom Award, they have not only made his ego grow to planetary proportions, they have also tarnished the very meaning of the award.

The award is supposed to honor those who have preserved the values of God, country, family, and freedom; Mr. Thompson has done nothing to be honored for any of these categories, and has only tried to further his own career through sleazy and underhanded tactics. This man is the quintessential reason why lawyers are held in such a low standing.

Due to the toxic nature of Mr. Thompson, one can only state that this award no longer holds any merit, and any future recipients of said award are given nothing more than a hunk of tarnished metal.