limelight from the honoree, i wanted to thank the mayor for all of the support that he gives the arts. [applause] >> a couple of more thank you's, the food has generously been so wide -- supplied by [lists names of restaurants] and check out the cake in the likeness of carlos santana. a hand for the generous donations of those sponsors. thank you. the next person needs no introduction, except to say that in the six years that the mayor has been heading this city, he

has really looked out for the arts in this community. the fact is that through the good times, the mayor expanded funding for the arts in san francisco. in the difficult times, he protected funding for the arts, which is hard to do, and brave, given the priorities that the city has to keep in mind. with that, i would like to bring to the stage, your mayor, gavin knew some -- nwsom. [applause] mayor newsom: i know that you are all asking when we will get to the main event. you do not want a long speech for me. first, let me think -- thank everyone of you for being here today. let me thank those wonderful

musicians. for entertaining and reminding us why we are here. thank you to lease -- luis and the arts commission for their stewardship in this process, for their outstanding recommendation of carlos santana. to all of you for making seven system such a special place. i was reminded a bit of the great room in this building, that this represents to me, as mayor, the city. also as a man that had the privilege to grow up in san francisco. reminding him and all of you that this is where the united nations was conceived. it happened right next door in the opera building.

this is where the united nations was founded. dow appropriate, founded in this city that understood it was right and appropriate to celebrate artistic differences, understanding that that is what makes this a special place. for that matter, it makes california and to this country of ours a special place, a remarkable capacity to live together, prospered together across every conceivable difference. at the end of the day at our best is our capacity for uniting around our common humanity. in so many ways today we are celebrating those values. celebrating the value of diversity, celebrating the value

that has brought so many of you to the forefront in terms of your unique expression in sharing a city that is constantly trying to allow people to live their lives out loud and become fully expressive. celebrating every single day, not tolerating every single day. a city that appropriated, a city where carlos was able to grow up, because his parents knew that there was something special about this city. allowing him to further his education, continuing a proud tradition that was instilled in him by a -- as a young boy. that was the stewardship an example of his parents and father in particular in terms of his artistic talents that he

advanced and nurtured, promoting with his children. we have all been the beneficiary of that legacy. our lives have been elevated and improved. we all talk about the end of the day and what it is all about. we all have unique stories that make up our lives. the idea is for each one of us to add value to other people's lives, helping them make their story just a little bit better. we have all had experiences where we have been elevated, our lives have been approved because of the challenge and fashion from the remarkable action of people like carlos. with that spirit and a tremendous amount of pride, i come here tonight to recognize one of our own. to recognize someone who has

been recognized so many times, appropriately so. someone who is not just a talent on the surface, but has an extraordinary heart and soul, someone who at the end of the day is someone that you want to cheer for, so when you want to support. -- someone you want to support. with that, i will conclude by all of you to appropriately put your hands together and to, with great intensity and purposefulness, allow me as i asked carlos to come to the stage, to introduce the awardee of the 2010 bears are award to our very own carlos santana. [applause] carlos, come on up. [applause]

>> thank you so very much. it is such a glorious, wonderful feeling to be validated. i love to validate as well. all of you, each one of you is significant and meaningful. we are interconnected and there is nothing you can do about it. first, i would like to thank my mother for her conviction,

thinking my father for his charisma. i would like to thank my sisters, maria, lete, irma, laura, and my brothers, gorge and antonio, for their prayers. coming to san francisco, witnessing for the first time it being filled with fruit, colors, serial, it blows you away. truly it is something to come to sentences go. the mayor is right, my mother did not want to live in los

angeles. she wanted to live in san francisco. i am very grateful and honored that he did -- she did. in the 1960's san francisco was giving birth the consciousness. so many people in such a variety of ways build san francisco. gladys knight. dionne warwick. jimi hendrix. everywhere i went was an affirmation. you gained more strength when you claimed all the colors of the rainbow. it is infinitely more powerful

to become transparent. once you claim your mexican, or israeli, or irish, then you look at it for what it is and you remember before you were any of those things. you were like and loved. those are the things they give you peace, lasting chances over the history of the planet, a lot of war happening because of religion, because of differences. i like to celebrate, like bob marley. like marvin gaye. i would like to thank jerry and diane for helping me to

accelerate into a new perception for myself. when we perceive specialists, you can get in trouble -- when we perceive that we are special, you can get in trouble. you need special drugs for special pain because no one understands you. but someone thinks you are special. will you except they your significant and meaningful? then you do not need a doctor. being special is me, myself, and my experience. it will always get you in trouble. when you except that you are significant and meaningful, something happens with the universe, it comes to life.

but i look at you the same way that you look at me. the creator made u.s. the same. consciousness. when i travel around the world, especially the united states, people crashed their head. we are very different. if you do not believe me, as clocks once in awhile. [laughter] -- watch fox once in a while. [laughter] i call than the complex clan without sheep -- call them the dlklu klux klan without sheets.

[laughter] barack obama promised to provide education, not incarceration. he has yet to keep the promise. we told him to it. do keep your promise. [applause] thank you so much. i cannot help myself, i do concerts', benefits for the black panthers, it has to come out. take it home, bring it home. the best is still ahead for all of us in san francisco. i know in my heart, a person for person, there are more artists then, artists in the bay area.

-- more artists than con artists in the bay area. [applause] when you bring together the collective consciousness of artists, you can see compassion, beauty. excellence, integrity. all of the things that come from the heart. i have learned a lot from [unintelligible] . i am still a hit the. -- hippe. a rainbow warrior. i am not at war with anyone, but i do believe in combination, not confrontation.

i see your eyes. what i do, it goes beyond, just do not get stuck, get out of your own way. music is the water, people are flowers. thank you so much. [applause]