Muhammad Ali, is he really as great.....

[civilwarbuff]

Actually, no. He was quite honest and very vocal on why he wouldn't go to war.

“Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?

No, I am not going ten thousand miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would put my prestige in jeopardy and could cause me to lose millions of dollars which should accrue to me as the champion.

But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is right here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality…

If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. But I either have to obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years.”
​

Seems like a pretty good reason to me.

Just curious do you like your title of "white slave master(s)"? How many do you own or at least oppress?

 

[Oafman]

Just curious do you like your title of "white slave master(s)"? How many do you own or at least oppress?

Much has changed in 50 years. I don't consider such a title to be appropriate, but if I was a black person going up in the south in the 50s, I probably would.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Just curious do you like your title of "white slave master(s)"? How many do you own or at least oppress?

I don't mind it. I know he wasn't talking about me. I'm not white, nor was I alive at the time. I'm also able to put myself in his shoes and must say, there's not much I disagree with what he says. Why should he fight for a country that he perceived as his actual enemy and enemy of his people?

 

[TLK Valentine]

I don't mind it. I know he wasn't talking about me. I'm not white, nor was I alive at the time. I'm also able to put myself in his shoes and must say, there's not much I disagree with what he says. Why should he fight for a country that he perceived as his actual enemy and enemy of his people?

Indeed, why should he fight for a country which, even today, would look on him with suspicion of being an ememy?

(For being Muslim, not black...not that that helps...)

 

[civilwarbuff]

Indeed, why should he fight for a country which, even today, would look on him with suspicion of being an ememy?

(For being Muslim, not black...not that that helps...)

And you know that how?.....personal relationship?....or just blowing smoke?

 

[GoldenBoy89]

And you know that how?.....personal relationship?....or just blowing smoke?

Are you suggesting Americans are never suspicious of Muslims?

 

[civilwarbuff]

Are you suggesting Americans are never suspicious of Muslims?

Are you suggesting TLK Valentine knew what Ali thought, felt and believed?

 

[GoldenBoy89]

Are you suggesting TLK Valentine knew what Ali thought, felt and believed?

Well it's not like Ali kept quiet about how he felt about things.

 

[durangodawood]

I listened to the whole Muhammad Ali memorial broadcast, and I was quite moved.

Sounds like a great man, but still a man, and not a god. So I'm fine with various flaws. Still a great man.

(NOI ideology sounds awful, BTW, and good on Ali, like Malcolm X, for moving on from it.)

 

[civilwarbuff]

I listened to the whole Muhammad Ali memorial broadcast, and I was quite moved.

Sounds like a great man, but still a man, and not a god. So I'm fine with various flaws. Still a great man.

(NOI ideology sounds awful, BTW, and good on Ali, like Malcolm X, for moving on from it.)

Yeah, but all us Christians are held accountable for the actions of Westboro Baptist....kinda a double standard there you think?

 

[civilwarbuff]

Well it's not like Ali kept quiet about how he felt about things.

His words do speak for him which is why no one else should......

 

[durangodawood]

Yeah, but all us Christians are held accountable for the actions of Westboro Baptist....kinda a double standard there you think?

Are you referring to my last sentence on NOI ?

 

[civilwarbuff]

Are you referring to my last sentence on NOI ?

Yeah. The question is did he ever move on from it?

 

[durangodawood]

Yeah. The question is did he ever move on from it?

If you want a biography of Muhammad Ali, go find one. Get your question answered.

 

[civilwarbuff]

If you want a biography of Muhammad Ali, go find one. Get your question answered.

That is why I posted the question here.....and asked for supporting evidence not just opinion....

 

[TLK Valentine]

And you know that how?.....personal relationship?....or just blowing smoke?

How do I know that Americans today view Muslims with suspicion?

Are you seriously asking me that?

 

[civilwarbuff]

How do I know that Americans today view Muslims with suspicion?

Are you seriously asking me that?

Yeah, I am.....

 

[durangodawood]

That is why I posted the question here.....and asked for supporting evidence not just opinion....

Lazy.

Do your own work.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Sounds like he wasn't a contientious objector. To qualify as a CO, you have to be philosophically or religiously opposed to fighting in all wars, you don't get to pick and choose which wars are acceptable to you and which are not. That's not to say he didn't have good personal reason to not fight, just that that statement seems to disqualify him from being a true CO. Lots of people didn't want to fight, but either did so because they couldn't get out of it or left the country to avoid it. But he got to have his cake and eat it too.

Why did we go to war and kill and destroy Vietnams land and people? At least his religion made him relies this was wrong.

 

[DaisyDay]

Yeah, but all us Christians are held accountable for the actions of Westboro Baptist....kinda a double standard there you think?

By whom? Who holds all Christians accountable for the actions of Westboro Baptist? And aren't they kind of defunct since the patriarch died?