I think of the line in n old Merle Haggard song: "they love our milk and honey but then they preach about another way of livin'". and "if you don't love it, leave it". whe I think about Cassius Clay.

Think the abolitionists should have been treated the same way?

Think the women who wanted the right to vote should have been treated with that same mentality?

Think the ones who spoke against the US gathering up Japanese-American citizens and holding them in camps during WWII, should have had that mentality spoken to them?

Think those of us who think abortion is a red stain on the history of this country should be told to "if you don't love it, leave it?"

It's easy to label someone as a coward for not "going along" with a compulsary draft when we don't live in an age where a draft is in place.

 

It's easy to dismiss someone's character when their beliefs don't fall in line with one's own.

 

What's not easy is to stand up for one's beliefs at the risk of every personal achievement you've attained can and will be stripped from you and people will cast aspersions on your name, your motives and your foever.

 

What's not easy is to rebuild yourself after you've been destroyed.

 

What's not easy is to seek a higher purpose and bring a greater meaning to your world views by using your fame or infamy.

 

It always surprises me that people call him a coward. Are these people anxious to have the draft reinstated? Would those people "toe the line" when the government decides that regardless of your personal beliefs, you will serve?

 

The Ali Center is much, MUCH more than a museum. It's an education center and the site of future initiatives toward world peace.

 

I realize none of the above will explain the "big deal" about Ali, but I hope it at least gives some insight into the man and into the times in which he was most influential.

Think the abolitionists should have been treated the same way?

Think the women who wanted the right to vote should have been treated with that same mentality?

Think the ones who spoke against the US gathering up Japanese-American citizens and holding them in camps during WWII, should have had that mentality spoken to them?

Think those of us who think abortion is a red stain on the history of this country should be told to "if you don't love it, leave it?"

 

I love Merle Haggard, but I couldn't agree more with you here, LBBC. :thumb: :thumb:

 

One of the things I love the most about this country is is the room made for dissent within the boundaries of law.

It's easy to label someone as a coward for not "going along" with a compulsary draft when we don't live in an age where a draft is in place.

 

It's easy to dismiss someone's character when their beliefs don't fall in line with one's own.

 

What's not easy is to stand up for one's beliefs at the risk of every personal achievement you've attained can and will be stripped from you and people will cast aspersions on your name, your motives and your foever.

 

What's not easy is to rebuild yourself after you've been destroyed.

 

What's not easy is to seek a higher purpose and bring a greater meaning to your world views by using your fame or infamy.

 

It always surprises me that people call him a coward. Are these people anxious to have the draft reinstated? Would those people "toe the line" when the government decides that regardless of your personal beliefs, you will serve?

 

The Ali Center is much, MUCH more than a museum. It's an education center and the site of future initiatives toward world peace.

 

I realize none of the above will explain the "big deal" about Ali, but I hope it at least gives some insight into the man and into the times in which he was most influential.

 

:thumb: :thumb:

It's easy to label someone as a coward for not "going along" with a compulsary draft when we don't live in an age where a draft is in place.

 

It's easy to dismiss someone's character when their beliefs don't fall in line with one's own.

 

What's not easy is to stand up for one's beliefs at the risk of every personal achievement you've attained can and will be stripped from you and people will cast aspersions on your name, your motives and your foever.

 

What's not easy is to rebuild yourself after you've been destroyed.

 

What's not easy is to seek a higher purpose and bring a greater meaning to your world views by using your fame or infamy.

 

It always surprises me that people call him a coward. Are these people anxious to have the draft reinstated? Would those people "toe the line" when the government decides that regardless of your personal beliefs, you will serve?

 

The Ali Center is much, MUCH more than a museum. It's an education center and the site of future initiatives toward world peace.

 

I realize none of the above will explain the "big deal" about Ali, but I hope it at least gives some insight into the man and into the times in which he was most influential.

Nice comeback post.:thumb:

Everyone has their opinion but I might also say in reply to you comment that if everyone refused to fight for this country then we wouldn't have a country.

 

May God bless all the men and women that have served this great Nation and has went to war to defend us. Without them we wouldn't have the right to get on mesage boards like this and post our beliefs . Those are your heroes, not the likes of Cassius Clay.

 

Yes, the Viatnamese were such a threat to the sovereignity of our country...

 

He refused to fight in what he, and many others, felt was an unjust war.

How was Ali any different than the guy in the Oval Office???

Think the abolitionists should have been treated the same way?

Think the women who wanted the right to vote should have been treated with that same mentality?

Think the ones who spoke against the US gathering up Japanese-American citizens and holding them in camps during WWII, should have had that mentality spoken to them?

Think those of us who think abortion is a red stain on the history of this country should be told to "if you don't love it, leave it?"

 

It's easy to label someone as a coward for not "going along" with a compulsary draft when we don't live in an age where a draft is in place.

 

It's easy to dismiss someone's character when their beliefs don't fall in line with one's own.

 

What's not easy is to stand up for one's beliefs at the risk of every personal achievement you've attained can and will be stripped from you and people will cast aspersions on your name, your motives and your foever.

 

What's not easy is to rebuild yourself after you've been destroyed.

 

What's not easy is to seek a higher purpose and bring a greater meaning to your world views by using your fame or infamy.

 

It always surprises me that people call him a coward. Are these people anxious to have the draft reinstated? Would those people "toe the line" when the government decides that regardless of your personal beliefs, you will serve?

 

The Ali Center is much, MUCH more than a museum. It's an education center and the site of future initiatives toward world peace.

 

I realize none of the above will explain the "big deal" about Ali, but I hope it at least gives some insight into the man and into the times in which he was most influential.

 

:thumb: Thank you for making this clear!:thumb:

It's easy to label someone as a coward for not "going along" with a compulsary draft when we don't live in an age where a draft is in place.

 

It's easy to dismiss someone's character when their beliefs don't fall in line with one's own.

 

What's not easy is to stand up for one's beliefs at the risk of every personal achievement you've attained can and will be stripped from you and people will cast aspersions on your name, your motives and your foever.

 

What's not easy is to rebuild yourself after you've been destroyed.

 

What's not easy is to seek a higher purpose and bring a greater meaning to your world views by using your fame or infamy.

 

It always surprises me that people call him a coward. Are these people anxious to have the draft reinstated? Would those people "toe the line" when the government decides that regardless of your personal beliefs, you will serve?

 

The Ali Center is much, MUCH more than a museum. It's an education center and the site of future initiatives toward world peace.

 

I realize none of the above will explain the "big deal" about Ali, but I hope it at least gives some insight into the man and into the times in which he was most influential.

First of all , there was draft at that time in our country.

 

For the rest of your points made, maybe someone should try ask all the brave young men lying in Arlington Cemetary and other cemetarys across this nation how they feel about him. Those are the TRUE heroes. Cassius Clay is a disgrace to our country and to my home state of Kentucky as far as I am concerned.

 

I realize that you and others haved your opinion and I try to respect that, I just can't understand your point but I guess that I don't have to.

First of all , there was draft at that time in our country.

 

For the rest of your points made, maybe someone should ask all the brave young men lying in Arlington Cemetary anhd other across this nation how they feel about him. Those are the TRUE heroes. Cassius Clay is a disgrace to our country and to my home state of Kentucky as far as I am concerned.

 

I realize that you and others haved your opinion and I try to respect that, I just can't understand your point but I guess that I don't have to.

While I disagree with the religion of Islam and the teachings of salvation and their view of Jesus, I understand that there are some things that are BIGGER and more important than the USA.

 

If it ever came down to having to choose (and if you take the view that the book of Revelations will happen, then if I am still alive at that time, I will have to choose between my country and my faith) than I hope to have the backbone that Ali did and stand true to my faith in the face of my country.

 

When I die it means nothing that I was an American. That only matters in the years that I am alive. My faith means eternity and where I will be for that time period.

 

While I disagree with Ali and his Islam teachings, I do appreciate that he was true to his faith.

Yes, the Viatnamese were such a threat to the sovereignity of our country...

 

He refused to fight in what he, and many others, felt was an unjust war.

You are correct that many others thought that it was an unjust war. The difference is they served their country when their country called bc it was their duty and obligation to do so.

 

This subject has been hashed out on here on many threads now and I just realized that all this is doing is giving even more recognition to a very non deserving individual in Cassius Clay. I happen to have family members that served and a family member that lost his life for our country. I have no respect or NEVER will have respect for Cassius Clay. (yes, that is its name)

 

I am through with this one and any other on this subject.

While I disagree with the religion of Islam and the teachings of salvation and their view of Jesus, I understand that there are some things that are BIGGER and more important than the USA.

 

If it ever came down to having to choose (and if you take the view that the book of Revelations will happen, then if I am still alive at that time, I will have to choose between my country and my faith) than I hope to have the backbone that Ali did and stand true to my faith in the face of my country.

 

When I die it means nothing that I was an American. That only matters in the years that I am alive. My faith means eternity and where I will be for that time period.

 

While I disagree with Ali and his Islam teachings, I do appreciate that he was true to his faith.

Although I don't agree with you I can respect the way you put this. :thumb:

It's easy to label someone as a coward for not "going along" with a compulsary draft when we don't live in an age where a draft is in place.

It's easy to dismiss someone's character when their beliefs don't fall in line with one's own.

What's not easy is to stand up for one's beliefs at the risk of every personal achievement you've attained can and will be stripped from you and people will cast aspersions on your name, your motives and your foever.

 

What's not easy is to rebuild yourself after you've been destroyed.

 

What's not easy is to seek a higher purpose and bring a greater meaning to your world views by using your fame or infamy.

 

It always surprises me that people call him a coward. Are these people anxious to have the draft reinstated? Would those people "toe the line" when the government decides that regardless of your personal beliefs, you will serve?

 

The Ali Center is much, MUCH more than a museum. It's an education center and the site of future initiatives toward world peace.

 

I realize none of the above will explain the "big deal" about Ali, but I hope it at least gives some insight into the man and into the times in which he was most influential.

It is easy to label someone a coward when the truth is he was a coward.

I guess if his beliefs were to not pay taxes or walk downtown in the nude that would make it ok to do just because that was his belief, hogwash!!

All Clay had to do was pass his physical, go into the military and he would have been treated as a king. He would have never gone to Vietnam. He would have been used a recruiting tool by showing his skills all across America.

Many celebrities chose to go into the military and after they did their time were back in the public spotlight just as they were before. I consider Clay and all other draft dodgers that followed in his footsteps a coward.

First of all , there was draft at that time in our country.

 

For the rest of your points made, maybe someone should try ask all the brave young men lying in Arlington Cemetary and other cemetarys across this nation how they feel about him. Those are the TRUE heroes. Cassius Clay is a disgrace to our country and to my home state of Kentucky as far as I am concerned.

 

I realize that you and others haved your opinion and I try to respect that, I just can't understand your point but I guess that I don't have to.

 

 

What your not understanding is that a person can be patriotic, and still disagree with government leaders and government policy. Not that I think Ali is partriotic, I admire him for other reasons. But I feel you are offended because others respect him.

 

It's like the difference in a UK FAN and a UK FANatic.

While I disagree with the religion of Islam and the teachings of salvation and their view of Jesus, I understand that there are some things that are BIGGER and more important than the USA.

 

If it ever came down to having to choose (and if you take the view that the book of Revelations will happen, then if I am still alive at that time, I will have to choose between my country and my faith) than I hope to have the backbone that Ali did and stand true to my faith in the face of my country.

 

When I die it means nothing that I was an American. That only matters in the years that I am alive. My faith means eternity and where I will be for that time period.

 

While I disagree with Ali and his Islam teachings, I do appreciate that he was true to his faith.

 

PREACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!