http://www.gale.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/ali_m.htm

 

Here are three selected passages:

 

While in Miami, at the age of 21, Ali was inspired by human rights activist Malcolm X to become a member of the Muslim faith. The following year Malcolm X said of Ali, as was quoted by Houston Horn in Sports Illustrated, "[He] will mean more to his people than any athlete before him. He is more than [first black major-league baseball player] Jackie Robinson was, because Robinson is the white man's hero. But Cassius is the black man's hero. Do you know why? Because the white press wanted him to lose [his heavyweight championship bout] ... because he is a Muslim. You notice nobody cares about the religion of other athletes. But their prejudice against Clay blinded them to his ability." Twelve years later, on Face The Nation, Ali said "We don't have Black Muslims, that's a press word. We have white brothers, we have brown, red, and yellow, all colors can be Muslims.... I'm looking for peace one day with all people." Cassius Clay, Jr., was given the name Muhammad Ali by Muslim patriarch Elijah Muhammad; it was not just a name, but a title meaning "beloved of Allah," deity of the Muslim faith.

 

As a Muslim and thus, a conscientious objector, Muhammad Ali refused to even consider going to Vietnam in 1966; a tremendous public outcry erupted against him. According to Jack Olsen in Sports Illustrated, "The governor of Illinois found Clay 'disgusting,' and the governor of Maine said Clay 'should be held in utter contempt by every patriotic American.' An American Legion post in Miami asked people to 'join in condemnation of this unpatriotic, loudmouthed, bombastic individual.' The Chicago Tribune waged a choleric campaign against holding the next Clay fight in Chicago.... The noise became a din, the drumbeats of a holy war. TV and radio commentators, little old ladies ... bookmakers, and parish priests, armchair strategists at the Pentagon and politicians all over the place joined in a crescendo of get-Cassius clamor."

 

Although Ali had not been charged or arrested for violating the Selective Service Act--much less convicted--the New York State Athletic Commission and World Boxing Association suspended his boxing license and stripped him of his heavyweight title in May of 1967, minutes after he officially announced that he would not submit to induction. Ali said to Sports Illustrated contributor Edwin Shrake, "I'm giving up my title, my wealth, maybe my future. Many great men have been tested for their religious beliefs. If I pass this test, I'll come out stronger than ever." Eventually Ali was sentenced to five years in prison, released on appeal, and his conviction overturned three years later.

I understand that there are some things that are BIGGER and more important than the USA.

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

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.

Good example, there are a lot of religions that say you shouldn't pay taxes and walk around naked...

Good example, there are a lot of religions that say you shouldn't pay taxes and walk around naked...

 

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Good example, there are a lot of religions that say you shouldn't pay taxes and walk around naked...

Glad that you enjoyed it.

Does that make it ok to do so in public? You can but, but Like Clay; you would be arrested.

Good example, there are a lot of religions that say you shouldn't pay taxes and walk around naked...

 

Who says your beliefs have to be based around religion. I believe that Skyline is prett darn good chili, not sure that the Catholic church has a stance on the issue.

One cannot help but wonder how much dislike of Ali was and is based in racism. With the times he came up and his willingness to speak his mind, a person might think that is the basis for much of it.

 

As for the young men lying in Arlington, especially those of color, I dare say many of them admired Ali for his stand in support of his religious beliefs. Of course there is no way for us to know that now but to assume all think he is trash and a disgrace is presumptuous.

One cannot help but wonder how much dislike of Ali was and is based in racism. With the times he came up and his willingness to speak his mind, a person might think that is the basis for much of it.

 

As for the young men lying in Arlington, especially those of color, I dare say many of them admired Ali for his stand in support of his religious beliefs. Of course there is no way for us to know that now but to assume all think he is trash and a disgrace is presumptuous.

I guarantee you that my dislike for Clay is not based on racism. I feel the same way about all the draft dodgers and the cowards that fled to Canada.

To assume that everyone thinks he is trash and a discrace is presumptuous but to think that all African Americans supported him is as you said presumptuous also.

At the time I don't feel that Clay was so strong in his religious belief that he refused to go into the military. He was getting advice from people such as Malcom X and members of the Balck Panther party who's only agenda was be in the media spotlight and protest the war. Most of the racism was on their behalf. I can guarantee you that there is an Artillery Division that lost over half of their men ( of all races and religions) on their first day in Vietnam that did not support what Clay stood for. I saw many of them get off the plane when they returned home from Vietnam and were met by the war protesters calling them baby killers and spitting in their face. The same thing is happening today with the American Soldiers in Iraq. It is the protesters belief but it does not make it ok IMO.

Who says your beliefs have to be based around religion. I believe that Skyline is prett darn good chili, not sure that the Catholic church has a stance on the issue.

Obviously you speak the truth with your statement and cville he may have said beliefs but we are talking abouts Ali's faith and religion. That is why he did not go to war, not because of his general beliefs.

...To assume that everyone thinks he is trash and a discrace is presumptuous but to think that all African Americans supported him is as you said presumptuous also....

 

I said I thought many probably admired him for his stance, not all. As for the actions of some protesters, I agree, their treatment of those who did fight was atrocious and a disgrace. I do not believe Ali held the same view as these individuals and I don't consider him a coward. It took alot of fortitude to take the stance he did as opposed to just toeing the line.

Only in America!

My intent wasn't to make this a political or religious debate. At the core, I just want to know what would make some people mention Ali's name in the same breath as Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., or John F. Kennedy when speaking about great Americans.

I said I thought many probably admired him for his stance, not all. As for the actions of some protesters, I agree, their treatment of those who did fight was atrocious and a disgrace. I do not believe Ali held the same view as these individuals and I don't consider him a coward. It took alot of fortitude to take the stance he did as opposed to just toeing the line.

You are entitled to your opinion and I agree with you that Clay did not hold the same view as the protestors, in fact I really do not think he had his own view at all. As I said I feel he was being told things by the people involved that I mentioned earlier (Malcom X, Black Panthers etc.) His only agenda IMO was not to go to the military. Malcolm and his homies saw this as an opportunity to be in the spotlight and promote their racist views and the media ran with it just as they are doing today. I guess it is very true that history repeats itself. As for Clay I forgive him for not going to fight for his country but I wll never forget that he was and is a draft dodger.

You are entitled to your opinion and I agree with you that Clay did not hold the same view as the protestors, in fact I really do not think he had his own view at all. As I said I feel he was being told things by the people involved that I mentioned earlier (Malcom X, Black Panthers etc.) His only agenda IMO was not to go to the military. Malcolm and his homies saw this as an opportunity to be in the spotlight and promote their racist views and the media ran with it just as they are doing today. I guess it is very true that history repeats itself. As for Clay I forgive him for not going to fight for his country but I wll never forget that he was and is a draft dodger.

 

Malcolm X had split with the Nation of Islam in 1964. Ali and he didn't really have a relationship after that, and it would have been hard for Malcolm X to be advising Ali to not join the military in 1966 when Malcolm X died a year earlier. And I kind of question your suggestion of ties to the Black Panthers, and would like to see some kind of reference on that.

 

The seed for Ali's decision not to be inducted into the military was planted years before, when he returned home from the Olympics and realized that, gold medals or no, he was still a second-class citizen.

 

Dislike Ali if you will, but at least get the facts straight.

My intent wasn't to make this a political or religious debate. At the core, I just want to know what would make some people mention Ali's name in the same breath as Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., or John F. Kennedy when speaking about great Americans.

Your question delves right into a political and religious debate.