June 24, 200719 yr Here are a couple of interesting facts about the Ali case that I had not known previously: 1. When Clay registered with the Selective Service and took the exam, he scored at a 16th percentile. At that time, you had to score in the 30th percentile or higher on the exam to pass, so he was listed as "ineligible for service." A couple of years later, the government changed their regulations to reflect that 15th percentile or higher was passing, and he was re-assessed as "eligible for service" without ever being re-tested. 2. Ali WON his initial case. After the SSA denied his CO status and Ali appealed, a 3 day trial was held before the SSA's designated hearing officer, retired Circuit Judge Laurence Baumann. Baumann was the judge who had the opportunity to see and hear all of the witnesses, review documents, and examine the credibility of everyone involved. Against immense pressure to do otherwise, he unreservedly recommended that Ali be granted CO status, finding that Ali's request was based upon a clearly articulated and firmly held personal religious conviction and that that conviction was sincere. The SSA later, without trial, overruled their own Hearing Officer on the basis of a DOJ memo that focused heavily on illegally recorded taped conversations between Ali and Elijah Muhammed. 3. Ali's tactical mistake early on may have been that in addition to claiming CO status, he also sought exemption on the grounds that he was a minister. #1 I knew about but the other two I didn't.
June 24, 200719 yr Did he legally change his name to Muhammad Ali? If so, why do people still call him Cassius Clay?
June 24, 200719 yr Did he legally change his name to Muhammad Ali? If so, why do people still call him Cassius Clay?I believe he did.
June 25, 200719 yr Did he legally change his name to Muhammad Ali? If so, why do people still call him Cassius Clay? He did, and some people call him Cassius Clay because they feel that his conversion to Islam (despite being several years in advance of the VietNam war) was only to avoid going to Nam. Therefore, they feel that he should not be called by his new name, as somehow it would be seen as a sign of support? of his position.... Gets me....many who argue against him have never taken the time to look beyond the surface.
June 25, 200719 yr He did, and some people call him Cassius Clay because they feel that his conversion to Islam (despite being several years in advance of the VietNam war) was only to avoid going to Nam. Therefore, they feel that he should not be called by his new name, as somehow it would be seen as a sign of support? of his position.... Gets me....many who argue against him have never taken the time to look beyond the surface. I thought as much. Thanks! :thumb:
June 25, 200719 yr I don't think that everyone who ever calls him Cassius Clay does so out of deliberate disrespect. I think there are certainly some that do. I think some people just like to change it up a little. There's also a dramatic element to it... I can tell the story of Ali to a group of people my age or younger, refer to him throughout the story as Clay, and at the end the revelation of Cassius Clay and Muhammad Ali as being one and the same comes as a surprise to a (sadly) large number of the listeners.
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