Posted on 11/09/2005 3:19:14 PM PST by gts
Ali does the "Rope-a-Dope" on Bush. This draft dodger, Cassius Clay, changed his name to Muhammad Ali and became a Muslim in order to avoid serving his country during the Vietnam war. For some reason (does anyone know?) everyone now loves to kiss his ass. What did he ever do for his country to deserve this honor? As a further insult, they do it right before Veterans Day.
This Ali guy ?? He was a boxer?
See what I mean?
That would be great and wonderful but the poster meant to type LEAST and insulted my spelling afterwards..but good try : )))
Bush should be ashamed.
And I thought he was a pugilist. Go figure.
It po'd me when he got to light the torch at the Atlanta Olympics; the honor should have gone to Teresa Edwards, now a five-time Olympian (from Atlanta) in Basketball.
I have no reason why people like Ali. He's a bigmouth and small brained thug.
He stings like a butterfly and floats like foam rubber.
He gets my respect ONLY as a great boxer. As an American, he's worthless.
If Ali had been a good boy and done as he was told, it would have gone easier for him. After all, nobody was going to send him with a gun into any rice paddy. But he took a gutsy stand on principle and paid for it heavily. He had courage and strength of character and took tremendous abuse for doing what he believed was right and that is why he is respected today.
And by the way, what was so very, very wrong about Ali saying no openly and publicly as opposed to all those rich families that put their sons in the National Guard ? Everybody who could get out of going to Vietnam did so. He took on the system head on, not sneaking through technicalities.
What did Ali ever do? Hell of a lot more than you.
Crap load more than most. Wins a gold medal for his country in the olympics, comes home and isn't allowed to eat in a restaurant because of the colour of his skin.
But he's supposed to die for this country?
That's what you would do right? Be pissed on then bend over grab your ankles and take it again?
Yeah he turned muslim because the people who were supposed to be Christian weren't Christian at all they were racist and treated people like him like crap. I often wonder who carries the greater burden - he who sins or he who causes another to sin. Christ was clear on this.
I like Ali because he put his money where his mouth is unlike some of our BS politicians now who talk big about War and fighting but never saw a day of combat in their lives or have their own kids tucked away while other people bleed to protect their right to spend our tax dollars like idiots.
Even the British, pretty much ever male member of the monarchy serves in their armed forces and in the war theatre. That is true leadership and shows that you believe so strongly in what you're doing you'll sacrifice your own life. William and Harry are in the military now. Charles served; Edward fought in the Falklands. Could you imagine that in our country? Clinton declares war and sends Chelsea; Bush sends his twins to Iraq; Gore sends his kids; Cheney? Never not in this country. Not anymore. Sad really.
Sorry man ... and OJ - don't like him either but you know what he's innocent in the eyes of the law. Just like right now, Scooter Libby is innocent until proven guilty.
Hell of a lot more than you.
Do you know me?
" Everybody who could get out of going to Vietnam did so."
No they didn't.
I disagree that Ali did what he did on some "principles" of his. I think he just hated and hates America and white people.
Even the British, pretty much ever male member of the monarchy serves in their armed forces and in the war theatre. That is true leadership and shows that you believe so strongly in what you're doing you'll sacrifice your own life. William and Harry are in the military now. Charles served; Edward fought in the Falklands. Could you imagine that in our country? Clinton declares war and sends Chelsea; Bush sends his twins to Iraq; Gore sends his kids; Cheney? Never not in this country. Not anymore. Sad really.
Precisely. Ali's courage cost him his title and a ton of money. It made him an object of hatred to white America. He talked the talk and walked the walk. It would have been so easy to take the easy way out. But he didn't. That's principle whether garyhope likes it or not. When you sacrifice much for something that will give you nothing materially it is principle.
And the hypocrisy of American elites on this is staggering. The sons of Prescott Bush and Joseph Kennedy were carrier pilots and PT boat commanders. Low life expectancy jobs. Pat Robertson was a regimental liquor officer. Gore was a correspondent. Kerry played at being JFK.
My favorite boxer of all time - Smokin' Joe Frazier - caught him with a left hook (Joe was a converted southpaw, so his left had great power)in the third round in the '71 fight (We watched it live on an Armed Forces hookup) and Ali's eyes got wider. The punch got Ali's attention and I realized that Joe might win. It was night in NY, but afternoon where I was. Never enjoyed watching a fight more. Close to the most fun I ever had in a quonset hut.
You're absolutely right. What he did showed real courage. As you say, he could have played along and got a nice cushy assignment with no risk to himself. Instead, he stood up for his principles, regardless of the consequences. That makes him a true American.
Actually it may have been that fight with the wrestler (can't remember his name off the top of my head) that actually may have done more damage than any of his boxing matches.
This was after Laura got him to sit down and watch a 'Seinfeld' marathon.
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