A real American treasure. Too bad his life has to end this way.
Y'know, I'm torn here. I've always liked the guy. I loved watching him fight when I was a kid, and his shtick with Howard Cosell. I think he's handled his Parkinson's with grace, and he's undeniably one of the greatest boxers of all time...he practically redefined the heavyweight division.
But I'm just not 100% comfortable with giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a draft resister. (Notice I didn't say "dodger," in that he did stay in the country and do his time in prison for it.)
}:-)4
I had friends coming home in boxes while Ali was draft dodging.
Presidential Medal of Freedom, my ass!
What's the reason for him getting this?
Ali, as all human beings are, is flawed. And so in his younger years he was led and influenced by people around him that were only operating in their interest, not his. However, any objective person must take full measure of the man during his entire life. Ali like so many other American Icons, is not perfect. But he loves this country, and its people, and its people love him. In both the ring an in his battle with illness, he has maintained that maverick glint in his eye, that lust for life and the glorious quest for America that allows an Ali to reach the pinnacle of suceess. He is both a great American and a hero to all in America!!!
First of all many Freepers might have last hard feelings against Ali for him objecting to going to Vietnam, but Ali has done great work in his fight against his Parkisons and has serviced quietly as its spokemen for years and one thing about Ali he has not turned his sickness into a matter to have a national pity party or called for using the unborn for junk science research unlike some others we know, for that alone I think I could look past his lack of going to Vietnam and Ali has made several trips in the past to visit wounded and sick trips from what I have heard, I think he visited Walter Reed about a year ago if I remember correctly.
Ironic isn't it that the Louiville Lip who use to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee who with his clever predictions, his searing poetry, his quick wit and snappy retorts suffers from a disease that renders his FORTE useless.
I've got mixed feelings on this. Back when Ali became a Muslim, it didn't have the same meaning, at least as openly. I do have a problem with him being a "national treasure" however. He lived the American Dream, punch drunk and all. This one's a tough call
I was a George Foreman fan and hated Ali back in the day, but came to respect him as I grew older. I think his persona and flamboyance was uplifting to many people, most of who didn't care a lick about his politics.
I consider him a legend, an icon, a natural leader. I don't hold him up as a hero, but I do respect him for many reasons.