Muhammad Ali appearance dispels fears over health

breitbart ^ | Nov 09

[kenavi]

In which prison was Ali incarcerated, and for how long?

My recollection is that he didn't serve a day.

[kenavi]

...there have been conscientious objectors to the military, and they have been recognized by law for a very long time.

I believe that the law does not recognize "selective COs", those who oppose a particular war. When Ali said: "I don't have a quarrel with no Viet Cong", he was expressing his opposition to that particular war.

Ali even took the intelligence test administered by the draft board, and was exempted from the draft when he flunked it, but subsequently the military lowered the score required to pass, and Ali was back in.

[csmusaret]

That's what I thought. He did lose the right to ply his trade for a couple of years though.

[kenavi]

He did lose the right to ply his trade for a couple of years though.

Yes. Maybe that's why many people assume that Ali was in jail during those years, when in reality he didn't fight because he was disbarred by the Boxing Association for his refusal to obey his draft orders. I believe that he returned to the ring because he got the Courts to force the Boxing Association to reinstate him.

[Aznar5]

"he was the ONLY Muslim after 9-11 to come out publicly to denounce that as an act of terror and not a reflection of any religion."

At the rate he talks that must have been a 4 hour press conference.

[A CA Guy]

He may have pre recorded it, but it was a ten minute deal that I remember and he was very angry at the attack on NY and denounced that as not being anything but the terror it was.

Good for him in that, but other stuff I don't often see eye to eye with him.

[WyCoKsRepublican]

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

[WyCoKsRepublican]

Pandering indeed. I agree.

[Zack Attack]

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.

[Pompah]

My Ass Too. I'll Stand with you Swamp, If you don't mind.

I don't think this is a proud moment for the guy's on the big Black Wall.
I knew a few of them. And I know that they would agree.

[giobruno]

Friends in the boxing business; also, listen to his comments after 9-11 about 9-11.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Ah yes, the Ali bashers have crawled out of their rocks.

[countreegurl]

"And we don't owe Cassius Clay a thing"

WHAT'S MY NAME, FOOL? WHAT'S MY NAME!

[laconic]

You're not worthy of a response.

[Clemenza]

Military service is an honorable profession. Nevertheless, it should not be compulsory.

[paul51]

Facts? Quotes? Anything meaningful? Farrakhan is certified. Ali may be controversial, but I don't see anything placing him in the same league.

[SF Republican]

Very true, St Paul and St Peter also died for thier conviction and faith; my question was to emphasize the conviction part; I have not been to jail for my beliefs and probably in most cases would not, I do not have the courage Ali or Clay did.

[highball]

I had friends coming home in boxes while Ali was draft dodging.

He didn't dodge the draft. He resisted the draft, which is another thing altogether.

He didn't run to Canada. He didn't pull strings to get out of it. He didn't even accept a cushy non-combat assignment, which is certainly what he would have received had he gone into the Army. He stood by his convictions, and he took his lumps. Would that most Americans had his moral courage.

We don't have to share his views on the war to admire the way he refused to take the easy way out.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

"I had friends coming home in boxes while Ali was draft dodging.
He didn't dodge the draft. He resisted the draft, which is another thing altogether.

He didn't run to Canada. He didn't pull strings to get out of it. He didn't even accept a cushy non-combat assignment, which is certainly what he would have received had he gone into the Army. He stood by his convictions, and he took his lumps. Would that most Americans had his moral courage.

We don't have to share his views on the war to admire the way he refused to take the easy way out".

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Ohmygoodness, Boolfookinshat, sign your ass up at DU, just as soon as possible! You are wasting your potential here!

[Larry Lucido]

He appeared in a billboard ad supporting Ronald Reagan.