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Muhammad Ali appearance dispels fears over health
breitbart ^ | Nov 09

Posted on 11/09/2005 1:43:43 PM PST by george76

Ailing boxing legend Muhammad Ali swapped wisecracks with President George W. Bush in his first public appearance in five months which dispelled recent fears over his health.

Ali, 63, went to the White House to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, from Bush.

He appeared weak from his longstanding battle against Parkinson's Disease but attentive throughout the ceremony in the East Room of the White House, applauding each recipient.

Ali's first public appearance in five months

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; medaloffreedom; muhammadali; parkinsonsdisease
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To: csmusaret
In which prison was Ali incarcerated, and for how long?

My recollection is that he didn't serve a day.
61 posted on 11/09/2005 7:02:55 PM PST by kenavi ("Remember, your fathers sacrificed themselves without need of a messianic complex." Ariel Sharon)
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To: billhilly
...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.
62 posted on 11/09/2005 7:19:50 PM PST by kenavi ("Remember, your fathers sacrificed themselves without need of a messianic complex." Ariel Sharon)
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To: kenavi

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


63 posted on 11/09/2005 7:31:07 PM PST by csmusaret (Urban Sprawl is an oxymoron)
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To: csmusaret
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.
64 posted on 11/09/2005 8:04:25 PM PST by kenavi ("Remember, your fathers sacrificed themselves without need of a messianic complex." Ariel Sharon)
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To: A CA Guy
"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.

65 posted on 11/09/2005 8:06:22 PM PST by Aznar5
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To: Aznar5

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.


66 posted on 11/09/2005 8:08:25 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: george76

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


67 posted on 11/09/2005 8:17:12 PM PST by WyCoKsRepublican
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To: satan

Pandering indeed. I agree.


68 posted on 11/09/2005 8:17:50 PM PST by WyCoKsRepublican
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To: george76

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.


69 posted on 11/09/2005 8:21:28 PM PST by Zack Attack
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

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.


70 posted on 11/09/2005 8:34:40 PM PST by Pompah
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To: paul51

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


71 posted on 11/10/2005 12:04:51 AM PST by giobruno
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

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


72 posted on 11/10/2005 12:10:56 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Harmful or Fatal if Swallowed)
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To: laconic

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

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


73 posted on 11/10/2005 7:18:31 AM PST by countreegurl
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To: countreegurl

You're not worthy of a response.


74 posted on 11/10/2005 8:12:00 AM PST by laconic
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To: Mr. Jazzy

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


75 posted on 11/10/2005 9:16:13 AM PST by Clemenza (In League with the Freemasons, The Bilderbergers, and the Learned Elders of Zion)
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To: giobruno
Facts? Quotes? Anything meaningful? Farrakhan is certified. Ali may be controversial, but I don't see anything placing him in the same league.
76 posted on 11/10/2005 9:18:01 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
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To: SkyPilot

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.


77 posted on 11/10/2005 9:24:40 AM PST by SF Republican
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To: 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.

78 posted on 11/10/2005 12:47:53 PM PST by highball ("I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." -- Thomas Jefferson)
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To: 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".



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


79 posted on 11/10/2005 1:43:25 PM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (LET ME DIE ON MY FEET IN MY SWAMP, ALEX KOZINSKI FOR SCOTUS)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

He appeared in a billboard ad supporting Ronald Reagan.


80 posted on 11/10/2005 1:45:47 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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