Posted on 11/29/2005 7:43:12 AM PST by forty_years
George W. Bush honored the boxer, Muhammad Ali, and 13 others with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, called "the nation's highest civilian award," on November 9 at the White House. The president praised Ali for his sports accomplishments and called him "The Greatest of All Time."
Fine, but he then proceeded to laud Ali's character: "The real mystery, I guess, is how he stayed so pretty. It probably had to do with his beautiful soul. He was a fierce fighter and he's a man of peace. … Across the world, billions of people know Muhammad Ali as a brave, compassionate, and charming man, and the American people are proud to call Muhammad Ali one of our own."
In this giddy, fawning statement, Mr. Bush did not, the Washington Post astringently noted, "mention Ali's very public opposition to the Vietnam War, which led the prizefighter to lose his boxing license for three years when he refused to serve in the Army." Worse, his refusal to fight was not because he was "a man of peace" but rather because his allegiance was to the stridently anti-American, anti-white organization known as the Nation of Islam, headed by the malign Elijah Muhammad.
Forty years ago, Ali explained his draft evasion: "War is against the teachings of the Holy Koran. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger [i.e., Elijah Muhammad]. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers." A draft evader, incidentally, is particularly ill-suited to receive the Medal of Freedom, which was created in 1945 to recognize "notable service" in World War II.
The president also did not touch on Ali's religious side, but Mark Kram did in his 2001 book, Ghosts of Manila: The Fateful Blood Feud between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier: "Ali broke every tenet of real Muslim law, from whoring to being truant at Temple service; he was a religious fake who abdicated his personal worth to the Black Muslims for their expediency and draft evasion, [and was] therefore, counterfeit down to his socks."
As he aged, Ali did become more devout, but in unfortunate directions. He declared himself against "the entire power structure" in America, which he declared was run by Zionists who "are really against the Islam religion." He became so radical a Muslim that the notorious Council on American-Islamic Relations, North America's most powerful Islamist group, also honored him with an award in June 2004. As its press release stated: "Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X, presented the first Malcolm X award to Muhammad Ali."
(Ali was spectacularly ill-suited for this award too. Malcolm X had served as his role model until 1964, but when Elijah Muhammad ejected Malcolm X from the Nation of Islam, Ali ignored Malcolm X's entreaties and turned viciously against him. He threw Malcolm X away, in the words of journalist Sunni Khalid, "like a pork chop.")
Mr. Bush's praise for Ali's compassion, charm, and beautiful soul are horribly misplaced (as were large donations from General Electric and Ford to the hagiographic "Ali Center" that opened days later in Louisville, Ky.). Ali's unvarnished legacy is an exploitative personality, sordid career, vicious politics, and extremist religion.
Mr. Bush himself got an unexpected glimpse of the real Ali during their brief White House encounter. I'll let the Washington Post describe the incident:
Bush, who appeared almost playful, fastened the heavy medal around Muhammad Ali's neck and whispered something in the heavyweight champion's ear. Then, as if to say "bring it on," the president put up his dukes in a mock challenge.
Ali, 63, who has Parkinson's disease and moves slowly, looked the president in the eye—and, finger to head, did the "crazy" twirl for a couple of seconds. The room of about 200, including Cabinet secretaries, tittered with laughter. Ali, who was then escorted back to his chair, made the twirl again while sitting down.
And the president looked visibly taken aback, laughing nervously. Was Ali making a political statement?
Awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Muhammad Ali gratuitously celebrated a man profoundly opposed to Mr. Bush's own, his party's, and the country's principles. It represents, I submit, the nadir of his presidency.
http://netwmd.com/blog/2005/11/29/185
Hmmm... And he discarded it (Islam) after the danger was past?
I agree with your comments and characterization of Ali completely. However, it is apparently in President Bush's character to not exalt himself above others. I saw it prominently in the Clinton portrait dedication ceremony. You can disagree with it, but I think he sees it as a Christian directive. I am not sure I agree with it either, but this is how Bush treats people, and there probably is something to be said for it.
Muhammed Ali never "hated America" and he is not dumb. I would like to see him woop Mike Tyson, too bad we can't go back in time and match them up at their primes.
Of course, my ex wife Velveeta coulda given Mike Tyson a beating like no tomorrow. Velveeta coulda taken Mike Tyson and swept the sidewalk with him.
Not all heavy weight greats are men.
"Muhammed Ali never "hated America" and he is not dumb."
OK, we will have to agree to disagree here.
I have met Muhammad Ali and his family several times. Nice people but he has been taken for everything he is worth by his 'friends' who have abused him and ill advised him.
I agree the freedom medal is misplaced on Muhammad Ali.
I honestly beleive that 'crazy' motion of a finger around the head was ment to say that he could still win a fight with the president not that the president was crazy. He still thinks he is the greatest. He knows he is a cripple but likes to play the part of a champ. He lost a great deal when Howard Cosell, his greatest straight man, died.
So did Elvis, right in his prime too. I'll bet Elvis had negative things to say about Ali's draft dodging antics.
Too bad we'll never see Joe Louis put a beating on Ali, as he easily could. That would be very enjoyable to see. Why? Here's some background on Joe Louis...
""Louis' war-time patriotism in a racially divided country made him a symbol of national unity and purpose. Twice he donated his purse to military relief funds. He endeared himself even more to the American public when he said the U.S. would win World War II "because we're on God's side.""
Bottom line..Joe Louis was a much better man than Ali, in every way.
And in closing...
""Louis spent his last four years in a wheelchair before dying of a heart attack at 66 on April 12, 1981 in Las Vegas. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery at the request of President Ronald Reagan. In death, like in life, he was a hero.""
Ali is no hero, not in any way.
I have a friend of the family who worshipped Ali, he had scrapbooks, rare pictures, etc. Ali signed most of the pages and pictures.
Say what you want about Ali, but he was kind to strangers and fans, I was supposed to go to meet him as a kid but I had to get up at 5 AM and didn't go.
Ali invited my friend to come to to Pennsylvania and stay on weekends whenever he wanted, he has tons of pictures of his visits. He allowed him to bring whoever he wanted too.
These scrapbooks are huge, I was alllowed to borrow them once. Ali was very kind to an ordinary Joe, Bundini Brown used to try and steal the scrapbooks though!
Jimmy Breslin mentioned my friend when Ali was first hospitalized, he came to visit Ali and said of him to the effect that he was the only person who didn't want anything from Ali except his friendship which he gladly offered.
Last I asked him, he couldn't get through to him any more because of all of the layers of people protecting him.
I should also add that my friend is white, I think the Nation of Islam polluted his thinking only to a point and I make no apologies for for Ali. Just knowing this side of him takes SOME of the edge off his negatives.
Ali was surrounded by vultures, I think he took in my friend to try and maintain some connection with reality.
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