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Muhammad Ali, who died last week at 74 from septic shock related to his 30-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease, may have been the greatest heavyweight boxer of al time. He was most definitely the most famous person in the world in the 1970s and a big part of that fame came from his struggle against the United States government after he refused induction into the Army in 1967. Comments please.
American History
Sports
Boxing
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 36
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For me I feel he was a dodger as I've seen many other muslims serve. I do respect him for "staying home" and facing the music, for doing so as he had his title stripped from him and he couldn't box for 3 years (I believe). I stand and salute him for this. He was man enough to stand up for the decisions he made.
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SMSgt David Zobel
Nation of Islam is not the same as "many other muslims." As an article of faith, they would not serve the "white" government. He became Muslim in the more common sense some years later.
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I see the up votes going to things that describe Ali as a hero, stand by his decision, and take his lumps, etc. I think there is a generational view on this. Those of us who were around then didn't think much of his mouth, joining up with the Nation of Islam, or dodging the draft. Over time, he demonstrated he wasn't really in the tank for the Nation of Islam, his skill as a boxer was better than his mouth, and then he just spent time with people; all people. So there was more to him than what you saw on the old black and white TV. I think more have "forgiven" him than do Hanoi Jane. Then we've all seen the Parkinson's gradually suck the greatness out of his body. Then you could see the gentleness of his great soul more directly.
I still have some mixed feelings. Some of it comes from I generally don't like the idea of changing names. I didn't care for this one, or Jerry Rivers, or Lew Alcindor. But over time, it turned out to be something that didn't make a difference, hence it was (is?) my head case to deal with. At least I'm in the I wouldn't change my name camp.
We all walk interesting paths. Ali walked one that surely won't be replicated in my lifetime. So unique. Nelson Mandela comes to mind as well. Some are touched more by this loss and others not much. However, Ali was certainly part of the fabric of my life.
I still have some mixed feelings. Some of it comes from I generally don't like the idea of changing names. I didn't care for this one, or Jerry Rivers, or Lew Alcindor. But over time, it turned out to be something that didn't make a difference, hence it was (is?) my head case to deal with. At least I'm in the I wouldn't change my name camp.
We all walk interesting paths. Ali walked one that surely won't be replicated in my lifetime. So unique. Nelson Mandela comes to mind as well. Some are touched more by this loss and others not much. However, Ali was certainly part of the fabric of my life.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
I remember the uproar from him dodging the draft, comparing him to Elvis and such. It was a big deal and I remember my Dad who always watched the Saturday night fights never called him anything but Clay. I remember my dad was glad he got stripped of his title. I think in later years he mellowed out a bit over it. I guess a name is just that, a name. I will say what you said is true. We really got to see the real man after he got sick.
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MSG (Join to see)
i have and never will see anything with hanoi jane associated, i still remember the tiolet stickers, ali never dodged, he refused based on his religious beliefs, an he took the lumps for it, what about all the dodgers that went to canda, and where later excussed no time served, my cousin served door gunner, if anything those that went to canada they should be the ones that deserve ridicule
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Ali broke no laws. Ali paid the price for what he did.
I see no benefit of trying to try him now.
I see no benefit of trying to try him now.
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