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Title: Muhammad Ali: Anti-War/Civil Rights Activist
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Published: Jun 4, 2016
Author: Stephen Lendman
Post Date: 2016-06-04 08:58:40 by Stephen Lendman
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Views: 277
Comments: 11
Muhammad Ali: Anti-War/Civil Rights Activist by Stephen Lendman On Friday, June 3, boxing great Muhammad Ali died at age 74 in Phoenix after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. Over time, it eroded his motor skills and ability to speak coherently. His wife Lonnie said even though his speech was impaired, “he sp(oke) to people with his eyes…with his heart, and they connect(ed) with him.” Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., he joined the Nation of Islam in 1964, rejected what he called his “slave name.” Muhammad Ali replaced it. In 1975, he converted to Sunni Islam after Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad died. He refused army induction during the Vietnam war, publicly calling himself a conscientious objector, famously saying “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger.” At his scheduled Houston army induction on April 28, 1967, he refused three times to step forward after his name was called. Warned he was committing a felony, he stood firm. Arrest followed. The New York State Athletic Commission stripped him of his boxing license and world heavyweight championship title. Other US boxing commissions followed suit. Ali couldn’t box anywhere for over three years. On June 20, 1967, a jury found him guilty. An appellate court upheld it. Ali remained free pending the result of his Supreme Court appeal. On June 28, 1971, the High Court unanimously ruled in his favor at a time of nationwide anti-war activism - not based on his claims, because the appellate court gave no reason for denying his right to conscientiously object. His conviction was reversed. He inspired Martin Luther King to voice public opposition to the war. Famously he called America “(t)he greatest purveyor of violence in the world - my own government. I cannot be silent.” Ali’s anti-war activism “robbed (him) of his best years, his prime years,” his trainer Angelo Dundee explained. Perhaps his best remembered quotes were, saying “I am the greatest,” and “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” He’s less well-known for saying “I know I got it made while other black folks are out there catchin hell, but as long as they ain’t free, I ain’t free.” Boxing is a violent sport, yet Ali espoused peace and nonviolence, opposed militarism, resisted racial discrimination and injustice. His star power made his comments resonate. He abhorred the way Washington uses federal tax revenues for war-making, once saying: “I buy a lot of bullets, at least three jet bombers a year, and pay the salary of 50,000 fighting men with the money they take from me after my fights.” “Boxing is nothing like going to war with machine guns, bazookas, hand grenades, bomber airplanes. My intention is to box, to win a clean fight. But in war, the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill, and continue killing innocent people.” Ali used his fame to fight for justice outside the ring, fearlessly speaking his mind publicly. The world’s most famous pugilist became an anti-war, civil rights, nonviolence champion. A personal note: In the early 1970s while Ali was still active in the ring, I ran into him in the lobby of my office building. He was with several others at the time. We passed like ships in the night. I didn’t intrude to chat. Looking back, I wish I’d have extended my hand in friendship. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
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#1. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
(Edited)
3 Ali stories. When I worked in the Pentagon he was riding in one of those battery powered vehicles with seats for eight and VIP touring the Hall of Heroes. I gave him a wave and he responded in kind. Five minutes later, I thought, hey that guy was a draft dodger...but, no big deal. Several years later I was flying from Louisville to Atlanta for some sort of business trip. I noticed him appear out of nowhere and I sat two seats from him in the waiting area. After a minute we exchanged glances and we shook hands. I said, "Hey champ!" Then he did his signature pose with his fists up and a smile on his face. He was flying first class and when I watched (from coach) the 5'2" flight attendant help him take off his suit jacket, with a bit of a struggle, tears welled in my eyes. Years later, one of my older tavern buddies told me his story. He was drafted in the Army circa 1962 and reported to the Louisville military/induction facility for processing. They paged Cassius Clay about 4 or 5 times that day. My buddy claims to have shouted out, "That nigger ain't going to show up."
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Ali suffered from Parkinson's Disease. It is very debilitating and affects the brain. One of the early drugs they used to treat it was called L-Dopa. This replaced the dopamine found in the brain. My maternal grandfather suffered from Parkinson's and this is how I know about this drug. Lucky to recall any of it with that meningitis. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Ali didn't have Parkinson's. He had puglistica dementia - punch drunk. Frazier and Jerry Quarry also had it - and Quarry died from it in his early 50s.
"Have Brain, Will Travel
Before his three year suspension, Ali's speed and quickness made him the greatest heavyweight fighter ever. As great as he was after he returned, he never regained all his quickness, stamina, and speed.
His rope-a-dope strategy against Foreman was enough to scramble his brain forever.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
Correction on my final paragraph; it was 1966 on the draft. I saw my buddy in the tavern earlier this evening.
Gee Fred, you're still going in the tavern? I gave up the wicked brew long ago. Besides, for all the drinking and drugging I've done in my life I'm lucky to be alive. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
No tears for Clay in my book -- more for amerika. "Boxing is a violent sport" - - the 5 words the world should take away from this moment in time. An evil business little better than the jousting or bear-baiting of the middle ages, a terrible factory for role models and national icons esp. considering how many apotheosize blackness, Islam etc. "The king must die" -- weird quirk in the mentality of sheeple through the ages. "The deities must destroy themselves while we watch" -- modern version. Well, you knew when you started reading this reply that is was by a pessimist fatalist anti-natalist :-5 ----------------------------------------------------- Sorry Turtle, but they just said on TV that Ali suffered from Parkinson's. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Sorry, but Ferdie Pacheco, Ali's own fight doctor, said Ali had "Psuedo- Parkinson's", which was a fancy way of saying Puglistica Dementia. I saw him say it on TV many years ago. They don't want to puncture the myth of Ali by forgetting his IQ was 78 and he admitted he could barely read and write. I saw him admit it on TV. He was a moron, made worse by being punch drunk. "Have Brain, Will Travel
#2. To: Fred Mertz (#1)
he was the greatest heavyweight i ever saw
#3. To: Lod, Fred Mertz (#2)
(Edited)
#4. To: BTP Holdings (#3)
#5. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
#6. To: Turtle (#4)
#7. To: BTP Holdings, Lod (#3)
#8. To: Fred Mertz (#7)
I saw my buddy in the tavern
#9. To: Stephen Lendman (#0)
#10. To: Turtle (#4)
Ali didn't have Parkinson's. He had puglistica dementia - punch drunk.
#11. To: BTP Holdings (#10)
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