The Greatest
On this date, 28 April in 1967, Muhammed Ali refused induction into the US Empire armed forces, given his conscientious objection to any war not declared by Allah.
Given the temper of those times, Ali's objection was refused by his draft board, he was convicted of refusing induction, and sentenced to a five-year prison term. As part of the racist retaliation, his licenses to box were revoked everywhere in the USE, he was stripped of his championship title, and his passport was confiscated. Not until 1970 was his conviction overturned by the Supreme Court, and his conscientious objector status affirmed.
During that time, Ali's legs began to fail, and he was never able to box with the old dexterity and grace. This was the price he paid for remaining faithful to his beliefs, and the true measure of his greatness.
Given the temper of those times, Ali's objection was refused by his draft board, he was convicted of refusing induction, and sentenced to a five-year prison term. As part of the racist retaliation, his licenses to box were revoked everywhere in the USE, he was stripped of his championship title, and his passport was confiscated. Not until 1970 was his conviction overturned by the Supreme Court, and his conscientious objector status affirmed.
During that time, Ali's legs began to fail, and he was never able to box with the old dexterity and grace. This was the price he paid for remaining faithful to his beliefs, and the true measure of his greatness.
posted by HH at 1:15 PM
1 Comments:
I thought it was quite wonderful of Ali when, in 1990, he traveled to Iraq to negotiate the release of 15 hostages there. I would love to know what he thinks of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan - and his thoughts on the B*sh misadministration.
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