Ali was human

Submitted by Lance M. Haley (United States), Aug 9, 2006 at 01:29

I am uncertain as to the validity of Mr. Pipes comments regarding Ali. To say that he was "indirectly responsible" for Malcom X's murder is tantamount to saying that Bill Clinton was indirectly responsible for 9/11 because he failed to kill Osama bin Laden in 1999.

Of this I am certain: Ali's place in American history, and his impact on the events of the 1960's, is unassailable. Ali, like all great men and women, was first and foremost, a human being; he had all sorts of faults and shortcomings. But he also exposed white racism, was the most prominent legal anti-war figure of the 60's, and he spoke of revolution just like Thomas Jefferson had 200 years before. The U.S. Government feared him - that's the first sign he must have been doing something right.

Moreover, the man he became in later years was a function of the mistakes he recognized he had made in his early years as a brash young fighter who was trying to make his way in a corrupt and tainted sport, all the while dealing with a world full of hypocrisy, greed and hate. He brought dignity and respect to boxing, and was creative enough to let them believe they were manipulating him, while he was the one pulling all the strings. But most importantly - he was the consummate Warrior-Poet, educating Americans in the most subtle of ways in the Art of War. That Joe Frazier and George Foreman were his "foils" for a time, is forgivable. Those two men's place in history was cemented by their "advesarial" relationship with Ali.

I have always maintained that if there was one human being I could meet in my lifetime, it would be Ali. Why, you ask? Because by watching him when I was a teenager, he gave me the courage to speak out against things that I knew were wrong. When everyone around me was supporting the current president's exhortations to go to war in Iraq, I stood steadfast in my belief that this was wrong. I took a great deal of criticism and was chastized by many people. But I told them that time would tell who was right. I now rest my case. Just as Ali was certain of the tides of change that he could see coming, I take solace in the fact that history will vanquish those who have manipulated and lied in the name of principles that have no value. Ali was intuitive about those vapid principles espoused by the white power structure - and He called it like he saw it.

Once again, we see the white power structure manipulating and lying to us in order to forward their agendas.

Well, this white boy has just one thing to say: THAT DOG WON'T HUNT NO MORE!

THE INFIDELS (POLITICIANS) MUST LEAVE THE TEMPLE BEFORE THEY PULL IT DOWN ON THE REST OF OUR HEADS!!!

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