Muhammad Ali (2 Viewers)

[nysoldiers]

a lot of people cared about his feelings on the war and how he avoided going...

while millions may have felt it was an unjust war...
millions also had family and friends that went over their and served their country...
and never came back...
I'm guessing if you lost your father...son or a friend there...
you might see things differently...

I can easily see why he was banned from boxing here...
why should you reap the benefits of a nation that protects your rights and freedom...
a nation where you can make a fortune...
but refuse to serve it...

and he wasn't banned from boxing...
he was only banned from boxing here...
he could have lived somewhere else and boxed there...

does this diminish his boxing skills?

no...

I don't think it was petty or vindictive...

why shouldn't he obey the rules we all live by?

"why should you reap the benefits of a nation that protects your rights and freedom..... but refuse to serve it." I think most African Americans in the Sixties would take issue with this conjecture. Segregation, discrimination and violence towards African Americans was rampant in this time frame. I saw it first hand working in the South for voter registration rights.
True, as a celebrity athlete he made a lot of money but that didn't compensate for the racism he and his race were subject to. There were two Americas at the time, one for White people and one for minorities. Most have acknowledged that reality and worked to change it.

 

[BLReed]

"why should you reap the benefits of a nation that protects your rights and freedom..... but refuse to serve it." I think most African Americans in the Sixties would take issue with this conjecture. Segregation, discrimination and violence towards African Americans was rampant in this time frame. I saw it first hand working in the South for voter registration rights.
True, as a celebrity athlete he made a lot of money but that didn't compensate for the racism he and his race were subject to. There were two Americas at the time, one for White people and one for minorities. Most have acknowledged that reality and worked to change it.

You are getting political. And I'm constrained by forum rules to adequately reply. Besides being off topic.

 

[mikemiller1955]

"why should you reap the benefits of a nation that protects your rights and freedom..... but refuse to serve it." I think most African Americans in the Sixties would take issue with this conjecture. Segregation, discrimination and violence towards African Americans was rampant in this time frame. I saw it first hand working in the South for voter registration rights.
True, as a celebrity athlete he made a lot of money but that didn't compensate for the racism he and his race were subject to. There were two Americas at the time, one for White people and one for minorities. Most have acknowledged that reality and worked to change it.

Ric...

just a friendly discussion...

I don't understand your reference or the relevance about the millions of dollars Ali made...
and the concept of it compensating for racism to the black population...
what does one have to do with the other?
Ali certainly kept most of his money didn't he?

and that most African Americans in the Sixties would take issue with this conjecture...
I'm sure a lot of white kids took issue with this conjecture too...

but they went to jail for refusal to serve...Ali didn't...

I hate the "race card"...
is this an excuse for dodging the draft?
I'm a minority?
I shouldn't have to serve...
so, if you want to sleep under the blanket of one of the greatest nations in the world...
and you're a minority...
you should get a pass and let the majority do all the dirty work?
by that token...American Indians should get a pass?

while the US is a volunteer army now...
the Selective Service Plan (registering) is still in effect so the draft can be implemented in case of an emergency...
many countries still have mandatory military service...
it's part of your duty for citizenship...