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View Full Version : Ali gets the medal of freedom!

BlairH
11-09-2005, 02:16 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051104/us_nm/medals_dc_2

Personally I'm in favour of the decision. He may heve refused the draft, but this is perhaps one of my biggest reasons for supporting the decision: He didn't dodge the draft and flee to Canada like so many others- he stood up for what he believed in, stood his ground, and ultimately paid the price for what he believed in. Said price was indeed a hefty one in that he lost TWO of his PRIME years as a professional boxer!

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

Blair is a big fan of Mohammed.
Mike Smash!
11-09-2005, 02:29 PM
I support Ali and put him up as my favorite professional athelete. The man just had balls and principles he stuck to.

I've always said if the draft were to come back, that I hope I will be able to make the same decision he did.
west3man
11-09-2005, 02:35 PM
I support Ali and put him up as my favorite professional athelete. The man just had balls and principles he stuck to.

I've always said if the draft were to come back, that I hope I will be able to make the same decision he did. What he said.I wouldn't say Ali tried to "figure out a way to get out", to say such is to dishonour the man.
Him, too.
howyadoin
11-09-2005, 07:40 PM
I support Ali and put him up as my favorite professional athelete. The man just had balls and principles he stuck to.Sums it up for me, too.
Valmore
11-10-2005, 12:15 PM
I fail to see why we're bothering to argue over what Ali did during Vietnam, since he's getting the medal for this reason only:

Ali, the first three-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, was called "one of the greatest athletes of all time."

He's getting it for being a 3-time boxing champion, not because of his stance on Vietnam. Since, obviously, he isn't getting it for this:

The medal was established in 1963 and is awarded for contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural or other significant endeavors.

He didn't contribute to the security or national interests of the U.S., you could make a slight argument for the whole "world peace" thing, but I'm not buying whatever you're selling, and Occam's Razor says Ali is getting it for "cultural or other significant endeavors."

So why all the hubub over his Vietnam stance. He's getting it for the same reason Jack Nicklaus is getting it.
DarlingNikki
11-10-2005, 04:44 PM
giving the medal of freedom to ali is but a token gesture in my opinion. just like the medal they gave to rosa parks. i'm just too cynical to see it otherwise.
BlairH
11-10-2005, 04:54 PM
giving the medal of freedom to ali is but a token gesture in my opinion. just like the medal they gave to rosa parks. i'm just too cynical to see it otherwise.
Why do you hate (the medal of) freedom?
DarlingNikki
11-10-2005, 05:00 PM
i don't hate it. i just put it in its proper perspective. julia child received a medal of freedom. what, did she cook her folks to freedom or something? to me it's just a medal, signifying nothing.
Perry Holley
11-10-2005, 06:01 PM
julia child received a medal of freedom. what, did she cook her folks to freedom or something? Well, I don't know if it's what she got the medal for, but she did serve in the OSS in WWII.

Also, she was part of the team that helped to develop shark repellent.
K'Nort
11-10-2005, 07:16 PM
I fail to see why we're bothering to argue over what Ali did during Vietnam, since he's getting the medal for this reason only:

He's getting it for being a 3-time boxing champion, not because of his stance on Vietnam. Since, obviously, he isn't getting it for this:

He didn't contribute to the security or national interests of the U.S., you could make a slight argument for the whole "world peace" thing, but I'm not buying whatever you're selling, and Occam's Razor says Ali is getting it for "cultural or other significant endeavors."

So why all the hubub over his Vietnam stance. He's getting it for the same reason Jack Nicklaus is getting it.

Because a lot of people, especially back in the 70s/80s would feel that his actions around Vietnam disqualify him for the medal. After all, his Olympic gold was for sports too. But he still decided the overall politics of the time and what they stood for were a reason to throw it in the river. If that sports medal is linked to politics, so is this one.
west3man
11-10-2005, 08:06 PM
My grandpa must be spinning in his grave. To put it mildly, he didn't have any respect for him dodging the draft.
Sorry if you've already said, but... What do YOU think?
Valmore
11-10-2005, 08:31 PM
Because a lot of people, especially back in the 70s/80s would feel that his actions around Vietnam disqualify him for the medal. After all, his Olympic gold was for sports too. But he still decided the overall politics of the time and what they stood for were a reason to throw it in the river. If that sports medal is linked to politics, so is this one.

Except he's receiving it for being one of the greatest boxers to ever live. That's it. No politics about it. He's getting it for "floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee."

Jack Nicklaus is getting one for being one of the greatest golfers to ever live - at the same time! He never threw one of his Masters trophies into a river. Or refused to go in the draft. And he's getting one.

Much like Nikki said - it's really just a nice gesture without much behind it.

Ali is getting it for being one of the best boxers ever.