Muhammad Ali is right up there with other American heroes such as Rosa Parks: His willingness to endure a prison sentence rather than participate in an insane war. In his words: “I got nuthin’ against no Viet Cong.” Or, also his own words but more eloquently put: “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No, I am not going ten thousand miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would put my prestige in jeopardy and could cause me to lose millions of dollars which should accrue to me as the champion. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is right here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality… If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to twenty-two million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. But I either have to obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years.”
Excellent view and what a great subject for letter "A"!
ReplyDeleteMuhammad Ali is right up there with other American heroes such as Rosa Parks: His willingness to endure a prison sentence rather than participate in an insane war. In his words: “I got nuthin’ against no Viet Cong.” Or, also his own words but more eloquently put: “Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go ten thousand miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No, I am not going ten thousand miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would put my prestige in jeopardy and could cause me to lose millions of dollars which should accrue to me as the champion. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is right here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality… If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to twenty-two million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. But I either have to obey the laws of the land or the laws of Allah. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail. We’ve been in jail for four hundred years.”
ReplyDeleteYes. A true hero.
I love the aerial perspective in the mural.
Wow! A fantastic artwork.
ReplyDeleteAlthough i do not have anything with sports nore sportsmen/women ... this artwork is great
ReplyDeleteHave a nice abc-day / week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)
Wonderful mural of Ali!
ReplyDeleteLove your header, and wonderful art work.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for the letter A!
ReplyDeleteExcellent capture!
ReplyDeleteVery cool mural!
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
Hint: I used Ali for a FUTURE post!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
The large size is matched by Ali's stature and place in sports history. Fabulous. Thanks for contributing to this week's Monday Mural.
ReplyDeletenice art work!
ReplyDelete