He's Still A Draft Dodger
Great fighter but the fact still remains, the bastard turned his back on his country when it called him for service. I don't care that he was "the greatest of all time" in the ring, he was called and he didn't answer.
Today I read through the names of every Marine killed in Iraq and guess what, they were ALL volunteers to go and gave the ultimate sacrifice. So I find it a little hard to take to read this:
Honoring Ali
Bush awards icon the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Even in the article, it explains:
Ali, as a conscientious objector, refused to serve and went to jail for avoiding the draft.
He wouldn't of even been in danger, being hustled around on USO tours to boost morale for the real fighters.
When I was in Saudi Arabia, Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns came out and talked to us. Just him showing up to the desolate piece of shit camp we lived in did wonders for men and women spending months on end away from home in a war zone.
So don't put a medal around his neck. To me, he's in the same league as Jane Fonda and should be treated as such. If you want to hand out medals, seek out the men and women who don't even have to be ASKED to serve their country.
Meanwhile, go ahead and keep reaping the benefits of living in this great country while real heroes walk the line, Mr. Ali. I'm sure your safety and livlihood are much more imporatnt than those schmucks living day to day over in Iraq.
Today I read through the names of every Marine killed in Iraq and guess what, they were ALL volunteers to go and gave the ultimate sacrifice. So I find it a little hard to take to read this:
Honoring Ali
Bush awards icon the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Even in the article, it explains:
Ali, as a conscientious objector, refused to serve and went to jail for avoiding the draft.
He wouldn't of even been in danger, being hustled around on USO tours to boost morale for the real fighters.
When I was in Saudi Arabia, Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns came out and talked to us. Just him showing up to the desolate piece of shit camp we lived in did wonders for men and women spending months on end away from home in a war zone.
So don't put a medal around his neck. To me, he's in the same league as Jane Fonda and should be treated as such. If you want to hand out medals, seek out the men and women who don't even have to be ASKED to serve their country.
Meanwhile, go ahead and keep reaping the benefits of living in this great country while real heroes walk the line, Mr. Ali. I'm sure your safety and livlihood are much more imporatnt than those schmucks living day to day over in Iraq.
14 Comments:
At 8:16 PM, Cathy said…
Off topic, but wanted to wish the Marine Corp a happy birthday (eve) and thank you for your service.
At 9:30 PM, Anonymous said…
Just a comment regarding Ali-- He won the Gold medal for his country in the 1960 Olympic games. Upon returning to the United States he attempted to have a meal in a diner in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. They refused to serve him because "nigers" weren't allowed in the diner.
Have you ever won a gold medal for your country? Ever been asked to sit at the back of the bus because of your skin color? I'm not excusing his actions-- but let's look at the big picture Marine. Let's walk a mile in another's shoes before we get self-rightous and lump them in with someone like Fonda. Maybe he had reason to be disgruntled. Nice pics of P.I. by the way.
At 7:00 AM, Anonymous said…
Anonymous,
Yes, there was some racial everything going on, I will admit to that, so I will even admit to the idea that Ali might have had problem serving because of it. However you might want to take just second to think that a poor kid of hispanic ancestory who had to work his way up from Private to Captain, just might have experienced some sort of racial bigotry along the line, and he didn't shirk his duty. He didn't refuse to serve, he didn't try to find some soft stateside job in order to avoid deploying to a war.
Ali trained hard and won a gold, allowing the training to consume his life in order to win that gold, then he was refused service based on his skin color. There are others who trained hard, allowed their training to consume their lives, and never got to come back to be refused service.
I know others who came back after doing their duty, and were spit upon. I think being spit upon for doing my duty and serving would be much more humilating and frustrating than not being allowed to eat in a diner that was (you pick the color) Only.
Ali may not desirve to be lumped with Fonda, (although I think he does)but I personally don't feel he rates a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
At 7:04 AM, Anonymous said…
One more thing, this medal looks gold to me:
http://www.americal.org/awards/swasm.htm
At 7:59 AM, Anonymous said…
Hmmm, same could be said for the moronic chump awarding Ali's medal.
At 10:01 AM, a.maria said…
i'm with jennifer on this one!
At 1:58 PM, Viper said…
Cathy: thanks for the happy birthday. Funny, I don't feel a day over 229.
Any mouse: I'll let Ray's comments speak for me. Thanks Ray.
Jennifer: is this my beautiful liberal cousin?
a.maria: I expect such sentiments from an illustrated lady.
At 6:17 AM, Mike said…
Ali was a fraud. He was named after his father who was named after a great man, Cassius Marcellus Clay, who was an staunch abolitionist. Ali then joined a racist organization and took the name Muhammad. Self contradiction number 1. Here's the biggie,self contradiction wise, he couldn't fight for his country because his religion says he cannot commit acts of violence, but he can beat people into brain unconsciousness for a living. Wow! what kind of mental gymnastics does it take to justify this?
At 4:24 PM, Anonymous said…
Yes, it's your cousin. And yes I am a staunch liberal although I know the right (or as I like to call them "evil doers") consider liberal a four letter word. I always had a dirty mouth.
I am a New Yorker after all....
At 9:32 AM, DragonLady said…
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll, who likely could have bought his way out, managed to serve when he was called.
Yep, gotta agree with you Viper, and Ray.
At 11:01 AM, Viper said…
Uh, Jen, you're from Ark City. (tee hee)
Dragonlady: thanks for the supporting fires.
At 9:31 PM, Anonymous said…
So are you.....(BURN!)
At 4:36 AM, Viper said…
Yeah, but I was only born there, my parents actually lived in Ponca City at the time, and we moved when I was toddler.
You, my dear, have it seeped into your bones. South Summit, the train park, and the Green Door.
Embrace your heritage and getter dun!
At 8:34 PM, Anonymous said…
Okay, so New Yorker by way of Kansas. I try to down play that since the dickwad who is at the center of this "intelligent design" nonsense is from AC. I have paid taxes in NY for five years so I am a true New Yorker now. And just to be clear...I have always had the attitude and political views of this fine, fine Blue State metropolitan area. Muy thanks to Mom and Dad.
We'll always have ties to AC. Arkalalah and all...
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