The Greatest

[howard]

This one is the reason my father didn't like Ali.

And a million other fathers of folks our age. I don't remember if the braggadocio or the Nation of Islam was reason#2 for hating him, but refusing induction was definitely reason #1. He did come around, eventually.

[howard]

Bill Clinton delivering a eulogy at Ali's funeral is one of the most offensive things I have ever experienced. On many levels. Just brutally evil and awful. He will probably make a terrific speech, which is completely beside the point. I will be filled with anger over this for a very long time. But, that's America.

[Shirley]

Bill Clinton delivering a eulogy at Ali's funeral is one of the most offensive things I have ever experienced. On many levels. Just brutally evil and awful. He will probably make a terrific speech, which is completely beside the point. I will be filled with anger over this for a very long time. But, that's America.

Surely Jesse's going to show up and say something, right?

[Pruitt]

Bill Clinton delivering a eulogy at Ali's funeral is one of the most offensive things I have ever experienced. On many levels. Just brutally evil and awful. He will probably make a terrific speech, which is completely beside the point. I will be filled with anger over this for a very long time. But, that's America.

Will President Bush be there too?

[howard]

Will President Bush be there too?

Is his wife running for office?

[Rex]

would you be this pissed if Ivanka Trump was speaking?

[howard]

No. That is but one of many dimensions of the wrong of this.

[A_B]

I'd really like to know why it pisses you off that much. Im not saying you shouldn't be, that's up to you, but I guess I don't see the glaring reason for the vitriol.

[howard]

Real real short answer.

~Clinton is doing this as a campaign event for his wife.
~Clinton represents the establishment. Ali fought the established order, which is the main reason he is so beloved.
~Clinton dodged the draft with zero negative personal ramifications. Ali resisted the draft in an honest direct manner, and it cost him hugely. He was prepared to bear even greater costs.
~Clinton and his wife have this completely phony and false image as being advocates for black people, when their actions in government have harmed black people in this country tremendously. This appearance further feeds this horrible lie.
~Clinton is one of the biggest liars, Ali was as honest as you get.
~Clinton and wife are warmongers, while Ali was a man of peace.
~let me turn the mike over to someone who is much better at this:

During the lifetime of great revolutionaries, the oppressing classes have visited relentless persecution on them and received their teaching with the most savage hostility, the most furious hatred, the most ruthless campaign of lies and slanders. After their death, attempts are made to turn them into harmless icons, canonize them, and surround their names with a certain halo for the "consolation" of the oppressed classes and with the object of duping them, while at the same time emasculating and vulgarizing the real essence of their revolutionary theories and blunting their revolutionary edge.
~Lenin, State and Revolution, Chap.1. - 1917

[A_B]

I got you. I assumed the first point, but your others certainly make the point clear. Thanks!

[degenerasian]

Real real short answer.

~Clinton is doing this as a campaign event for his wife.
~Clinton represents the establishment. Ali fought the established order, which is the main reason he is so beloved.
~Clinton dodged the draft with zero negative personal ramifications. Ali resisted the draft in an honest direct manner, and it cost him hugely. He was prepared to bear even greater costs.
~Clinton and his wife have this completely phony and false image as being advocates for black people, when their actions in government have harmed black people in this country tremendously. This appearance further feeds this horrible lie.
~Clinton is one of the biggest liars, Ali was as honest as you get.
~Clinton and wife are warmongers, while Ali was a man of peace.
~let me turn the mike over to someone who is much better at this:

During the lifetime of great revolutionaries, the oppressing classes have visited relentless persecution on them and received their teaching with the most savage hostility, the most furious hatred, the most ruthless campaign of lies and slanders. After their death, attempts are made to turn them into harmless icons, canonize them, and surround their names with a certain halo for the "consolation" of the oppressed classes and with the object of duping them, while at the same time emasculating and vulgarizing the real essence of their revolutionary theories and blunting their revolutionary edge.
~Lenin, State and Revolution, Chap.1. - 1917

I totally agree. I talked to my dad on the weekend and he does understand what Ali was doing and what he was fighting for. Ali is NOT a draft dodger, he stood up and refused to go to war accepting the consequences. Of course the commies propaganda'd the shit of it but that's another story. Having Clinton the draft dodger speak at the memorial taints everything. Why isn't Dubya speaking? He's the one that gave Ali the Medal of Freedom.

[howard]

[EnochRoot]

Real real short answer.

~Clinton is doing this as a campaign event for his wife.
~Clinton represents the establishment. Ali fought the established order, which is the main reason he is so beloved.
~Clinton dodged the draft with zero negative personal ramifications. Ali resisted the draft in an honest direct manner, and it cost him hugely. He was prepared to bear even greater costs.
~Clinton and his wife have this completely phony and false image as being advocates for black people, when their actions in government have harmed black people in this country tremendously. This appearance further feeds this horrible lie.
~Clinton is one of the biggest liars, Ali was as honest as you get.
~Clinton and wife are warmongers, while Ali was a man of peace.
~let me turn the mike over to someone who is much better at this:

Bolded, for emphasis. You nailed it.

[Pruitt]

I initially thought that Howard was being a bit harsh on Clinton (Bill).

Thinking that having a former President there really underscores how far Ali came in his personal journey - from pariah to beloved.

But his argument is totally convincing.

Perhaps Obama would have been more fitting?

[Shirley]

Yeah, in fairness, whether he liked it or not (I think he did), Ali had been part of the establishment for the past 3-4 decades.

[Pruitt]

Yeah, the hell with Clinton, the hell with Will Smith, the hell with the cute and cuddly Muhammad Ali.

This is a master at work.

[A_B]

Ali and smith got along well I thought.