Marciano on Alis refusal to go to war. Full Letter.

Couldn't read the article (or whatever it was) coz it not coming up (just one of those squares with a red X in it?? (what the hell are they anyway??) But Fact is America has a horrendous war crimes history - they start illegal wars left right and centre - Ali took a stand and refused to go along with it come what may and good for him - he was used and abused by the black muslims no question but he was right not to go to vietnam and so was everyone else who refused - 9/11 was an inside job - no one wants to admit it - and America and Britain have been involved in illegal conflicts ever since - there's a million and one illegal things that America has done - anyone who takes a stand against this sort of things gets big big props from me

peace

 

Very true. So many simply could n't believe that a young man like Ali would go against the Status Quo.

 

Anybody care to explain to me why on gods green earth Ali should be fighting wars in foreign lands, killing civilians and oppresing people just becasue their goverment has differing political views to America's?

Ali wasn't the sharpest tool in the box at times but it seems that Rock and Joe were even blunter.

****ing nationalistic ball****.

 

Ali would be a great troll.

Tunney would be a dark horse too. He had a way with words.

 

Well, "the group" is just made up of individuals just like Ali too.
And there's little doubt that Ali recruited others, and his involvement with the NOI was long-standing, not some brief flirtation.

Like I said, it's a distinction mothers make about their sons. "The group" misled the individual.

Maybe that's how it is, but the same can be said of 99.9% of people at least. Very few of us are absolute free-thinkers, we get our ideas from somewhere, align ourselves with certain faiths and positions ; political, moral or otherwise.

There's just as much reason to "excuse" Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano for their views. There's more reason to view the US govt. and mainstream society of duping and brainwashing people.
But I think we should give GROWN ADULTS the credit of at least choosing which propaganda they allow themselves to follow.

Ali's political or religious beliefs and his beliefs on conscription were as valid as the next man's. His arguments for not going to war were, in my opinion, more sophisticated than most of those that publicly opposed him. And as it was him who faced the consequences, we should give him credit enough to have thought it through a bit.

Why do people feel a need to "excuse" him ? He took his stance, and explained his case. And that's that. You can agree or disagree with him, or hold a neutral or indifferent opinion on it.
But it sounds silly to say, "Oh, he didn't know what he was doing - "THEY" made him say it"
That's treating the MAN like a ****** or a child. In my opinion anyway.

 

absolutely.

agree totally.

sometimes it's just interesting to analyse the sociological reasons behind decisions.

 

It's really just a generation gap between the 3 men. That's more of what it defines politically, as far as I'm concerned. I respected Ali for what he did (I thought it was right). Doesn't mean I didn't respect Rocky and Louis for there's. I know they honestly believe they're right, and I can understand why.

 

Exactly

 

That's fair enough.

 

Great post. Seems like Marciano and Louis were just a victim of their time. Its easy for us to say that Ali did the right thing, after the schools today teach that the war was wrong. But in those days the views were so much different, giving Ali even more credit for standing up for his beliefs, and giving even more sympathy for people in those days stating certain views.

I like how Rocky goes out of his way to give the other side of the story, barring the quip at the end. I respect that a lot.


I really hate the "You should fight for your country because its your country!" mentality. No. Because thats how Nazis were convinced to exterminate the Jews. If im fighting in a war, I want to know why, and I will assess myself how just it is. WW1 and 2, there was damn sure a reason to fight. Vietnam? Nope. Add that to the fact that Ali's skin color deemed him a second class citizen in the same country asking him to go, nope X2.

 

ali held this strong view of america after he won the gold medal in 1960 (being refused to eat) - this was before he even knew about the black muslims and a reason why he wanted to join them. but i suppose it's easier to blame it on the muslims and ali being their puppet.

 

exactly. the nation of islam issue and the war issue are distinct in many important ways.

 

"Gracias",
4 posting m8 .
gud read .
Rocky and Joe were ,
both classic , old skool ,
they did not appreciate Ali's antics , it sounds .
Netiehr did i , at 1 time .

 

Just wanted to comment on how nice it is to read some good, intelligent posts on a topic that can be so controversal. Nice post of the letter itself and quality comments by y'all.