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> Muhammad Ali is something we won't allow public figures to be anymore. Being outspoken and standing up for his beliefs, against all repercussions, were his hi

by mevile 10y ago

> Muhammad Ali is something we won't allow public figures to be anymore. Being outspoken and standing up for his beliefs, against all repercussions, were his his greatest feat(s). What? You think current public figures are being prevented from being out spoken? Have you seen 50cent's twitter? Have you seen Donald Trump's? Lots of people are being out spoken, maybe more than I personally like, but whatever floats their boat.

GauntletWizard 10y ago
There's a big difference between Trump's blowhard populism and Muhammad Ali's firm, unpopular beliefs. Trump says things with no filter, with utter disregard for their meaning, consequence, or congruence with the last thing he said. I respect him for having the guts to be stream of consciousness and throwing out each thought, but he's not, in any of his campaign, stating policy, but just this thought process. Muhammad Ali had much to say. He was an outspoken civil rights supporter, anti draft activist, and convert to Islam, and a true believer in all those thoughts even when the majority of the country, even his fans, were against his positions. Hell, I'm against two of the three of those, and I still respect him enormously. He had a well spoken, eloquent, and coherent speaking style. He made you understand what his precepts were, how they shaped his philosophy, and he came to conclusions that you could respect. He wasn't simply outspoken, he was a good orator and a philosopher. There's a great interview with him in The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. Tom Wolfe is not his intended audience, but is utterly enthralled. He comes across as genuine, progressive (in a meaning of that word that is positive), and concerned with his fellow man (if intending to be insular in parts of his philosophy.) He's no saint, but one of the most genuine people in the stardom limelight.
- chillacy 10y ago
  On being drafted for Vietnam: > My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father... Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.
- mevile 10y ago
  I'm not comparing Muhammad Ali to these people. I'm refuting that public people aren't allowed to be outspoken. Muhammad Ali maybe had more meaningful things to say and said them well but lots of public people are outspoken on all kinds of things.
atom-morgan 10y ago
Then there's people like Brendan Eich and Joss Whedon.
typon 10y ago
People are talking about being firm in your beliefs and being outspoken about them, not being a troll on Twitter/Instagram (50 cent) or making purposefully incendiary comments (Trump)

by mevile 10y ago

GauntletWizard 10y ago

There's a big difference between Trump's blowhard populism and Muhammad Ali's firm, unpopular beliefs. Trump says things with no filter, with utter disregard for their meaning, consequence, or congruence with the last thing he said. I respect him for having the guts to be stream of consciousness and throwing out each thought, but he's not, in any of his campaign, stating policy, but just this thought process. Muhammad Ali had much to say. He was an outspoken civil rights supporter, anti draft activist, and convert to Islam, and a true believer in all those thoughts even when the majority of the country, even his fans, were against his positions. Hell, I'm against two of the three of those, and I still respect him enormously. He had a well spoken, eloquent, and coherent speaking style. He made you understand what his precepts were, how they shaped his philosophy, and he came to conclusions that you could respect. He wasn't simply outspoken, he was a good orator and a philosopher. There's a great interview with him in The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. Tom Wolfe is not his intended audience, but is utterly enthralled. He comes across as genuine, progressive (in a meaning of that word that is positive), and concerned with his fellow man (if intending to be insular in parts of his philosophy.) He's no saint, but one of the most genuine people in the stardom limelight.

chillacy 10y ago
On being drafted for Vietnam: > My conscience won't let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America. And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn't put no dogs on me, they didn't rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father... Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.
mevile 10y ago
I'm not comparing Muhammad Ali to these people. I'm refuting that public people aren't allowed to be outspoken. Muhammad Ali maybe had more meaningful things to say and said them well but lots of public people are outspoken on all kinds of things.

atom-morgan 10y ago

Then there's people like Brendan Eich and Joss Whedon.

typon 10y ago

People are talking about being firm in your beliefs and being outspoken about them, not being a troll on Twitter/Instagram (50 cent) or making purposefully incendiary comments (Trump)