Bernie Sanders praises Muhammad Ali’s "incredibly courageous" opposition to the Vietnam War

[Cheese Sandwich]

LOS ANGELES — Bernie Sanders on Saturday called Muhammad Ali not only a sports icon, but a “man of conviction and enormous courage” for his refusal to be inducted into the military during the Vietnam War.

“Clearly, Ali was one of the great heavyweight champs of all time, a beautiful boxer and a great athlete,” Sanders said at a news conference. “But the reason that Ali struck a chord in the hearts of so many Americans was not just his great boxing skill. It was his incredible courage. At a time when it was not popular to do so, Ali stood up and said, ‘I am opposed to the war in Vietnam, and I’m not going to fight in that war.’ ”

Ali, who died Friday night in Scottsdale, Ariz., famously refused to be drafted in April 1967. Months later, he was convicted of draft evasion and was temporarily banned from boxing.
...

“That incredibly courageous decision cost him three and a half years of his prime fighting life and cost him, probably, tens and tens of millions of dollars,” Sanders said. “... But he chose to stand by his ideals, his views.”

The senator from Vermont went on to say that Ali’s Muslim faith was central to the boxer’s life — and a part of the Ali story that should be highlighted “at a time when we are seeing a growth in Islamophobia.”
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/04/bernie-sanders-praises-muhammad-alis-incredibly-courageous-opposition-to-the-vietnam-war/

[yourpaljoey]

1. O Yeah!

[libdem4life]

2. Wow. I had forgotten about that. He was indeed a True Champ.

[Cheese Sandwich]

10. He's a real hero I would say.

Hell of a guy.

[B Calm]

3. I agree too and I'm a Vietnam vet. He gave up his heavyweight title for three and half years

for his beliefs that the war was wrong. Guess what, he was right!

[EndElectoral]

4. Had it not been for a unanimous Supreme Court decision he'd have been jailed. Different times.

[Orsino]

5. The Goldwater years have gotten a little hazy.

http://www.cc.com/video-clips/64g1bi/drunk-history-muhammad-ali-refuses-to-go-to-war

[beachbum bob]

6. at least Ali used religious convictions to go for Conscienscous objecter...not...I just don't want

to go to war...like sanders tried

[virtualobserver]

8. he should have used deception like Bill Clinton

[Broward]

9. At least Bernie didn't vote for that bullshit war in Iraq

unlike some other morally bankrupt politicians.

[JackRiddler]

7. What's Clinton got to say on this sad occasion?

Surely there's a press release?