MUHAMMAD ALI AND WHO GETS TO BE US: "Friends of all political persuasions!"

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2016

Part 3—Lonnie Ali on the other:
Muhammad Ali's memorial service took place before the recent events in Orlando.

It took place before Candidate Trump's remarks about those events. It took place before our own liberal world's remarks about Candidate Trump.

We thought the service featured an array of remarkable speakers. We've already cited xx Shabazz and 19-year-old Natasha Mundkur. For today, we'll suggest you consider about Lonnie Ali, Muhammad Ali's widow.

Recent events have raised eternal questions. Who gets to be thought of as us? How should we respond to the impulse to regard others as different—as other?

Like Shabazz and Mundkur, Lonnie Ali spoke to that point. She said many things in her speech which became directly relevant just a few days later.

This statement came early on. For the text of the speech, click here:
ALI (6/10/16): Muhammad wants us to see the face of his religion, al-Islam, true Islam, as the face of love. It was his religion that caused him to turn away from war and violence. For his religion, he was prepared to sacrifice all that he had and all that he was to protect his soul and follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. So even in death, Muhammad has something to say.
We hadn't followed the events of Ali's later life. Perhaps for that reason, we were somewhat surprised by some of the other things Lonnie Ali said this day.

We were somewhat surprised by this. We're glad we tuned in to hear it:
ALI: Muhammad fell in love with the masses, and they fell in love with him. In the diversity of men and their faiths, Muhammad saw the presence of God. He was captivated by the work of the Dalai Lama. By Mother Teresa and church workers who gave their lives to protect the poor. When his mother died, he arranged for multiple faiths to be represented at her funeral. And he wanted the same for himself. We are especially grateful for the presence of the diverse faith leaders here today, and I would like to ask them to stand once more and be recognized.>
Up stood the dizzying array of faith leaders who had already spoken that day. When's the last time you saw a faith leader from the Onondaga Nation speaking his native language?

Many speakers, including Shabazz and Mundkur, stressed the embrace of the other this day. Lonnie Ali spoke directly to that point, in words which became more relevant as the weekend proceeded:
ALI: His passing and its meaning for our time should not be overlooked. As we face uncertainty in a world and divisions at home as to who we are as a people, Muhammad’s life provides useful guidance. Muhammad was not one to give up on the power of understanding, the boundless possibilities of love and the strength of our diversity. He counted among his friends people of all political persuasions, saw truth in all faiths and the nobility of all races as witnessed here today.
We'll return to one part of that statement. First, let's talk about so-called race.

We've long been amazed by the intellectual and ethical brilliance which emerged from black America in the face of our brutal racial history. We were amazed again last Friday as we pondered the moral sophistication which emerged from Jim Crow Louisville in the person of Muhammad Ali's wife.

Jim Crow emerged from a disastrous historical error—from the disastrous, erroneous claim that there were several kinds of people in this country, most specifically "black" and "white." We were struck by one part of Lonnie Ali's treatment of that error.

Early on, she described her late husband's childhood. For some people, mileage may differ from ours; those people aren't necessarily "wrong."

Having said that, we liked what she said in this early part of her speech:
ALI: It is only fitting that we gather in a city to which Muhammad always returned after his great triumphs. A city that has grown as Muhammad has grown. Muhammad never stopped loving Louisville, and we know that Louisville loves Muhammad. We cannot forget a Louisville police officer, Joe Elsby Martin, who embraced a young 12-year-old boy in distress when his bicycle was stolen. Joe Martin handed young Cassius Clay the keys to a future in boxing he could scarcely have imagined.

America must never forget that when a cop and an inner-city kid talk to each other, then miracles can happen.
Other things can happen too. That said, we were glad that Lonnie Ali stressed the hopeful this day.

Later, she expanded her treatment of that early experience. As she did, she reinforced an important old picture:
ALI: Even though surrounded by Jim Crow, he was born into a family with two parents that nurtured and encouraged him. He was placed on the path of his dreams by a white cop, and he had teachers who understood his dreams and wanted him to succeed. The Olympic gold medal came, and the world started to take notice.
As a child, her husband had been embraced by a white cop, she specifically said. She made a point of pointing this out, although, in one way, we'd say that her statement is wrong.

Was Joe Martin really white? Or is that part of an ancient error in vision and understanding? It all depends on how "identity" works, on where a person's "identity" comes from. On who gets seen as being different. On who gets to be us.

In the aftermath of Orlando, we're debating the question of who gets to be seen as us. We're discussing the ways some people may be seen or portrayed as the other.

According to Lonnie Ali, her late husband "wasn't one to give up on the strength of our diversity." Her late husband "counted among his friends people of all political persuasions," she said.

We liberals keep attacking Candidate Trump for the way he keeps creating the other. In our view, we're sometimes blunderbuss ourselves in the way we pursue this discussion.

It's certainly true that Candidate Trump can sometimes seem to create the other. For ourselves, we'll continue to ask a related question:

In what ways might we ourselves be engaged in similar conduct?

Tomorrow: "Conditioned response," the Times said

To watch Lonnie Ali's address: To watch Lonnie Ali's address, click here. She starts at 1:48:00.

20 comments:

  1. Interesting CNY connection with Ali, I did not know he had any contact with the Haudenosaunee.

    While not on topic, this article might be of interest to Bob and readers here. It is not on Ali, but, unfortunately in this case, has a Syracuse connection.

    http://www.syracuse.com/health/index.ssf/2016/06/lead.html

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  2. If MSNBC were to suddenly cover the NAEP Test Score progress of "black children" would they "care about black children" or would they be wrong in the same way as Lonnie Ali? Would they be part of an ancient error in vision and understanding?

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    Replies
    1. A: They should continue to ignore it. Corporatization serves us well.

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    2. I think you may have made a solid case for moving from the Gold Standard of Testing to the Bitcoin version.

      Delete
  3. John Amato over at Crooks and Liars has a piece up applauding Chris Matthews for exposing "Hugh Hewitt's Clinton Derangement Syndrome." Not once in the piece does he explain Matthews role in creating CDS. When will liberals wake up from the culture melting slumber?

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  4. Our investment in "identity" is indeed distressing.

    "In the aftermath of Orlando" you are not alone in thinking on this topic.

    The takes proliferate.

    One being widely recommended today was written by person who identifies herself as bisexual: She describes her grief at the crime and her need for community. But yet, she feels unsure: is her grief even legitimate? After all, she's not "really" "gay." She describes seeking the counsel of a friend who is gay. Her friend reassures her: Yes, your grief is 100% legitimate. After all, the friend notes, it's 100% sure there were bi people in the Pulse club that night also.

    Phew!

    Her people were targeted too, so she can feel grief without concern in "appropriating" the grief that clearly only legitimately belongs only to certain identities!

    That's where we are.

    If you think, "my grief is legitimate: those people were human beings, like me" you are erasing their identity.

    That's where we are.

    We're at that place where identity is the all-important only thing to matter.

    If you don't agree, check your privilege!

    We've arrived at that place where supposedly-progressive political thought actually finds itself in truest harmony not with "the people" but with Fortune500 HR Best Practices designed ostensibly to ensure meritocratic efficiency but which are transparently the tools of self-defense against lawsuit.


    The doors of the 0.1% are open to all: Any girl, boy, or other-gendered person of any race or creed is welcome to grow up to be a hedge-fund manager or Goldman CFO!

    Welcome to the machine.

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    Replies
    1. Onlooker is closing in on the subliminal push for pre and post Human harmonies to become one
      hinted at in the Howler.

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    2. You too have almost uncovered the truths promulgated by that great philosophical column which masqueraded as advice on the Features page called "Hints from Howlerese."

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  5. Something I saw at Uncle Drum's place you won't see repeated here:

    Trump's "proposals to proscribe a religion adhered to by a fifth of humanity, round up and deport 11 million people, muzzle the press, and commit war crimes are not subtle."

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    Replies
    1. For obvious reasons, you want to be careful comparing people to Hitler.

      But we've now crossed that bridge with Trump. He's not just a fascist. Nor a fan of McCarthyism. He's not a bully or a fraud or a demagogue. He's all those things, but he's crossed the line into something much more. It's not as if Trump is getting ready to set up an American version of Auschwitz or something, but his speech last night sure did sound eerily like something Hitler could have delivered circa 1933. And his statements since have been even more overtly Third Reichish, conjuring up cabals of treacherous elites who "know what's going on" but refuse to do anything to save America from the dangers surrounding her.

      Trump may be a toy Hitler, more swagger and bombast than genuine danger. But movements like his have a dynamic all their own, and they can spiral out of control fast given the right circumstances and the right person.

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    2. It's certainly true that Candidate Trump can sometimes seem to create the other.

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  6. The media is so bias its ridiculous at this point. This morning you've got the WashingtonPost.com saying that Trump claimed Obama had something to do with the shootings, which is absolutely not true. I'm not saying I support Trump, but when you've got websites soliciting poll votes against him (like http://trumpfeedback.com/) you really can't trust anything you read anymore. Its depressing.

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    Replies
    1. Media fell all over themselves criticizing what DonaldTrump "may have insinuated about @POTUS." But he's right.

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  7. After the "Who Gets to Be Us" series I would like something on "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner in Journalist County."

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  8. Almost as bad as our Intellectual Culture Collapsing!

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-strikes-apocalyptic-tone-atlanta-rally

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  9. My life became devastated when my husband sent me packing, after 8 years that we have been together. I was lost and helpless after trying so many ways to make my husband take me back. One day at work, i was absent minded not knowing that my boss was calling me, so he sat and asked me what its was all about i told him and he smiled and said that it was not a problem. I never understand what he meant by it wasn't a problem getting my husband back, he said he used a spell to get his wife back when she left him for another man and now they are together till date and at first i was shocked hearing such thing from my boss. He gave me an email address of the great spell caster who helped him get his wife back, i never believed this would work but i had no choice that to get in contact with the spell caster which i did, and he requested for my information and that of my husband to enable him cast the spell and i sent him the details, but after two days, my mom called me that my husband came pleading that he wants me back, i never believed it because it was just like a dream and i had to rush down to my mothers place and to my greatest surprise, my husband was kneeling before me pleading for forgiveness that he wants me and the kid back home, then i gave Happy a call regarding sudden change of my husband and he made it clear to me that my husband will love me till the end of the world, that he will never leave my sight. Now me and my husband is back together again and has started doing pleasant things he hasn't done before, he makes me happy and do what he is suppose to do as a man without nagging. Please if you need help of any kind, kindly contact Happy for help and you can reach him via email: happylovespell2@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi everyone, fix your broken relationship and marriage right now no matter how hopeless your situation seems!! I am so excited sharing my testimony with everyone here about how i saved my marriage and got my husband back after a divorce..I am Natasha Hayes and i live in Los Angeles, CA. I'm a happily married to a lovely and caring husband ,with two kids.A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce.he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{Unityspelltemple@gmail.com}. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past{7}months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our marriage was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster Dr Unity. So, i will advice you out there, if you have any problem contact Dr Unity and i guarantee you that he will help you and you will be the next to share your testimony to every one in the world!!. Email him at: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com or call him on: +2348072370762.

    ReplyDelete

  11. Am here to testify what this great spell caster done for me. i never believe in spell casting, until when i was was tempted to try it. i and my husband have been having a lot of problem living together, he will always not make me happy because he have fallen in love with another lady outside our relationship, i tried my best to make sure that my husband leave this woman but the more i talk to him the more he makes me fell sad, so my marriage is now leading to divorce because he no longer gives me attention. so with all this pain and agony, i decided to contact this spell caster to see if things can work out between me and my husband again. this spell caster who was a woman told me that my husband is really under a great spell that he have been charm by some magic, so she told me that she was going to make all things normal back. she did the spell on my husband and after 5 days my husband changed completely he even apologize with the way he treated me that he was not him self, i really thank this woman her name is Dr Aluta she have bring back my husband back to me i want you all to contact her who are having any problem related to marriage issue and relationship problem she will solve it for you. her email is traditionalspellhospital@gmail.com she is a woman and she is great. wish you good time.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi everyone,fix your broken relationship and marriage right now no matter how hopeless your situation seems!! I am so excited sharing my testimony with everyone here about how i saved my marriage and got my husband back after a divorce. I am Natasha Hayes by name and I'm a happily married to a lovely and caring husband ,with two kids.A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my husband .so terrible that he took the case to court for a divorce.he said that he never wanted to stay with me again,and that he didn't love me anymore.So he packed out of the house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get him back,after much begging,but all to no avail.and he confirmed it that he has made his decision,and he never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my husband .So i explained every thing to him,so he told me that the only way i can get my husband back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for him too.So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow his advice. Then he gave me the email address of the spell caster whom he visited.{Unityspelltemple@gmail.com}. So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address he gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my husband back the next day.What an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my husband who didn't call me for the past{7}months,gave me a call to inform me that he was coming back.So Amazing!! So that was how he came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and he apologized for his mistake,and for the pain he caused me and my children. Then from that day,our marriage was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster Dr Unity. So, i will advice you out there, if you have any problem contact Dr Unity and i guarantee you that he will help you and you will be the next to share your testimony to every one in the world!!. Email him at: Unityspelltemple@gmail.com or call him on: +2348072370762.

    ReplyDelete
  13. HOW TO SAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP
    THANKS TO GREAT DR GOODLUCK FOR SOLVING MY PROBLEMS my name is Mandy Divanna from uK, i was married to my husband for 5 years we were living happily together for this years and not until he traveled to Italy for a business trip where he met this girl and since then he hate me and the kids and love her only. so when my husband came back from the trip he said he does not want to see me and my kids again so he drove us out of the house and he was now going to Italy to see that other woman. so i and my kids were now so frustrated and i was just staying with my mum and i was not be treating good because my mother got married to another man after my father death so the man she got married to was not treating her well, i and my kids where so confuse and i was searching for a way to get my husband back home because i love and cherish him so much so one day as i was browsing on my computer i saw a testimony about this spell caster DR GOODLUCK testimonies shared on the internet by a lady and it impress me so much i also think of give it a try. At first i was scared but when i think of what me and my kids are passing through so i contact him and he told me to stay calm for just 24 hours that my husband shall come back to me and to my best surprise i received a call from my husband on the second day asking after the kids and i called Dr GOODLUCK and he said your problems are solved my child. so this was how i get my family back after a long stress of brake up by an evil lady so with all this help from DR GOODLUK, i want you all on this forum to join me to say a huge thanks to DR GOODLUCK and i will also advice for any one in such or similar problems or any kind of problems should also contact him his email is goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com he is the solution to all your problems and predicaments in life. once again his email address is goodluck05spellcaster@gmail.com

    http://goodluck05spellcaster.yolasite.com

    ReplyDelete