Ali moved from voicing some of Elijah Mohammed's 'white Devils' demagogy in 1964 to later saying: "Hating people because of their colour is wrong. And it doesn't matter which colour does the hating. It's just plain wrong."

Some voicing....that's an understatement.

Nice to see that the left are so accepting on racism.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Not accepting racism. Just pointing out that he changed his views. We all change our outlook and ideas as we get older.
Are you saying he shouldn't be forgiven even though he saw the error of his ways? From the quote I posted it seemed that Ali did.

I certainly agree that there is a disparity between how racism from black people and white is viewed.
I do not accept that there is any difference but I do recognise that if you are born into a segregated society where you on the bottom, it is hardly surprising that you will be resentful or even militant. Equally it is very easy to blame the white man for everything when you should sometimes look closer to home.

With Ali, as i have said, all the evidence points to a softening of attitude and an ultimate rejection of separatism. One has to remember that we are talking about a man who had little education, was born into segregation and was then used and influenced by Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad after he found fame.
Bearing that in mind and weighing it up against all the positives of his life, it is really down to the individual to judge him if they feel qualified to do so.
Personally, I do not feel qualified but can only say that my life has been enriched by his existence.

Edited by Hrolf The Ganger (06 Jun 2016 11.21am)

RIP Muhammed. The greatest.

As for Sterlingsays stance, here is a quote from him on 23.5,13.

"Great response.
To cite Churchill in terms used on here is not only insulting but in my view it shows those individuals up as complete wastes of space.

Who are they? Churchill is considered by the majority to be a great man, what have they done?

Citing difficult decisions made in war and statements made from a different era are pathetic."

Take note of the last sentence, re. statements from a different era.
Churchill is known to have uttered quite a few racist remarks in his time.

Edited by lankygit (06 Jun 2016 1.11pm)

Edited by lankygit (06 Jun 2016 1.12pm)

Is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour? [Link]

Hulk Hogan didn't grow up in 1940s Kentucky during segregation. Hulk Hogan wasn't refused service in a restaurant AFTER he had won a gold medal for his country ffs.

Some people are f*cking thick when it comes to this sort of thing.