Ali - Esquire cover April 1968

[underpants]

“Showing Muhammad Ali As a Martyr for Refusing to Fight in a Bad War”

After converting to Islam, Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into military service (based on religious grounds). Subsequently a federal jury had sentenced him to jail for draft evasion. He was stripped of his heavyweight title and prohibited to fight by the boxing commissions.

The public viewed Ali as draft dodger and a traitor.

In this iconic cover, Lois posed Ali as St. Sebastian, a Roman solider who survived execution from arrows by converting to Christianity.

[saltpoint]

1. The confluence of art, history, politics,

religious icons, and acute social conflict is a powerful place.

I have a copy of this from those long ago times.

As powerful as it gets in the Western media.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. He's still being crucified by some even today...you don't want to know what

kind of filthy smack they're talking about him over at Jim Rob's place. Despicable.

[Hoyt]

3. That's what I liked most about him -- he stood up to the racist yahoos in this country.

[roamer65]

5. ..but of course no mention of Darth Cheney or that nutbag Nugent I bet. N/t

[BuelahWitch]

8. Or their fav racist draft dodger, Donnie Boy Trump

[hlthe2b]

4. "The public viewed Ali as draft dodger and a traitor. "-- well, the RW certainly did AND

Have learned NOTHING in the nearly five decades since.

[underpants]

9. Ironic now. "Based on religious grounds" is applied to everything from birth control to wedding cakes

because now THEY have actually convinced themselves that they are victims .....or, more aptly, wannabe martyrs.

[turbinetree]

6. Fanatic sports site-------and I donated----and I know some draft dodgers----so what------------

"For many years I have dreamed of creating a place to share, teach and inspire people to be their best and to pursue their dreams.”
–Muhammad Ali

A Champion of the World:

56 wins / 37 KO's

1960 Gold Medalist

United Nations / Messenger of Peace

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Sports Illustrated / Sportsman of the Century

[napkinz]

7. wow, powerful!

K&R!