I'm an atheist but I have enormous respect for what Ali's family did at this memorial.

[nolabear]

Astounding number of religions brought together and declaring how they are the same, how we are the same. I'm actually tearful that this is being done in the middle of so much useless vitriol. I may not believe, but I know it's an attempt to understand this crazy thing we are and are in the midst of, and I feel great joy.

Peace be with you. And with Ali, at last.

[blm]

1. Same here.

.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Beautifully said, dear nolabear...

[malaise]

3. Same here but remember

he planned this himself - they executed his plans - it is wonderful

[nolabear]

4. I wasn't sure how much he did but it was clearly in his spirit.

What a great example for those of us who get our backs up and want to be all absolute about things.

[niyad]

20. according to something I read last week, he planned everything for his memorial.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. Respect...beautiful emotion, beautifully expressed.

[wryter2000]

6. Thank you

We are the same, atheist and believer.

[nolabear]

7. As one of my psychoanalytic heroes said:

"We are all simply more human than otherwise." ~Harry Stack Sullivan

[Eleanors38]

10. Wise comment. ^^^

[SouthernDemLinda]

24. “Atheism is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.” ― Penn Jillette

When someone starts their diatribe with I'm an atheist but......Yes, the Ali funeral honored religions but not being atheist. There were no atheists mentioned in terms of respect, they are the most hated people in America today, and if you were going to put on a demonstration of intolerance toward those with different ideas or beliefs leaving them out was just the thing to do. Nobody mentioned “Religion Flies Planes Into Buildings” either.

Excerpt:

If you say "I believe there's an all-powerful force of love in the universe that connects us all, and I have no evidence of that but I believe it in my heart," It's perfectly okay to believe in your heart that you need to fly planes into buildings for Allah.”

― Penn Jillette

[wryter2000]

25. Way to dump on a thread

But, hey...if that's your thing.

[Trajan]

26. Excellent retort ...

That is now my go-to response ...

[juxtaposed]

8. can you post a link?

[nolabear]

9. I'm watching on CNN.

http://go.cnn.com/?stream=cnn

[juxtaposed]

11. Thanks!

[uponit7771]

12. The Native Americans had a story of how Ali marched WITH them, he touched so many people

[mountain grammy]

13. Yes, agree. Beautiful service.

[jtuck004]

14. Ali didn't have to wait for death to have peace. He told the truth in the first place. n/t

[nolabear]

16. Yes. What a peaceful thing to be true to one's self.

No matter what your truth is, honesty and peace with that truth is the best of us.

[rurallib]

15. Class to the end

[panader0]

17. I've been watching--and getting choked up....

[Ellen Forradalom]

18. Ali asserted his full personhood and citizenship

Which permit him to accept it in others. Rest in peace and in power.

[nolabear]

19. I've shed some real tears through genuine laughter today. I thank him and everyone for that.

[gademocrat7]

21. Very moving.

Peace to you, nolabear.

[YvonneCa]

22. I agree. We teachers...

...would call this a 'teachable moment.'

Ali's life is a model for responsible, empathetic citizenship. His memorial service was a testimony to the example he set in his life.
My condolences to his family and his many friends around the world.

[Quantess]

23. I admire the man.

I'm not religious, either, and I'm willing to look past his seemingly one idiotic quality, his adherence to a bearded papa in the sky.
Muhammed Ali said many inspirational things, and was a natural motivational influence. Rest In Peace, Mohammed Ali