by Robert Wilkinson
Today's the birthday of "the Greatest," and he really was.
The amazing human once known as "Cassius Clay," now known as the remarkable Muhammad Ali (January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016), was one of the greatest boxers in history. A true humanitarian, champion of human rights, and antiwar icon, he swapped a bit of his cognition to fund his charity for years, which has done immeasurable good for inner city kids. He is truly "the Greatest" even to this day.
Here are a few quotes from this very beautiful man:
”A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.”
”Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.”
”The man who has no imagination has no wings.”
”Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change.”
”To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich.”
”Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.”
”He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
”It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself.”
”It’s not bragging if you can back it up.”
”It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
”Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams – they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do – they all contain truths.”
”Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
”We have one life; it soon will be past; what we do for God is all that will last.”
When interviewed about his choice to go fight in Vietnam or face prison, he said this: "I'm not going to run away. I'm not going to burn any flags. I'm not going to Canada. I'm staying right here.
You want to send me to jail? Fine. I’ve been in jail for 400 years. I could be there for 4 or 5 more, but I’m not going to travel 10,000 miles to kill other poor people. If I want to die, I’ll die right here, fighting you if I need to. You’re my enemy, not the Chinese, not the Vietcong, not the Japanese. You’re my opponent when I want freedom. You’re my opponent when I want justice. You’re my opponent when I want equality.
You want me to fight for you? But you won’t even defend my rights or my religious beliefs right here in America. You won’t even stand up for me at home."
We'll close this birthday celebration with something I posted a while back, Nothing Is Impossible.
For the encore, he did an interview on The Dick Cavett Show on May 25, 1970. Here's Muhammad Ali's take on helping ghetto kids and his Vietnam War resistance.
We have two great additions! The first comes from Friend of the Site Dominick Carlucci, and is the 15 minute eulogy Billy Crystal gave "his big brother" at his funeral. This is astounding. Billy Crystal's Eulogy at Muhammad Ali's funeral.
In that he referenced this homage he did for him in 1979. For your enjoyment, Billy Crystal's Muhammad Ali tribute - 15 Rounds (1979)
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It’s also time to honor perpetual babe Betty White (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021), actress, comedienne, and all around likable person! Television pioneer, she's given us productions, laughs, and a lot of class over the past 80 years. With 8 Emmy awards, 3 Screen Actors Guild awards, 3 American Comedy awards and a Grammy, this iconic woman blazed the way and opened countless doors for women in the industry. So here's to you, Betty! To paraphrase what a Crone once taught me, "I trust you lived as long as you wanted, and never wanted as long as you lived." Thanks for doing your Dharma.
Copyright © 20245Robert Wilkinson
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