Question
1. When Muhammad Ali died on June 4, 2016, he was widely seen as truly great. Ali was the onetime heavyweight boxing champion of the world. He had carried the Olympic torch at the 1996 Summer Games. He had been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest nonmilitary honor.
2. Fifty years earlier, however, Americans were far more divided in their opinions of Ali. A follower of the Nation of Islam, Ali had changed his name from Cassius Clay and had spoken out strongly against the Vietnam War. Many Americans saw him as unpatriotic. This was particularly true of white Americans, including some very important ones.
3. For Ali, the war was racist. Why, he asked, should he "drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” Ali had vowed not to serve, on religious grounds.
4. Ali however, was called to join the US Army and possibly fight in Vietnam. He headed down to the draft center in Chicago.
5. Ali arrived at the draft center. His position on the war was well known. A large group had gathered. Some supported his anti war position, while others mocked him for being un-american and not supporting his country by not joining. He turned down to sign his draft papers when called.
6. When Ali got back to his hotel room, he switched on the radio. The news he heard was bad. The New York Boxing Commission had taken away his license. Muhammad Ali, at the height of his brilliant career, was finished as a fighter. Ali was convicted of "willful refusal to submit to induction into the armed forces." He was sentenced to five years in prison.
7. In the spring of 1971, Ali's case went to the Supreme Court. The case dragged on for months. In the end, though, Ali won. On June 28, 1971, the court ruled that Grauman's findings that Ali had sincere religious objections to fighting should not have been ignored.
8. Instead, Ali should have been given conscientious objector status. It was "wrong" to have determined that Ali's "beliefs were not religiously based and were not sincerely held," the court said. In other words, Ali never should have been drafted at all.
9. After this victory, Ali was able to restart his boxing career. However, the four years he had spent away from the ring had changed him. He was no longer as fast on his feet, and he could no longer dance away from punches. To win fights, he now had to take a huge number of blows and simply tire out his opponents.
10. Ali still had an awe-inspiring string of victories. However, those victories came at a terrible price. The repeated blows to the head that Ali took led to Parkinson's disease. Sadly, over time, the disease left him barely able to speak or walk.
How did the vietnam war change Muhammad ali's life and career
2. Fifty years earlier, however, Americans were far more divided in their opinions of Ali. A follower of the Nation of Islam, Ali had changed his name from Cassius Clay and had spoken out strongly against the Vietnam War. Many Americans saw him as unpatriotic. This was particularly true of white Americans, including some very important ones.
3. For Ali, the war was racist. Why, he asked, should he "drop bombs and bullets on brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights?” Ali had vowed not to serve, on religious grounds.
4. Ali however, was called to join the US Army and possibly fight in Vietnam. He headed down to the draft center in Chicago.
5. Ali arrived at the draft center. His position on the war was well known. A large group had gathered. Some supported his anti war position, while others mocked him for being un-american and not supporting his country by not joining. He turned down to sign his draft papers when called.
6. When Ali got back to his hotel room, he switched on the radio. The news he heard was bad. The New York Boxing Commission had taken away his license. Muhammad Ali, at the height of his brilliant career, was finished as a fighter. Ali was convicted of "willful refusal to submit to induction into the armed forces." He was sentenced to five years in prison.
7. In the spring of 1971, Ali's case went to the Supreme Court. The case dragged on for months. In the end, though, Ali won. On June 28, 1971, the court ruled that Grauman's findings that Ali had sincere religious objections to fighting should not have been ignored.
8. Instead, Ali should have been given conscientious objector status. It was "wrong" to have determined that Ali's "beliefs were not religiously based and were not sincerely held," the court said. In other words, Ali never should have been drafted at all.
9. After this victory, Ali was able to restart his boxing career. However, the four years he had spent away from the ring had changed him. He was no longer as fast on his feet, and he could no longer dance away from punches. To win fights, he now had to take a huge number of blows and simply tire out his opponents.
10. Ali still had an awe-inspiring string of victories. However, those victories came at a terrible price. The repeated blows to the head that Ali took led to Parkinson's disease. Sadly, over time, the disease left him barely able to speak or walk.
How did the vietnam war change Muhammad ali's life and career
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The Vietnam War had a profound impact on Muhammad Ali's life and career, both in terms of his public perception and his physical abilities. Here's a breakdown of the key changes:
1. **Change in Identity and Public Perception**: Before the Vietnam War, Ali was known primarily as an exceptional athlete. However, his refusal to serve in the military, on the grounds of his religious beliefs and opposition to the war, transformed him into a polarizing figure. Many Americans viewed him as unpatriotic, especially among white Americans, leading to significant national division over his stance.
2. **Legal Battles and Career Disruption**: Ali’s decision to resist the draft resulted in severe consequences. He lost his boxing license and was stripped of his heavyweight title, effectively ending his career at its peak. His conviction for "willful refusal to submit to induction into the armed forces" and subsequent sentencing to five years in prison halted his boxing career for several years.
3. **Supreme Court Case and Conscientious Objector Status**: After years of legal battles, Ali's case reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in his favor, recognizing his religious beliefs as sincere. This ruling not only restored his boxing career but also affirmed his stance against the draft, solidifying his legacy as a figure of civil rights and resistance.
4. **Change in Boxing Performance**: Upon returning to boxing after a four-year hiatus, Ali was no longer the agile fighter he once was. The time away from the sport affected his physical capabilities; he had to adapt his fighting style, taking more punishment and relying on endurance to win fights rather than his previous speed and agility.
5. **Health Consequences**: The demands of boxing took a toll on Ali’s health over the years, leading to the development of Parkinson's disease, a condition that ultimately affected his ability to speak and walk. The repeated head trauma from his boxing career contributed to this decline, demonstrating the long-term physical consequences of his choices during and after the Vietnam War era.
In summary, the Vietnam War dramatically changed Muhammad Ali's life and career by altering public perception, leading to legal and career challenges, affecting his physical prowess in the ring, and resulting in lasting health issues, all of which contributed to his status as both a sports icon and a controversial figure in American history.
1. **Change in Identity and Public Perception**: Before the Vietnam War, Ali was known primarily as an exceptional athlete. However, his refusal to serve in the military, on the grounds of his religious beliefs and opposition to the war, transformed him into a polarizing figure. Many Americans viewed him as unpatriotic, especially among white Americans, leading to significant national division over his stance.
2. **Legal Battles and Career Disruption**: Ali’s decision to resist the draft resulted in severe consequences. He lost his boxing license and was stripped of his heavyweight title, effectively ending his career at its peak. His conviction for "willful refusal to submit to induction into the armed forces" and subsequent sentencing to five years in prison halted his boxing career for several years.
3. **Supreme Court Case and Conscientious Objector Status**: After years of legal battles, Ali's case reached the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in his favor, recognizing his religious beliefs as sincere. This ruling not only restored his boxing career but also affirmed his stance against the draft, solidifying his legacy as a figure of civil rights and resistance.
4. **Change in Boxing Performance**: Upon returning to boxing after a four-year hiatus, Ali was no longer the agile fighter he once was. The time away from the sport affected his physical capabilities; he had to adapt his fighting style, taking more punishment and relying on endurance to win fights rather than his previous speed and agility.
5. **Health Consequences**: The demands of boxing took a toll on Ali’s health over the years, leading to the development of Parkinson's disease, a condition that ultimately affected his ability to speak and walk. The repeated head trauma from his boxing career contributed to this decline, demonstrating the long-term physical consequences of his choices during and after the Vietnam War era.
In summary, the Vietnam War dramatically changed Muhammad Ali's life and career by altering public perception, leading to legal and career challenges, affecting his physical prowess in the ring, and resulting in lasting health issues, all of which contributed to his status as both a sports icon and a controversial figure in American history.