Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The white washing of Muhammad Ali™
I´d say owning 20% of your name is just enough to keep your dignity intact. If it was 19% now, what a shill.
Posted by owen on from barcelona 05/10 at 07:43 AMGood Morning Owen and MZ....about last night’s comments and how long it would take GWB to read the letter, my initial thought was that we should send GWB boxes of crayons so that he could answer the letter, BUT I am one of the few who does not think that those who planned this war were so dumb. Evil, yes - dumb, no. I have looked upon this war as just a big money laundering scheme right from the beginning. If viewed that way, this war was a magnificent success. Just follow the money.
Maybe, I also disagree about anger being a negative force. I think that sometimes it can be a force for good. I wish that everyone else was as angry as I am.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 05/10 at 07:54 AMI just received an e-mail from author Sam Pizzigati. I think that he also supports a maximum limit on income as I called for in my recent article. Here is a link to his book.
http://www.greedandgood.orgPosted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 05/10 at 08:33 AMHello MZ and owen. Good to see you RMJ.
“Maybe, I also disagree about anger being a negative force. I think that sometimes it can be a force for good. I wish that everyone else was as angry as I am.”
I’m right with you RMJ. But there’s one important lesson I learned from my 3 yrs practicing Wu-Su about this. In a fighting sense at least, anger can lead to irrational actions and mistakes, which is what I think the message that MZ provided communicates. I feel that I often have to take a step back from things and see them in a new light just to understand and accept the challenge(s) ahead. Anger can easily get the best of us, to say the least…
To use one example, the recent nuclear waste debacle in Washington state—see http://tinyurl.com/ee8mw Such carelessness by those in power over the issue of power! And that so many lives could potentially be affected by something like this is enough to anger entire communities… So, I think the anger has to somehow be transformed into a positive force through rational means. And that involves people getting off their lazy asses and doing something about their anger: write letters, protest, community forums, whatever. In other words, I think that anger is worthless if it doesn’t rationally confront the issue, and actively work towards a solution to the problem at hand.
You, RMJ, write powerful articles like the one yesterday. You’re angry. You care. But unlike the rest of bovine America, you’re actually doing something about your anger. So anger in that sense is very good; very positive. Because what you speak of is very rational, and what you seek is very positive. We need more of you RMJ. Many more. Same with MZ, which is a main reason why I frequent this site. Here, I can always chuckle, and still not lose sight of the issues, which helps me in my own work for change. (thanks y’all)...
Posted by RT on from The Buyou City 05/10 at 09:57 AMbtw, good article on Ali, MZ. Never knew that the trial took place in H-town…
Posted by RT on from The Buyou City 05/10 at 10:12 AMHello everyone…
Mick...your article on Ali reminded me of a book recommendation for you. I don’t have any doubt that you would enjoy this:
It’s called The Devil and Sonny Liston, by Nick Tosches. Hardcore writing...excellent writing. Sonny was a bad man. The book reveals a lot about the social issues of the time many of which obviously remain today...specifically of race.
On a personal note, the author had a tumultuous relationship with one of my aunts several decades ago. One incident involved a late night call to my father who ended up having to go to their apartment and break up a fight.
Posted by Commando JOS on from Chicago 05/10 at 10:41 AMI am SO disappointed in Ali. How sad to see a man, once a hero of sorts to so very many, come to this. I’d have to say that he was one of the first who got me considering such larger political and social underbelly issues as a young child.
Reading his statements of younger days one might’ve ask where’s a Muhammad Ali for today...but it’s just not applicable anymore
(RT you’re cracking me up...19%) Great piece Mickey.Rosemarie I agree with you about being angry, but I agree with RT again on spinning into a force which encourages a creative or thoughtful response.
Quick action, with too little thought, resulting from anger is what we hear everytime some po-dump says they’re glad our troops are ‘over there protecting us’. Your articles a wonderful and positive expression that is powered by a righteous anger. This is what we need more of.Thankfully Mickey and you keep us inspired to be creative with our own anger instead of drowning in it.
BTW - walzing to the Velvet Underground looks like a good time...get them together with the Beard Champions and you’d have a hell of a scene
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 05/10 at 11:26 AMOh - forgot to mention that Canadians are now officially to fear an attack from Al Qaeda and that wily osama.
CSIS tells us so:
http://tinyurl.com/oqme4Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 05/10 at 11:48 AMI’ll see Lou Reed next month, he’s playing the Isle of Wight festival (with the Prodigy and the Foo.)
I think Mickey already linked to this a while back.Posted by mew on from london 05/10 at 11:58 AMWhat a treat to arrive and find so many of my favorite people here. Hello Expendables...and thanks for the great comments and kind words.
Commando: I have read The Devil and Sonny Liston. Excellent reading.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 05/10 at 01:29 PMI knew you’d enjoy that one, Mick.
Posted by Commando JOS on from Chicago 05/10 at 02:33 PMAnother sell-out! Thanks but no thanks, Mickey - one always learns something new when one visits your site.
And ‘hello’ to Owen, Rosemarie, RT, JOS, Amelopsis (Australians have been told to expect a terrorist attack for quite a while but then they were a member of the ‘coalition of the willing’ and their government is among the most obsequious vis-a-vis BushCo) and Mew from a dry Daylesford.
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 05/10 at 03:39 PM‘I have looked upon this war as just a big money laundering scheme right from the beginning. If viewed that way, this war was a magnificent success. Just follow the money.’
Spot-on, Rosemarie!
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 05/10 at 03:43 PMTo warmongers and capitalist corporate powerbrokers money has more value than human lives...especially non-white human lives.
Posted by Big Commando JO from the Ghetto on from Chicago 05/10 at 04:02 PMJOS your comment and the Ali piece make me recall a song...Young, Gifted, & Black.....
victims of these wars for money and power are Any Age, Any Intellect, Brown & Poor.Captcha says “chance”
Posted by Amelopsis on from Canada 05/10 at 05:17 PMCool article on Muhammad Ali. It remind us what it means to be courageous, what it means to make a stand regardless of the consequences. He was a fighter in more ways than in just a boxer in the ring! What a damn cool guy he was. ... and now only trade mark, logo, corporate what?
Posted by stan on from 05/12 at 02:06 PMJust a public thank you Mickey for highlighting our anti-war/peace campaign. Since contacting so many bloggers, activists and groups, I never cease to be encouraged by the kindness, consideraton and general willingness to help eachother that I have found - you are one of the good guys
Namaste, Tina Louise armsagainstwar
Posted by tina louise on from England 05/14 at 02:14 PMIt’s my pleasure to help out, Tina. I hope you’ll stop by here again and join the conversations.
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 05/14 at 05:48 PM
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