Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Friday, April 27, 2007
Muhammad Ali vs. Pat Tillman
funnily enough i don’t think you are the only one to remember this because when i look at the stats on my blog one of the things i get the most hits on is people searching for “muhammad ali + draft” and getting directed to the review of 50AR.
Posted by michael on from scotland 04/27 at 04:58 AM“...and it got me thinking about how, in 2002, a famous athlete named Tillman risked everything to wage war...but, some 35 years earlier, a famous athlete named Ali risked everything to reject war.”
Well said Mickey. In this simple statement you have said a lot.
Cheers.
Posted by Ehtesham on from Canada 04/27 at 09:04 AMjust got a reminder today, round and round we go with no social evolution...someone is spreading the word to sell current vehicle buy a hybrid because oil companies want to rape the driving public further...this is what happened in the 70’s also...prop up the corrupt auto industry, the corrupt auto insurance industry,re-new cycles of backwards capitalism, start more wars, rise oil prices, blah, blah, blah...buy new operating system for computer, so we’re enslaved to computer industry, human relations deteriorate further, have same conversations about all this, generation after generation, nothing changes, practicing Budhist says, “embrace” it all, I ask what the hell does that mean, is that becoming enlightened or conscious? We don’t join the military to do something for our country, we join, they join, becuase of ignorance, unknowing, confusion, numerous what if’s, fear...the myths about joining to serve for country is another crock of shit for hollywood and people who are simply afraid to say...I am afraid! and I’ll tell you...many times, I AM!
Posted by joe of maine on from 04/27 at 09:38 AMWell, I nearly got the last word in over at Stan’s. I think they gave up on me.
MZ, I just gotta have more cow bell!
Posted by Jeremy on from Taipei, Taiwan 04/27 at 10:27 AMmy good morning news is my campaign for the awareness of uranium has been revitalized. An established organization has asked me to come on board and is going to be sending me a video and literature to share and use as references. So I am drawing up a nation wide petition to end the mining and milling of uranium and heading out on the road. Not with the idea of changing the world or even shutting down one mine in my lifetime. Although that would be fantastic....but if after 5 or 10 years there are several million more peoeple aware of the dangers of ioning radiation and in particular uranium...well maybe my kids will have a better life. Selfish bitch that I am!
whats happened in the last 35 years that people are so complacent....we need more people like Ali… willing to speak out. Wheres the damn army draft when you need it!
Posted by Frances on from bc 04/27 at 10:46 AMHello Expendables...from very rainy Astoria. Bravo, Frances. Thanks for sharing your news. Please keep us up to date and let us know how we can help.
In the meantime, more cowbell:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBqPHJhmFHoPosted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 04/27 at 10:54 AMGood job, Frances. All the best.
Cheers.
Posted by Ehtesham on from Canada 04/27 at 11:25 AMGreat post, Mick.
On another subject...this (no matter how crazy the lady seems) is something I have been giving a lot of thought to lately...all these WiFi waves can’t be good for life...how about the bees? Cell phone radiation, wifi, etc.:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=450995&in_page_id=1879
Posted by JOS on from Chicago 04/27 at 11:25 AMIn other depressing news… for book-loving New Yorkers, anyway:
Goddamnit, how could I not have found out sooner, I live just crosstown from it! Goddamn Barnes and Noble fucking Starbucks and Duane Reade destroying the greatest city in the world!
Posted by James on from work 04/27 at 11:26 AMThanks Jeremy #4 and James #9...I smile infrequently these days...you’re rants are the best I have read in a very long time...will the 2 of you flip a coin to determine who will adopt me?..(-:
Posted by joe of maine on from 04/27 at 12:03 PMWell Joe unfortunately there’s an empty space on 42nd street across from Bryant Park that you can live in now… until the next corporate monstrosity takes over the lease! At the risk of repeating myself, goddamnit I miss Coliseum books!
Posted by James on from work 04/27 at 12:10 PMChrist, I’m getting old. I remember when Coliseum Books opened in the 70s on 57th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave. It was at the halfway point between school and home. I spent a lot of time and a lot of money there. I did visit the most recent incarnation on 42nd Street this past summer.
This is a great loss to New York City.
captcha word is “city” - go figure
Posted by The CultureGhost on from Concord CA 04/27 at 12:38 PMHi Mickey, michael, JOS, joe, James, Ehtesham, Frances, and Jeremy…
joe...I, too, am looking for someone to adopt me.Off topic, but since most here do not watch TV...the debate last night was not really a debate at all. It was more of a show for those still thinking in the box. However, I was impressed with some of the comments made by Mike Gavel. I have only one question for the Repub/Dem candidates. No reporter will ask it. “Why is it that the only nation that has ever used nuclear weapons to kill people, now has the right to dictate what other nations should be allowed to have nuclear weapons?”
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 04/27 at 12:42 PMRMJ hypocritical yes, but somehow our bombs just sound so much better than anyone elses....
Posted by frances on from bc 04/27 at 03:08 PMJust spoke to an activist who I respect...we talked...how does anyone expect systemic change...how does anyone expect to ‘win’ by playing a game by someone else’s rules that are designed not to allow a winner? Do many activists feel simply ending this war, which I don’t know what this war means since we are bombing and or stirring up trouble in so many countries, I don’t know what this war means any longer...is it the war against the entire universe and only the u.s. makes the rules...and changes the rules as necessary to win???? The other activist rule is, take 5 steps forward and accept taking 10 steps backwards and intellectualize this process as a start. People have been saying, “it’s a start” for a thousand years! So, instead of starting self-sustaining, tiny communities, we further alienate ourselves by taking up various crusades that seem necessary yet accomplish very little since there is no real cohesion amongst groups and many, by design or default sabotage social progress because the focus,once again is on surviving and bring in those grant dollars and watering down activism to keep the givers of those grant dollars happy who living ‘by the system’ that needs changed...any thoughts on any of this???
Posted by joe of maine on from 04/27 at 04:01 PMYes Joe, you are absolutely right on target about activist organizations getting watered down to keep their charitable status and grant dollars comming in. When asked to take a stand on serious issues they back down because they fear losing the ability to do the work they are already engaged in. No one wants to make waves if its going to rock THEIR boat. And on a personal level there is always the looming threat of character assination. Thats why its really up to the little people who have nothing to lose and who dont view it as ‘dirty work’ to get busy doing what they can. I dont concider bringing awareness of a sever enviromental situation to public attention a “crusade”. Its just one nessecary step toward change. Nor do I feel isolated, if anything I feel more connected to people all over the country. What does feel isolating is worrying about things and waiting around for someone to take action.
For 10 years I lived with an above ground composting shitter that needed to be shoveled out once a year...this is what I learned:
If you want something done right then do it yourself. (-:Posted by frances on from bc 04/27 at 04:56 PMjoe...I like what you say. Protesting the Iraq war is like using an umbrella and thinking that you will stay dry in a tsunami. Impeaching the president, vice president, and entire Congress would not even achieve much. I believe that the root cause of the problem is Capitalism. Most anti-war protest groups that I know have been out-smarted. I attended a meeting of one group right after 9/11. When I said that the 9/11 attack was “Blowback”, everyone got mad at me and said that I was being unpatriotic. I believe that the government has been successful in achieving its goal. It has used war to transfer an awful lot of money from the taxpayers to the ruling class. USA style Capitalism cannot be sustained without the war machine. Death is the largest export of the usa. .... I like your idea of small communities but in a small community what would you do if someone needed a serious medical procedure? The Capitalization of medical care has made it very difficult for any small group to survive on its own.
Posted by RMJ on from Churchill 4 Prez Hdqts 04/27 at 06:27 PM
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