Era of the Psychopathic Maniac

The legendary boxer Muhammad Ali rightfully deserved the title "the Greatest" in the 20th century, as his achievements inside the boxing ring were unprecedented. It suffices to know that he fought 61 bouts, from his first professional fight in 1960 to his last one against Trevor Berbick in 1981. He won 56 of these fights, 37 of which were by knockout. He only lost five times, including three losses in his last four fights, before finally retiring from boxing.

It is well known that Ali took a principled stance regarding the Vietnam War when he was drafted in 1966. He refused to join the U.S. Army, saying that war was against the teachings of the Qur'an, and "I'm not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation. No Viet Cong ever called me nigger."

Ali paid the price for this stance; he was stripped of his world heavyweight title in 1967 and did not return to boxing until 1970. Anyone who follows his life story can see that this man challenged his country's regime while it was engaged in an aggressive war in Southeast Asia against the Vietnamese people — if only you knew how great this stance was. But what helped him remain steadfast and not back down was the support of the free people in the U.S. and Europe who stood with him and backed his antiwar position. One can only imagine what might have happened to Ali had he belonged to one of those totalitarian regimes that see only what the leader sees!

Ali's stance on the Vietnam War was truly courageous. But he would not have been able to take this stance had he not been living in a democratic country where one can find public support to shield those with views differing from the regime's. Regardless of one's position on U.S. policies, which have been aggressive toward many populations, you cannot deny that the U.S. respects diversity, upholds values that elevate courage and confrontation, and does not deny people the right to disagree. You also cannot deny that this country only became a superpower because it is home for innovation, human creativity and pluralism.

It suffices to note that Ali's conversion to Islam did not meet with disapproval from a single person in the U.S.; it was treated as a normal matter, deserving neither praise nor condemnation. It never prevented the man from being honored throughout the stages of his life, nor from being chosen as the greatest athlete in history.

For all these reasons, the concern regarding what Donald Trump is doing to this heritage of freedom, intellectual independence and diversity is legitimate and justified. Perhaps a man like Ali was fortunate enough to have emerged during international circumstances that helped him receive global sympathy from populations and leaders. Had he appeared in the Trumpian era, he might have faced many who refrained from supporting him for fear of sanctions from the psychopathic maniac!