Muhammad Ali #1515
$ 8.00
Caption from poster__
Islam is a religion of Peace,
Not Terrorism
by Muhammad Ali
"I am a Muslim. I am an American." As an American Muslim, I want to
express my deep sadness and anguish at the tremendous loss of life
that occurred on Tuesday (September 11, 2001). Islam is a religion
of peace. Islam does not promote terrorism or the killing of people.
I cannot sit by and let the world think that Islam is a killing religion.
It hurts me to see what radical people are doing in the name of Islam.
These radicals are doing things that God is against. Muslims do not
believe in violence. If the culprits are Muslim, they have twisted the
teachings of Islam. Whoever performed, or is behind, the terrorist
attacks in the United States of America does not represent Islam.
God is not behind assassins. Anyone involved in this must pay for
their evil. Hatred caused this tragedy and adding to the hatred that
already exists in the world will not help. Instead, we should try to
understand each other better. Americans are warm, loving and
hospitable people, and we share many of the same values. I ask
that churches and synagogues all across the nation invite
representatives of the Islamic faith into their places of worship,
to better understand Islam. This could help us all respect each
other more.
I pray that God blesses the people and families of
those who were killed, and our great country."
Muhammad Ali 1942 – Muhammad Ali, American boxer, b. Louisville, Ky. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, he was a 1960 Olympic gold medalist. Shortly after upsetting Sonny Liston in 1964 to become world heavy- weight champion, he formalized his association with the Nation of Islam (see Black Muslims) and adopted the Muslim name Muhammad Ali. Ali's flamboyant boxing style and outspoken stances on social issues made him a controversial figure during the turbulent 1960s and early 1970s. After beating Liston, he defended his title nine times, brashly proclaiming himself the “greatest of all time.” In 1967 he refused induction into the armed services and became a symbol of resistance to the Viet- nam War. The boxing establishment stripped Ali of his title and prevented him from fighting until the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971 upheld his draft appeal on religious grounds. Before retir- ing in 1981 Ali compiled a 56–5 record and became the only man to ever win the heavyweight crown three times. His fights with Joe Frazier and George Foreman were among boxing's big- gest events. In retirement, Ali has remained one of the most recognized of all world figures. The 1984 revelation that he suffered from Parkinson's disease renewed debate over the ne- gative effects of boxing. His appearance at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, to light the Olympic flame, moved an international audience.
