Lost Black History
By Don Valentine
It goes without debate that Ali was one of the masters of the “Sweet Science,” his boxing talent will never be forgotten. He earned his moniker the “Greatest” by having the courage, and the valor to act when others chose cowardice. We all remember his stand on Vietnam. In 1990, he took a risky critical stand on Iraq. Saddam Huessain’s Iraqis had annexed neighboring Kuwait. The Washington Post reported Saddam had over 2,000 hostages mostly British, American and Japanese. They were hidden in secure areas all over Iraq and Kuwait. Saddam used the hostages to act as human shields to deter reprisal.
The champ retired from boxing in 1981 to focus on religion, and activism. His main passion was bridging the gap between Christianity and Islam In 1984, he made public his diagnosis of Parkinson’s syndrome Ali watched the tense hostage situation unfold. Like everyone else, he feared a tragedy could happen before the UN release decree expired. The champs’ compassion forced him into a new fight. Parkinson’s turned him into a shell of his younger days. Amazingly during the long wait in Iraq to see Saddam, he ran out of medication. That health crisis would not make him come home. The champ had trouble speaking in a normal cadence, but his character remained strong. There were times he had to use hand signs to communicate. Still, he would not let tremors or slurred speech deter his mission.
The champ’s meritorious effort incurred harsh rebukes from the Bush administration. Joseph Wilson, the American diplomat in Baghdad said “I basically believe these people are playing into the propaganda game that Iraq is holding here.
Aside from the Bush administration and several Rush Limbaugh style talk shows mocking the champ as some parlor hustler, he had some allies in the media. The NY Post wrote, “Of all the legendary wins in Muhammad Ali’s life, few are as little known as the one he pulled off (by) defying the odds and the American government.
The ESPN “30 for 30” documentary “Ali: The Mission,” reported “America’s most famous Muslim went to Iraq. He landed on Nov. 23, 1990, Day 113 of the crisis.” Vernon Nored, who was Ali’s liaison from the US Embassy said, “It was well-announced to the Iraqis that Muhammad Ali, world champion, world-renowned hero, is now in Baghdad. The Iraqis would ask him for autographs, wanting to stand and talk to him. Ali never, ever turned anybody down.”
Everywhere Ali went, he was swarmed. The champ went to the streets, visiting children in schools and praying in mosques. Ali said, “We hope and pray there is not a war, and with the little authority from the fame that I have, I’ll show the real side of Iraq.”
Ali’s meeting with Saddam on Nov. 29, 1990, was open to the media. Afterwards an exhausted Ali sat on the foot of his hotel bed and one by one, the former hostages thanked him. The men remained overwhelmed by the “Greatest!” Ali showed us how to have the Courage of our Convictions!
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