Unknown News | Muhammad Ali is a scumbag

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Mental Health Moment: A weekly column by Helen & Harry Highwater

THE WEEK BEFORE

www.unknownnews.org/hh.html

THE WEEK AFTER

Muhammad Ali is a scumbag

by Helen & Harry Highwater, Unknown News

Nov. 11, 2005

I have long admired Muhammad Ali. He was a hell of a fighter, an all-American combination of brash and tough, funny and courageous, and absolutely deserving of his self-selected nickname, "The Greatest."

In addition to his skill and showmanship, I've always had great respect for his pacifist stance against being drafted into the military, which cost him the World Heavyweight championship.

Non-cooperation with evil is as much a duty as is cooperation with good.

Mohandas Gandhi

President Bush hugs Muhammad Ali after presenting him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Wednesday in Washington. Among the other recipients were Aretha Franklin and Carol Burnett.

Photo by Evan Vucci, Associated Press

But now, I understand that Muhammad Ali is a scumbag.

I have also been a fan of Carol Burnett for
many years. I've looked forward to her
television programs, almost always laughed
at her comedy, and I usually tug my ear
and sing along as she performs her closing

tune, "I'm so glad we had this time together." She has always been a funny lady, and I'll never watch or enjoy her work again. Carol Burnett, you see, is contemptible.

I've danced to Aretha Franklin's music since before I knew who she was, and her smooth, vibrant voice adds to any song she sings. I often purge myself of un-needed possessions, but I have owned and often

played two Aretha Franklin albums since my early teens. Yesterday, I broke the vinyl over my knee, and threw both albums into the trash. Aretha Franklin is despicable.

He played for my brother's favorite team,
the Baltimore Orioles, during their glory
years, so I've heard about Frank Robinson
all my life. He won the MVP Award in
both leagues, and the Triple Crown in
1966. He was the first black manager in

big league baseball, and I was rooting for him more than his players as he managed the Washington Nationals to .500 in 2005, their first season. But now I know, Frank Robinson is vile.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is, or was, the nation's highest civilian tribute. According to standards specified by John F. Kennedy, the award is supposed to honor "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interest of the United States, world peace or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." On those grounds, Ali, Burnett, Franklin, and Robinson are eminently qualified.

What I object to, of course, is that each of these celebrities has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush -- a man who is the embodied opposite of everything the Presidential Medal of Freedom is supposed to be about. He has dedicated his short, sober life to working against the security and national interest of the United States. He has dedicated his presidency to working against world peace and stifling freedom wherever it might be found. He has given no effort to any culturally worthwhile endeavors, public or private, beyond blocking them whenever he could.

Bush has made the Presidential Medal of Freedom into a joke, by awarding this prize to any hack who does his dirty work. In the past, he has bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on George Tenet, the CIA Director who funneled faulty intelligence to make the case for war against Iraq; Tommy Franks, the general who oversaw the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq; and L. Paul Bremer, the man appointed by Bush to oversee occupied Iraq, whose decision to fire every Iraqi even remotely connected to Saddam Hussein's administration was the spark that started all the rebellion which has followed.

Receiving a Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush is like receiving an award from Mike Tyson for good sportsmanship, or an award from Ken Lay for business integrity. Accepting such an award, from such a man, is the moral equivalent of hawking up a phlegm-filled loogie and splattering it on all the lofty ideals that the award supposedly signifies.

I don't believe Muhammad Ali, Carol Burnett, Aretha Franklin, Frank Robinson, or the other, less famous recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom are unaware of who handed them their award. They've seen the man on TV, and lived through the first years of his presidency. There's no doubt whose hand these people shook, as they took their so-called honors. They shook hands, almost literally, with the devil. They played along, and allowed a man who shames the White House to pretend he has some honor to bestow. They have lent their names and their reputations to help a killer, a criminal, a psychopath pose for the camera as if he has some standing to determine who deserves honor and who deserves shame.

Muhammad Ali ought to be ashamed of himself. Carol Burnett, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Robinson owe this nation an apology. Vinton Cerf, Robert Conquest, Alan Greenspan, Andy Griffith, Paul Harvey, Robert Kahn, Sonny Montgomery, Richard B. Myers, Jack Nicklaus, Paul Rusesabagina -- all these people received Presidential Medals of Freedom from George W. Bush on Wednesday, so of course, they're all scumbags. They couldn't have made their scumbaggery any plainer had they mugged a little old lady on live television, and then called a press conference to announce that they're not sorry.

By accepting a Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush, these people have dishonored themselves, and shown open disdain for the very concept of freedom.

© by the author.

What do you think?

Presidential Medal of Freedom

November 9, 2005

President George W. Bush today announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civil award. Established by Executive Order 11085 in 1963, the Medal may be awarded by the President "to any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

Muhammad Ali is one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was the first three-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world, successfully defended the title 19 times, and was a Gold Medalist for the United States at the 1960 Olympic Games.

Carol Burnett is one of America's most accomplished comediennes and actresses. She debuted on Broadway in 1959 and starred for more than a decade on The Carol Burnett Show. Ms. Burnett won a special place in the hearts of people across America through her combination of creativity, humor, and compassion.

Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn designed the software code that is used to transmit data over the Internet. Dr. Cerf and Dr. Kahn have been at the forefront of a digital revolution that has transformed global commerce, communication, and entertainment.

Robert Conquest is a historian known for his groundbreaking work on Soviet history, politics, and foreign policy. More than 35 years after its publication, his landmark book, The Great Terror: Stalin's Purge of the Thirties, remains one of the most influential studies of Soviet history and has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Aretha Franklin has brought joy to millions with her music. She has nearly two dozen number-one singles and has won numerous awards. Ms. Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Alan Greenspan has chaired the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve for the last 18 years. Mr. Greenspan has been an extraordinary leader who has made great contributions to America's economic growth and prosperity.

Andy Griffith is an American icon of the stage, cinema, and television. He first achieved national acclaim in the 1950s for his stand-up comedy routines, and he went on to star in television shows such as The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, as well as numerous Broadway productions and films.

Paul Harvey is one of America's most respected radio personalities and has set a standard of excellence for broadcasters. Since his radio broadcasts first aired nationally in 1951, Mr. Harvey has won the trust of millions of radio listeners.

Sonny Montgomery was a champion for veterans during his 30 years as a Member of the House of Representatives from Mississippi. His signature achievement was the Montgomery GI Bill, which has helped make education affordable for millions of veterans.

General Richard B. Myers served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during one of the most challenging and dangerous periods in American history. General Myers was at the forefront of preparing America's armed forces to meet the threats of the new century. His tenure was marked by the toppling of brutal dictatorships in Afghanistan and Iraq and the liberation of more than 50 million people.

Jack Nicklaus is the greatest professional golfer of all time. He won 18 majors as a professional, the first in 1962 and the last in 1986, and he won more than 70 PGA Tour events.

Frank Robinson is one of the greatest baseball players ever. Among his awards are National League Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player in both the American and National Leagues, and the American League Triple Crown in 1966. He also has been a top manager and earned Manager of the Year in the American League in 1989. He broke the color barrier for managers, becoming Major League Baseball's first African-American manager in 1975.

Paul Rusesabagina demonstrated courage and compassion by sheltering people at the hotel he managed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. By risking his own life, he helped to save the lives of more than 1,000 fellow Rwandans. Mr. Rusesabagina's selfless acts have inspired millions, and he represents the best of the human spirit.

Whitehouse.gov

I don't believe Muhammad Ali, Carol Burnett, Aretha Franklin, Frank Robinson, or the other, less famous recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom are unaware of who handed them their award.

They've seen the man on TV, and lived through the first years of his presidency.

There's no doubt whose hand these people shook, as they took their so-called honors.

They shook hands, almost literally, with the devil.

They played along, and allowed a man who shames the White House to pretend he has some honor to bestow.

They have lent their names and their reputations to help a killer, a criminal, a psychopath pose for the camera as if he has some standing to determine who deserves honor and who deserves shame.

Muhammad Ali ought to be ashamed of himself.

Carol Burnett, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Robinson owe this nation an apology.

Vinton Cerf, Robert Conquest, Alan Greenspan, Andy Griffith, Paul Harvey, Robert Kahn, Sonny Montgomery, Richard B. Myers, Jack Nicklaus, Paul Rusesabagina -- all these people received Presidential Medals of Freedom from George W. Bush on Wednesday, so of course, they're all scumbags.

They couldn't have made their scumbaggery any plainer had they mugged a little old lady on live television, and then called a press conference to announce that they're not sorry.

By accepting a Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush, these people have dishonored themselves, and shown open disdain for the very concept of freedom.

I can't afford therapy, but boy do I need it. So as an affordable alternative, I pound my anger into a weekly column here.

Fair warning: My parents were repressed -- using any bad words would get my mouth washed out with soap, literally. I still remember the sickly flavor of Dove^TM. So as an adult, vulgarity helps with the healing. If naughty language offends you, beat the rush and get offended now.

This page is for my own good, not yours, so you may not like it, but I don't care.

About the authors

Helen and Harry Highwater have published Unknown News since 1997. We're a married couple sharing a byline à la Lennon and McCartney, and "I" can be either of us, or both of us. If you're consumed by curiosity, it's safe to assume the more boisterous and aggressive bits come from Helen, and anything ladylike or demure is probably Harry's work.

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