The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page A15

The Courier-Journal 5,2016 15A REMEMBERING MUHAMMAD ALI After Muhammad conversion to I slam in 1964, his religion brought both ew attention to the faith and strong criticism for changing his name and citing religion in defying the draft during the Vietnam War. As his faith evolved from the Nation of separatism to Sunni Islam and an embrace of interfaith inclusion, Ali remained one of the highest- rofile and important Muslim figures, a role that continued well into the post- said Muhammad Babar, a Louisville Islamic leader and physician. silent presence was a great source of strength for Muslim Americans in the current environment of Isla- Babar said. was a father figure for Muslims. I think many are feeling that they are Officials with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights organization, said Ali by his principles despite riticism and and ied a true patriot and a true According to reports by the Courier- ournal, Ali as a boy worshiped at his Centennial Olivet Baptist hurch in Louisville.

But he questioned why Jesus and other biblical characters ere always depicted as white in church paintings, including those painted by his ather. Then-named Cassius Clay encountered preachers from the Nation of Islam who boldly called for black self-em- owerment. The group blended tradi- ional Islam with novel doctrines includ- i ng calls for blacks to separate from a white race it said was created by an evil scientist. Nation of Islam taught that hite people were Ali wrote in 2 004. believe that now; in fact, I ever really believed that.

But when I was young, I had seen and heard so many horrible stories about the White man that this made me stop and Ali cited his beliefs to refuse as a cons cientious objector to be drafted, lead- i ng to a legal fight he eventually won at the Supreme Court. Ozair Shariff, a board member at both the Louisville Islamic Center and the Ali Center, said he remembers meet- i ng Ali for the first time as a child at the River Road Mosque. He was awed by the harismatic, champion athlete who shared his faith, he said. was very much a hero and a ource of he said. Ali later used his high-profile role to weigh in on the terrorist attacks of 2001 as radicals things God is ast year, after terror attacks in aris, and with Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump proposing to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., Ali issued a statement that both decried extremism and cautioned against mis- erceptions they bred about Islam.

as someone who has never een accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understand- i ng about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted views on what Islam really he said. Shariff said Ali was able to get his essage out because of his stature, even a his health declined. On Sunday, an interfaith prayer service is planned for 6:30 p.m. at the Louisville Islamic Center at 4007 River Road. Organizers said citizens are join hands in unity to celebrate the life of the greatest son of Reporter Chris Kenning can be reached at journal.com or 502-582-4697.

Devout boxing legend Ali a father figure for CHRIS KENNING SAL FILE PHOTO Then-heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali holds the Muhammad Speaks newspaper with his picture as he and followers of the Muslim sect stand in Las Vegas on November 22, 1965. Statements were starting to pour in after news broke of Muhammad passing. ere are some samples: Adifference in world perfect, of course. For all his magic in the ring, he could be careless with his words, and full of ontradictions as his faith evolved. But is wonderful, infectious, even innocent pirit ultimately won him more fans than foes maybe because in him, we hoped to see something of Barack Obama of is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Muhammad Ali.

Ali was aproud graduate of Central High School and in his younger years, he would often stop by our schools to eat lunch with stud ents, shadow box, perform magic tricks and encourage our students to follow a ath to greatness. Ali and JCPS share a vision of excellence and Hargens, superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools a nd Ali Center board member Strong humanitarian showed his true greatness when he fought just as hard for families as a humanitarian as he did in the Attorney General Andy Beshear for the the G-O-A-T. A giant, an inspiration, a man of peace, a warrior for the cure. Thank J. Fox, an actor who has disease He larger than is a sad day for me and for the world.

Muhammad Ali was bigger than ports and larger than life. He said he was and he was Basketball great Michael Jordan Saga began in Louisville life story is an American story, and a story that began in Louisville, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Afighter for rights fought hard, not only in the ring, but in life for his fellow citizens and civil ights. The world has lost today a great unifying champion whose punches transcended borders and Abdullah II of Jordan Ali taught us all was not afraid of anything.

He made up his own rules inside the ring and ut, and he told the world that is how he a cted even (if) they like it. He as suspended for political reasons, he was arrested, he lost, he once boxed 12 rounds with a broken jaw, but he always ame Lapid, head of centrist Yesh Atid party who boxed as amateur Remember his bravery we bow our heads at the loss of aman who did so much for America. Tom orrow, we will raise our heads again remembering that his bravery, his outspokenness, and his sacrifice for the sake of is community and country lives on in the best part of each of Basketball great areem Abdul-Jabbar ontributing: The Associated Press KEITH FILE PHOTO Ali stood with his daughter, Hana, in 1980. Leaders, others start weighing in life THE COURIER JOURNAL These are the remarks of Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on the death of Muhammad Ali at a ceremonyJune 4, 2016, outside Metro Hall. Muhammad Ali lived a life so big and bold, hard to believe that any one man could do everything he did, could be all he things that he became in the course of just one lifetime.

This man, this champion, ended his 74 ears yesterday as a United Nations Messenger of Peace; a Humanitarian a nd champion athlete who earned Amn esty Lifetime Achievement Award; the Presidential Medal of reedom; and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Century. He was co-founder, with his beloved ife Lonnie, of the Muhammad Ali Center, which promotes respect, hope, and understanding here in his hometown of ouisville, and around the world. Aman of action and principle, he was aconscientious objector to the Vietnam ar, and willingly paid the price, taking astand that forced him out of the ring for over three years during the prime of his career. Adevout Muslim and interfaith pioneer, he took the name Muhammad Ali in 1964 and advocated for understanding and peace among people of different aiths. was, of course, three-time heavy- eight champion of the world a young, handsome fighter with swagger like the world had never seen.

He intimidated pponents outside the ring and dominated them inside it. Like when he predicted he would beat Sonny Liston in 1964, made it happen, and shouted, shook up the He was winner of the Olympic Gold Medal in Rome, 1960. A graduate of Central High School, class of 1960. He was a 12-year-old boy whose red icycle was stolen in front of a gym on Fourth Street, who told police officer Joe artin that he wanted to whoev- took it. And Martin said that bet- er learn to box first.

uhammad Ali was a boy who grew at 3302 Grand Avenue. He liked to eat hot dogs and play Clue with his brother in a house now a museum. And before that, he was a newborn baby, Cassius Marcellus Clay born Jan. 17, 1942, to Cassius Sr. and Odessa Grady Clay.

I magine that day, that little boy, eyes ide open looking around the room at he old Louisville General Hospital. Not knowing the life that awaited him. The life he would make. The world he would hake up. The people he would inspire.

And like you, I am absolutely one of those people. Muhammad Ali belongs to the world, but he only has one hometown. The Louisville Lip spoke to everyone, but we heard him in a way no one else could as ur brother, our uncle, and our inspiration. And I am so grateful I had the chance know him and see how he leveraged his fame to share his message of love, eace and compassion. hat The Champ would want us to do ight now is to spread that same mess age, follow his example, and live by the ame six core principles that he lived by: Confidence Conviction Dedication Giving Respect, and Spirituality like to close with words, which carried just as much grace a nd power as his fists ever did.

This comes from his book The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Journey. matter whether a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew. When you elieve in God, you should believe that a ll people are part of one family. If you love God, you love only some of his He believed passionately in the need for us all to keep our eyes, our minds and ur hearts open so we can keep learning from each other. As he says, soul has grown over the years, a nd some of my views have changed.

As long as alive, I will continue to try to understand more because the work of he heart is never We all remember the incredible moment in 1996 when Muhammad held that burning torch in his trembling hand and lit the Olympic flame in Atlanta. And now, he has passed his torch to us. While there can only be one Muhammad Ali, his journey from Grand Avenue global icon serves as a reminder that here are young people with the potential or greatness in houses and neighborhoods all over our city, our nation, and our world. here is no limit to what our kids can do if we help them realize their full human potential and there is no excuse for us to do anything less than our best to help them find that greatness in themselves. how we can be champions.

Mu- ammad Ali has shown us the way. Today, we, his fellow Louisvillians, join the billions whose lives he touched orldwide in mourning his passing, celebrating his legacy, and saying, ou, Muhammad, for everything iven to your hometown, your country, a nd the hank you. Mayor: has passed his torch to MAYOR GREG FISCHER DOUG FILE PHOTO Muhammad Ali watched as the flame climbs up to the Olympic torch during the opening ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics..