A Little of Muhammad Ali for the Next U.S. President
Muhammad Ali is no doubt one of the greatest athletes to have walked this earth, yet throughout the battles that he took on outside the ring, we learned that he was not just that. As a social and political force particularly in one of the most divided times in American history, Ali upheld values that today’s policymakers should take heed as we continue to face conflicts that drive mistrust and violence versus unity that promotes peace and prosperity. As we approach the 2016 Presidential elections, it is vital that we, the voters, begin to pay greater attention to the values that drive actions, particularly when these actions are implemented by people of influence, such as the President of the United States.
New York Times editor David Remnick wrote that Ali led an “outsized life,” and indeed he did. From the talkative toddler to the boy who had his red bicycle stolen to the boxer, activist, and family man, he was an individual of skill and character who possessed strong values rooted in humanity, freedom, and equality for all, despite the consequences. In 1967, three years after he had won the heavyweight championship, Ali refused to be conscripted into the U.S. military based on his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. He was eventually arrested and found guilty on draft evasion charges; he was stripped of his boxing title, his boxing license was suspended, and he did not fight again for nearly four years while his appeal worked its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Ali’s 1967 conviction was reversed.
Upon retirement in 1981, Ali dedicated his time and resources to further act upon his values in the role of an activist for peace, civil rights, cross-cultural understanding, and interfaith relations. His work as an ambassador for peace began in 1985 when he flew to Lebanon to secure the release of four hostages. He made goodwill missions to Afghanistan and North Korea; delivered over $1 million in medical aid to Cuba; traveled to Iraq to secure the release of 15 United States hostages during the first Gulf War; and journeyed to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela upon his release from prison. Where world hunger was prevalent, Ali provided over 232 million meals; and hand-delivered food and medical supplies to children in countries that include Cote D’Ivoire, Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco.
To commemorate and continue this work through educational activities, the Muhammad Ali Center was created to “promote respect, hope, and understanding, and to inspire adults and children everywhere to be as great as they can be”. I was fortunate to twice present at the Ali Center on the topic of athletes creating social change. Not only was it a moment where I could share my research on a topic that Ali himself embodied, but it was an opportunity to honor my parents who had always identified Ali as a true champion in mind, heart, and soul.
As a champion with the ability to influence, Ali was highly successful in using his global platform to mitigate the effects of conflict. Similarly, policymakers and public servants also share a similar platform on which they can become agents of positive - and negative - change. Issues such as discrimination, poverty, inequality, and lack of education are rampant in today’s society and the next POTUS must be equipped to resolve and not exacerbate these situations.
America’s president must possess the appropriate temperament, knowledge, experience, and foresight to surround him or herself with a diverse team capable to provide solid advice. Irrespective of party loyalties, he or she must also find a balance between supporting hard and soft powers - such as programs that strengthen our armed forces and economy with those that directly communicate with grassroots communities across the country. Conflict is both complex and multi-faceted and any resolution therefore requires an equally complex and multi-faceted approach.
Ali successfully used his powerful athlete platform to exercise his values of humanity, freedom, and equality for all and through the process he won both hearts and minds. The next leader of the United States will, like Ali, possess a power platform with global reach. It is therefore our responsibility as voters to ensure that our next president is equipped with right mix of experience and values that uphold the country’s Constitution