Muhammad Ali's message to the world, when he was asked: What would you like people to think about you when you're gone? This is written just as he said it while he could still talk.
He took a few cups of love.
He took one table spoon of patience.
One table spoon, tea-spoon of generosity.
He took a few cups of love.
He took one table spoon of patience.
One table spoon, tea-spoon of generosity.
One pint of kindness.
He took one quart of laughter.
One pinch of concern.
And then he mixed willingness with happiness.
He added lots of faith.
And he stirred it up well.
Then he spread it over a span of a lifetime.
And he served it to each and every deserving person he met.
As the stars came out and shone for Haiti, it was boxing legend Muhammad Ali who spoke loudest by sitting there in silence... about the need for charity in times of hardship.
Appearing on stage in a wheelchair and unable to speak, the former boxer – who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease – looked on as comedian Chris Rock read out a speech he prepared earlier. He sat in the wheelchair looking up at Chris, while he was reading what Ali would have said if he could have. It was, for me, along with those tragic pictures, the most touching moment of the telethon. Here is what he wrote for Chris to say.
“By any name, charity can bring the people of our planet together … charity changes lives and saves lives … we call upon all the good people in every corner of the world to help … please give now,” he said. “In my life I’ve been called by many names. There are many names for the charity of the people of the earth and one of them is Zakat.” I looked up the meaning of "Zakat" and here is what I found...(One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.) His appearance brought tears to my eyes.
Appearing on stage in a wheelchair and unable to speak, the former boxer – who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease – looked on as comedian Chris Rock read out a speech he prepared earlier. He sat in the wheelchair looking up at Chris, while he was reading what Ali would have said if he could have. It was, for me, along with those tragic pictures, the most touching moment of the telethon. Here is what he wrote for Chris to say.
“By any name, charity can bring the people of our planet together … charity changes lives and saves lives … we call upon all the good people in every corner of the world to help … please give now,” he said. “In my life I’ve been called by many names. There are many names for the charity of the people of the earth and one of them is Zakat.” I looked up the meaning of "Zakat" and here is what I found...(One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.) His appearance brought tears to my eyes.
I love boxing...When I was a girl...my sweet little old mother would listen to the Friday night fights and when TV came on the scene she loved wrestling. We all did in the 50's...TV programs were very few. We would go to the neighbor's and line up the kitchen chairs, and bring the dip and chips, and watch Gorgeous George wrestling. Watching boxing is something that I share with my husband too. He used to box, in his youth, and tells me so many stories about his experiences. He grew up in the 50's also and we share so many memories. We follow the sport now and really enjoy a good match.
Muhammad Ali doesn't speak anymore and the days since he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee are long over.(it must have been the hardest handicap for this man who loved to talk and regale us with his poems and banter)What remains intact is the indomitable will and the sense of devotion to his public. When Muhammad Ali arrived in Britain...on a fundraising tour for his foundation, he was determined not to use the wheelchair that he relies on most of the time because of Parkinson's Disease. Aided by his wife Lonnie and their host Ricky Hatton, who showed the couple round his gym, the legendary boxer raised his arm to greet the crowds. Then for a few seconds he took off the sunglasses shading his eyes, allowing well-wishers to see his face more clearly .Once inside, the sports hero – who was in Britain to say goodbye to fans before he becomes too frail to travel – was presented with a cake. The initials on top read: 'GOAT' - Greatest Of All Time. "He was going to come in a wheelchair initially but then he said I can't have Ricky Hatton meet me in a wheelchair, I've got to walk in," explained Ricky, himself a boxer."That's a boxer through and through. That's a boxer's mentality and that's a champion's mentality."He's not just one of the greatest boxers of all time, he's one of the greatest men of all time."Bearing in mind how poorly he is, for him still to come to the gym, raise his hands to the fans and have a picture, that's why he's the greatest."
Well, the greatest was at the telethon.... he is always there for a good cause...The telethon brought in millions and millions of dollars. I hope that it helps rebuild the country that has suffered so long.
Balisha
