First of all I would like to thank the student
governing body for inviting me here to speak at this beautiful and worthy occasion tonight. I would also like to congratulate them on
the great splendid stand to stop the bloody war that’s now going on in Vietnam, and
as a muslim minister my own outlook on war and violence is well known by now. I would like to say that the number one greeting
in my faith is peace and that is assalamu alaikum , which means may peace be done to
you. There have been many questions put to me why
I refuse to be inducted in to the United States Army especially as some have pointed out,
many have pointed out not taking the step I will lose so much, and I would like to say
to those of the press and those of the people who think I lost so much by not taking the
step, I would like to say I did not lose a thing up until this very moment. I haven’t lost one thing. I have gained a lot
number one I have gained a peace of mind I have gained a peace of heart I now know that
I am content with the all mighty god himself whose proper name is Allah. I have also gained the respect of everyone
here today. I have not only gained the respect of everyone
here but worldwide I have gained respect from people all over the world, and by taking the
step I have may have satisfied a few people who are pushing the war even if the wealth
of America was given to me for taking the step the wealth of America the friendship
of all the people who support the war this will still be nothing if I am not content
internally and if I am not in court with the will of all mighty allah. As you read the newspapers and the press now
you see that I am now in court. I am in court seeking justice under the laws
of the land. In this country the United States of America,
ministers are exempt from the armed services, and if they choose I am a muslim minister
and a teacher of the religion islam. It has been said that I have two alternatives:
either go to jail or go to the army, but I would like to say that there is another alternative
and that alternative is justice and if justice prevails I will neither go
to the army nor will I go to jail. They say that actually every time the ring
in a way I am going to war. They say to me dearly you are a prize fighter
whats the difference and I would like to say to those critics of the press and to the others
that there’s one hell of a lot of difference in fighting in the ring and going to war in
Vietnam. Boxing is like nothing like going to war with
machine guns bazookas hand grenades and bomber airplanes. My intention is to box, to win a clean fight,
but in war the intention is to kill, kill, kill, kill and continue ghkilling innocent
people that’s what the vision is in war. I would like to hear this from you, and I
want the world and the cameras to hear it: Who’s the heavyweight champion of the world! And I am very pleased and thankful for being
here, and that’s all I would like to say. Thank you very much.
