Please sign the petition below to remove the statue of Jefferson Davis currently in Kentucky’s Capitol Rotunda, and replace it with a tribute to Muhammad Ali, “the Louisville Lip” and “the Greatest of All Time.”
I just heard from the Ali family: It is the Champ’s belief that Islam prohibits three-dimensional representations of living Muslims. Accordingly, I have adjusted the petition to call for a two-dimensional representation of Ali (a portrait, picture or mural) in lieu of a statue.
UPDATE (Tuesday, December 2, 2014)
In this interview with WHAS-TV’s Joe Arnold, Governor Steve Beshear endorses the idea of honoring Muhammad Ali in the State Capitol (although he disagrees with removing Davis). Arnold explores the idea further on his weekly show, “The Powers that Be.”
Click here to check out WDRB-TV’s Lawrence Smith’s coverage of the story.
And here’s my op-ed in Ali’s hometown paper, the Louisville Courier-Journal.
UPDATE (Saturday, June 4, 2016)
In the wake of the 2015 Charlestown tragedy, in which a Confederate flag-waving murderer united the nation against racism, all of the most powerful Kentucky policymakers — U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Governor Matt Bevin, Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker Greg Stumbo — called for the removal of the Davis statue from the Rotunda. Today, as we commemorate last night’s passing of Muhammad Ali, there is no better moment to replace the symbol of Kentucky’s worst era with a tribute to The Greatest of All Time.
UPDATE (Wednesday, June 8, 2016):
Great piece by Lawrence Smith of WDRB-TV in Louisville on the petition drive to replace Jefferson Davis’ statue in the Capitol Rotunda with a tribute to Muhammad Ali.
UPDATE (Thursday, June 9, 2016):
Excellent piece on the petition drive by Jack Brammer that was featured on the front page of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Highlight of the article:
Miller said he has received a few “angry comments” on his call to honor Ali.
“One of them encouraged me to kill myself,” he said. “You can quote me that I have decided not to take their advice.”
UPDATE (Friday, June 10, 2016)
The petition drives continues to show the Big Mo(hammed): check out these stories from WKYU-FM public radio in Bowling Green and WKYT-TV, Channel 27 in Lexington:
UPDATE (Saturday, June 11, 2016):
Still not convinced? Check out this excerpt from today’s New York Times:
Can a candidate survive allegations that are roughly 15 years old, that are apparently not corroborated, and that resulted in relatively small settlements with his organization?
Probably, but there are a catalogue of ifs: if he is straightforward and composed in his denial of the claims of harassment; if the women don’t come forward and put a compelling face on the charges, and if this is not just the tip of the iceberg around claims as to how he treats women under his supervision.
In other words, this really falls on Herman Cain: does he have grace under fire and what kind of man, and boss, has he been?
The Cain team needs to study up on some recent history: how effectively the McCain campaign handled a New York Times story hinting at his infidelity with a lobbyist, and how Gov. Nikki Haley fended off even more lurid allegations in South Carolina last year.
McCain and Haley both understood that the Republican base distrusts these kinds of blows as a political hit job, and Cain is already stoking the same flames.
Finally, it should also be said that for a candidate whose ceiling was already about where he is today, “survival” is a relative term.
By Zack Adams, RP Staff, on Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 3:00 PM ET
The Politics of Pigskin
This week’s Monday Morning QB article includes the Steelers’ big win over the Patriots, Anquan Boldin’s clutchness, and the Bengals winning some games. [Sports Illustrated]
Speaking of the Patriots, Bill Barnwell pays his respects to the quickly Patriots defense that Ben Roethlisberger shredded on Sunday. Keep reading as Barnwell makes fantastic observations throughout his article. [Grantland]
Here are your winners and losings from Sunday’s slate of games. [Yahoo! Sports]
Here is a preview of the upcoming game this weekend between #1 LSU vs. #2 Alabama, also known as the national championship. [ESPN]
Andrew Luck is really, really good. #SuckforLuck [CBS Sports]
By Sandra Moon, RP Staff, on Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
The Politics of Faith
Today you might engage in various Halloween traditions and festivities, but you might not know how the holiday came about. Here’s an article about the origins and evolution of Halloween. [Evansville Courier & Press]
Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Some claim it’s the devil’s holiday, while to others it’s a harmless night of fun. [CNN Belief Blog]
Watch this season of the TV show Dexter for some interesting commentary on science and religion. [NPR]
By Patrick Derocher, on Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 12:30 PM ET
Cleo Powell has made history as the state of Virginia's first African-American female Supreme Court Justice.
Virginia has its first female African-American Supreme Court Justice. Cleo Elaine Powell was sworn in on October 21 to the seat, vacated by Leroy R. Hassell, Sr., the states first African-American chief justice, who passed away in February. “He was my mentor, he was my friend,” Powell said of Hassell. “It is my privilege to fill the seat that he so untimely vacated.” A native of southern Virginia, Powell received undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Virginia and was the first African-American woman to serve on the Virginia Court of Appeals in 2008. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has sued that state for its recently-enacted voter ID laws. The Republican-backed legislation does not directly affect women voters qua women voters, the group has stated that it believes that the laws are in violation of the Constitution by impinging upon the voting rights of minorities. “We are appalled by the stories the league is hearing about the barriers people are facing in trying to obtain an acceptable ID,” the group’s president, Melanie Ramey, said. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
In other voter registration news, a New Smyrna Beach, Fla. teacher may be fined thousands of dollars for holding a student voter registration drive. Jill Cicciarelli, who advises student government ar New Smyrna Beach High School, is said to have violated a controversial new state law regarding registration of new voters. Aimed at groups like ACORN, the law requires that any third party registering voters must register with the state and submit applications within 48 hours. [Daytona Beach News-Journal]
California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed into law legislation that would allow children aged 12 and up to seek medical care for sexually transmitted diseases– including the much-maligned Gardasil vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV). The bill, signed hours before the governor’s deadline to sign bills sent to him by the State Assembly, was tempered by a donation two days later, when pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca donated some $8,000 to Brown’s reelection campaign. AstraZeneca says the donation was not related to the new law. (Incidentally, Gardasil is produced by rival Merck.) [Sacramento Bee]
Debates between Republican Cindy Golding and Democrat Liz Mathis have been scheduled in an Iowa Senate special election. The election is hotly-contested and could flip the Senate’s close 26-24 Democratic majority to a 25-25 tie which, along with Republican Governor Terry Branstad and a Republican-controlled House of Representatives, would solidify Republican power in the first-in-the-nation caucus state. The seat was opened when incumbent Democrat Swati Dandekar Branstad appointed her to the state utilities board. [Des Moines Register]
By Jonathan Miller, on Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Louisville’s reputation outside Kentucky rests, in part, on baseball bats, fried chicken, Muhammad Ali, and a horse race, but now one must add the Festival of Faiths to that list.
There’s never been more of a cynical curmedgon than David Hawpe, the former editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. So his glowing endorsement of this week’s upcoming 16th annual celebration of the Festival of Faiths is something for all to take notice.
This year’s event — entitled Sacred Air: Breath of Life — takes place from November 2nd – 7th, and it reaffirms our commitment to come together as many faiths, united in our mutual respect for each other, so that we can engage in common action on behalf of our community.
The chair of the festivities, Christy Brown, is one of Kentucky’s greatest treasures. Recently widowed from her extraordinary husband Owsley Brown II (whom I briefly eulogized here), Christy has shared her heart, soul, and considerable talents transforming the Festival of Faiths into an internationally-celebrated event.
Both the Mrs. RP and I are proud to take part in the festivities.
Lisa has helped organize a full day of Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation exercise. A wide range of movement and breathing exercises will be available, suitable to every level from beginner to proficient, and appropriate for families as well as individuals. Classes will be offered continually throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. For details, click here.
I will be joining a panel on Friday afternoon, from 3:00-4:30 PM in the Tavern Room at the Henry Clay at 604 South Third Street in Louisville. At this session, participants will be developing a Statement of Belief for the festival, in order to leave the week with a powerful call to action. The goal of the session is to come up with evidence of actions and steps to present to churches, synagogues, mosques, religious organizations, and other leadership bodies.
Read the rest of… The RP: Join Me at The Festival of Faiths
By Stephanie Doctrow, RP Staff, on Mon Oct 31, 2011 at 9:15 AM ET
Forty years ago today, a group of feminist leaders (including Gloria Steinem) started an empowering magazine for women. Take a look back at Ms. magazine, a publication that changed history. [NY Magazine]
Perry just needs to not mess up for eight weeks. I can’t imagine the numbers working on an optional 20 percent tax rate but I’m no economist. It’s not that important that the numbers work; what’s important is that he sound credible and serious defending it.
If he can do that and not get distracted by other issues, Cain will implode. Bachmann will quit shortly after Iowa and file for reelection. Gingrich will go back to selling books and speaking for $25K a pop or whatever he gets. Santorum will go back to annoying people.
And without all those candidates who’ve just been renting five to 20 percent of the voters, they’ll be up for grabs, and if anything is clear after the last five years, they aren’t really feeling Mitt Romney. So I think those voters break 2:1 or 3:1 for Perry.
Whether that’s enough will depend on his performance, and where Paul’s five to 10 percent end up. (Huntsman’s one to two percent splits between Romney and Obama – not enough to have an impact.)
By the way, I think Huckabee could swoop in tomorrow and scoop up enough of those “rented” voters to take the nomination.
By Chris Schulz, RP Staff, on Fri Oct 28, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET
CNN has a nice collection of info and stories about the Earth getting ready to hit 7 billion people. [cnn.com]
As the population rises, and resources become more scarce, it will become harder to feed people. One San Francisco restaurant is looking to make a cheaper source of protein acceptable. [npr.org]
Allegations of scientific misconduct are being leveled at the researcher who told us of polar bears drowning because of global warming. [npr.org]
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