Should Mohammed Ali Be Awarded An Honorary Knighthood?

[naomi24]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/muhammad-ali/12175534/Thousands-sign-petition-to-give-Muhammad-Ali-honorary-knighthood.html

[mikey4444]

Last time I checked, Ali was an American citizen, so I am a total loss to understand why Betty should give him a knighthood ?

I am sure that America has plenty of honours that it can bestow him.

[naomi24]

Mikey, it wouldn't be a first - by a very long way.

Scroll down here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_honorary_British_knights_and_dames

[Prudie]

As we've lost so much protocol that we refer to her as Betty then it doesn't really matter who gets them anymore.

[Hypognosis]

Bit of an imposition, for a Parkinsons sufferer to spend hours on planes to meet HM Queeg. I think she's put her jet-setting ways behind her too.

I should be disregarding practicalities, should't I?

I'll play safe and say "Whyever not?" but what services has he provided to Britain, beyond just being a bit of a card?

[mikey4444]

Naomi....it doesn't bother me one way or the other if Ali gets this knighthood or not. But I am still a little puzzled why he is being considered in the first place.

[jno]

He's at least as worthy as Sir Douglas Fairbnks Jr, best known for appearing headless in a photo with the Duchess of Argyll.

[Baldric]

From the link which Mikey hasn't read yet

///Mr Ali is due to open a major London exhibition into his life in a few days and 12,000 have reportedly signed a petition set up by ex-world heavyweight champion David Haye.
London Olympics gold medallist Joshua, told the Evening Standard: “What makes Ali such a role model is the battles he had to go through. He was fighting through the civil rights movement. He was more than just a boxer, he was a leader for many people.///

[jno]

Y

[Sqad]

He's a Muslim, black, avoided US National service, loud mouthed (Louisville Lip), so yes......N ideal candidate for a knighthood.

[jno]

Stupid iPad... It isn't actually being considered yet, merely proposed. But I'd have no objections.

[naomi24]

Baldric, I was just about to tell Mikey that if he reads the link he might get some idea of the thinking behind it.

[Svejk]

I'd love to see it. Hopefully, he won't throw it in the Thames.

[mikey4444]

Naomi....I did read the link, and I still can't understand why this American should be considered for a knighthood.

If we are going on a hunt for a sportsman who has given his or her sport, and Britain, reason to be proud, I am sure that there must be lots of British candidates that we could consider.

[Svejk]

Somebody lend mikey a shovel.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm unsed to celebs being awarded honours for no apparent reason other than they are celebs, but to give one to someone who isn't even British ? What amazing activity has he done for us ?

It takes a lot to take something that is a nonsense such as the award system, and make it more of a nonsense.

[Baldric]

Naomi, sorry about jumping the gun,
;o)

[Baldric]

Just a thought

Terry Wogan, Bob Geldof, Kevin Spacey and Steven Spielberg are all previous non-UK nationals to have received the honour.

[Old_Geezer]

In which case why were they awarded too ?

This reality is insane.

[ToraToraTora]

well they gave Geldof and Bonio one, not sure really but he's at least as deserving as those 2.

[mikey4444]

Perhaps we should all be given a knighthood, at birth...think of all the spare time that would leave Betty with !