American Rhetoric: Movie Speech

"Ali" (2001)

Ali Defends His Decision Not to Participate in Military Draft Induction

Audio mp3 of Address delivered by Will Smith

Ali: I ain't draft-dodgin.' I ain't burnin' no flag. And I ain't runnin' to Canada. I'm stayin' right here.

You wanna send me to jail? Fine, you go right ahead. I've been in jail for 400 years. I can be there for 4 or 5 more.

But I ain't goin' no 10,000 miles to help murder and kill other poor people. If I wanna die, I'll die right here, right now fightin' you -- if I wanna die.

You my enemy. Not no Chinese, no Viet Cong, no Japanese.

You my opposer -- when I want freedom.

You my opposer -- when I want justice.

You my opposer -- when I want equality.

Want me to go to somewhere and I fight for you. You won't even stand up for me right here in America for my rights and my religious beliefs. You won't even stand up for me right here at home.