>> >>. >> we are running short on time and want to get a representative questions from the audience trying to sort through the most popular issues that have not been addressed. said think we'll be close to the end of the time. so sort of related to the questions we have heard you said that president obama has watched and continuously planning in a war plan? can you provide an example of how this has been done? it maybe that is something where interested in hearing what that is about. >> the second question in a different area we heard your earlier today -- earlier today and we argued the policies such as they are, are not effective evening from the current course as you would get much more dangerous north korea to the next president's term. so what is obama considering? to read engaged some way or other and to hand off to the next administration with a better set of tools to deal with this. and for all of this to ponder and it depends on a lot of different factors then of your leadership but public awareness and congressional leadership and we have seen the last four or five years the debate the departure from the senate of the heavy rates -- of the policy or people that we look to and on the democratic side. and over the past seven years how important is at and how important is that going forward for the next president to achieve progress? >> on the first one, we've made an effort to with our guidance to be more transparent to share our thinking and our objectives with contingencies and this is something ultimately of the basic principle so there is the degree of decisions based that hedges against the risk but what ways can we be more transparent? en the second one with the dprk, i think what we're doing is we're concerned of what has been escalated over recent months and years. to have the nuclear capability that implicates our security in dangerous ways. then serving in northeast asia. but then taken steps against that threat try to increase pressure and north korea but with diplomacy we're certainly open to pursuing those efforts with north korea with one that in coordination with our allies and we would need to be assured that there is some recognition that indicates what we're talking about that means you don't expect the nuclear program as much as we would like but we have to try to find a way to these issues coming to the table and opposed by north korea. so we will be open to that. to come and talk to our partners and we have not had a signal of seriousness. it is interesting how much attention iran gets. and for the next administration. >> in terms of the changing dynamics but you don't know the exact opening so what is interesting in retrospect and then second-guessing and then to take that opening in that reduction because of some russian cooperation and with that diplomacy and now russia looks very different. and those of the election but i say that and i don't know if you had some progress with the shift of mindset it in russia. one of the biggest lessing's and with that detail that is a mind-set and i totally see the point and hamilton to see just how essentials congressional leadership and early in the administration and it makes it all the more imperative that there are efforts made to ensure as people are in the house or in the senate there is a dedicated effort to raise the profile so that people are developing that degree of expertise so that doesn't just show up to seven like you to support this is the deep in the standing with these issues that were so evident with the people that you mentioned there is always a reason and to sustain a capability and in both parties to raise the awareness at that level to ensure that it doesn't just happen to a constantly the people dug down and got smart on the issues but that is because people have to focus to have a baseline of understanding. so that is the constant and consistent and not to show a bank complained about something. >> we have taken this hour with your willingness to come by and project yourself with your talk about reflecting on the agenda and what has been accomplished with the work that is left to be done and we will carry a with those issues we have been discussing here today. [applause] >> we will have about seven minutes before the next panel begins. [inaudible conversations] >> so i said that if we have to turn back and walk down the stairs we will tell them we cannot see anybody and they said justin and a. [laughter] in b told him you have to open the hearings obama administration efforts concerning global nuclear security. muhammad ali has been buried encapsulated hill cemetery in lewisville, kentucky. a public memorial service was held and speakers included former president billy clinton, billy crystal, brian gumbal and members of the family. this is just over three hours. >> in the name of god, most compassionate, more merciful, we request everyone rise at the current time. stand-up to greet the ali family. [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] [silence] [applause] [silence] brief recitation from the koran, the scripture of the muslim, a young emom from a mid-town mosque in memphis tennessee for a neighborhood renewal effort and that effort is centered around the few african-american and graduates and will share with us a few verses. >> ladies and gentlemen,. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> then to now with the translation and we will bring you a second generation of syrian immigrants an excellent student editor spare time in recent years she raisesto money to provide medical supplies and instruments and other forms of medical assistance for syrian refugees fleeing from a horror that we pray almighty god brings to the succession >> in the name of god most gracious and merciful. merciful, truly those who say our lord is guide the angels will descend upon those with neither fear nor sadness but rather with joy in the paradise we are your allies in this life and after you add your heart's desire and whatever you ask for from the one most forgiving and most merciful flow is more beautiful in a speech and the one who invites to guide the righteous work truly i am submitted to god? for good and evil are not equal the beauty to behold and has transformed that nobody arrives at the station without great patience and fortune. chapter 41 vs 30 through 35.ers [applause] >> i forgot to mention she is a proud residents of this city. [applause] god bless this day of ours who was our protector an excellent protector honorable president william clinton and distinguished guest and audience come on behalf of the ali family and this city of louisville the home of the people's champ. [cheers and applause] ali. ali. ali. ali. we're dealing with time.le, louisville admirably led by our mayor i would like to welcome you. [applause]come you i will like you to welcome you to this memorial service at t for muhammad ali and at this time you'd like to introduce our first speaker reverend william cosby. [cheers and applause] time does not permit us to yell serving has st. stephen church's senior pastor into his dynamic teachings his congregation has grown exponentially he combines passion and his intellect as the foundation of an inspirational ministry over the lives of thousands of individuals. >> islet the dictionary for the words fidelity and i had two words muhammad ali. [applause] 19679 months prior to his assassination and martyrdomassan dr. martin luther king, jr. was interviewed on the merv griffin show. he asked dr. king a relevant question and said what has been the greatest effect and impact it has had on the negro and he said besides the dismantling of the barriers that prohibited the negro from free access, the greatest and most profound effect the civil rights struggle had is that it used in the negro's something that it needed all along. and that was a sense of somebody you will never be able to appreciate what he meant when he said then negro needed that sense of somebody until you understand the 350 years of nobody that was infused into the psyche of the people of color every sacred document in our history, every hollow institution conspired to convince the african and american that god was guilty t of creative malfeasance all of our sacrosanct documents that you are nobody the constitution said we were 3/5 of a person decisions by the supreme court said to the negro and the african we had no rights and even francis scott key in his rating of the "star spangled banner" first number one and first number three to celebrate slavery by saying no refuge can save the enslaved from the sorrow of night from the deaths of the grave. every institution for religion and entertainmente to jane and tarzan that he was inferior and if something happened to the world war ii generation of african-americans he picked up the bat and hit a ball and the dodgers win theckson piu pennant so dismantle the area and supremacy to knockout in 124 seconds just the u.s. runs the ambulatory speed and wins four gold medals rosa parks sits down on a bus december 1955 and it was someone from boston university stands up to take those ideas so big, i can understand. [applause] and then from louisville. [cheers and applause] a merge the silver tongue tong who took the eighth dose of somebody to the un heard of heights before james brown said it muhammad ali said i am black and i am pretty. [cheers and applause] black and rand pretty was an oxymoron blacks did not say pretty the first black millionaire was not oprah but t.j. walker. [applause] in order to help black people escape their africant mus identity but muhammad ali said eyebrow and i am pretty and i am glad of the new y m and when he said that it is accused in africans a sense to be somebody and to read extrapolate muhammad ali from the time in which he lives that is called a historic precedents talk about george washington butal not about the american revolution or abraham lincoln and not the civil war but fdr and not talk about the depression and world war ii our brother was a product of a difficulther is u time and he dared to love black people at a time when they had touched problem letting themselves. [applause] he dared to affirm the beauty of blackness and with der to affirm the power and capacity of african americans and dared to love america's most unloved greatness and he loved us all and we loved him because we knew he loved us with the or the sluin the suburbs were the avenue or in the alley if you came from the penthouse or the projectsfrom from morehouse or no house whether you were yellow or black muhammad ali love to you we're known for muhammad ali and the kentucky derby we hope you'll come back to visit our city the first saturday in may we hope you'll bet on one of the horses but please know the you rules if it starts in the starting gate the signal is given they will run in the mud for two minutes and the winner is led to the winner's circle were reached of roses is placed around the neck please know thet but rules you cannot that for the horse once it is in the winner's circle. you have to take the course while it is still in the mud [applause] and there are a lot of people who have bet on muhammad ali when he was then the winner's circle but the masses bet on him while he was still in the mud. [cheers and applause] kareem abdul-jabbar stood with him when he was in the mud jim brown stood with him when he was in the mud bill russell stood with him when he was in the mud howard cosell stood with him when he was in the mud. [applause] please do not miss hear me i am not saying that muhammad ali is the property of black people. he is the property of all people. [applause but while he is the property of all people let us never, forget that he is the product of black people and their struggle to be free. [applause] i went looking for jesus on a street thinking i wouldlked find him with the men and women of stumbling feet but they were broken had nowhere. to go but then i went looking for jesus thinking he would wear a robe is myzl walking byuddenly jesus came walking by because he was hanging with up for on the a wet street. [cheers and applause] the muhammad ali of my childhood had shuffled but as he grew older he walked with shuffling feet i will submit she walked with shuffling feet not because of parkinson's disease but walked with shuffling feet because he walked with those who had shuffling feet. god bless you. [cheers and applause] >> don't give a teenager of. a telephone do not give a preacher and a microphone. [laughter] bring way like to bring senator hatch to a the stage now his seventh term as one of your senators one of the most senior republican in the senate some of the most farm preaching legislation overh is a decades a seasoned and distinguished public servant we're deeply honored by his tod. presence today. [applause] >> reference that was nice it is hard for this poor old senator to have to follow liston muhammad ali stood at aeporters crowd and told the worldwa unapologetically though he was. i am the greatest that is what he said.is simple with this simple proclamation he wrote his own title and the textbooksprize he was not muhammad ali the prizefighter or the world champion his was the greatest his daughter's dismiss this as bragging but he was not talking trash he was speaking truth and in the world of boxing he truly was the greatest. [applause] but the? throat quickness of a street fighter and the simple grace of a ballerina he moved with agility and strength but his greatness stems solely from his athletic prowess is that he is only half the man he was great not only as an extraordinary fighter but itte committed civil rights leader in international diplomats and advocate for religious freedom and the effective emissary of islam. he was something he was carrying as a father and husband and brother and friend indeed as a personal friend that i witnessed his greatness myself. i first met muhammad ali 28 years ago almost to this day in my senate office one desisted called to say you have a visitor outside. i was surprised it was none other than the champion himself.zzling to ma a friendship that developed that was puzzling to many people especially to those that only saw our differences. i might say that where he saw a difference we saw a kinship we're both dedicated to work-family its in deeply devoted to our fate. he took islam and i with the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints we were both came from humbleabble backgrounds true we weret different in some ways it was also on our friendship. i saw greatness and hisyond the ability of the difference is to find common ground and though the relationship that i will forever treasure. but ali joined me in salt lake to listen to the mormon tabernacle choir. petasus he loved music end he enjoyed the choir's performance but he seemed most excited to share his religious beliefs of they would hear the christian hymns he attracted big crowds that day as he always did land he gave everybody autographed pamphlets explaining his muslim beliefs. hundreds of mormons lined up to grab these pamphlets of course, i grabbed one for myself. [laughter] i respected his deeply held convictions just as he respected mine and our relationship was anchored by the different faith he was open to goodness and all of the diverse varieties on another occasion a to a camp to primary children's hospital in salt lake city we visited the downtrodden children who perhaps had never smile the day in their lifetime and tell ali showedoked up he looked into their eyes they would grin from ear to ear these are kids who had the nursile there is so muchch pain never before had they seen someone who had connected so immediately with the sick children he had a special way with kids he may have been tough and tenacious in the ring but he was compassionate and tender around those that he loved so for all of his ferocity as a fighter he was also a peacemaker a particular radio host did you talk constantly on the airwaves week after week with a five letter range for him to be the middleweight champion for a joint interview he agreed knowing that his interestce could build goodwill the u.s. interested in meeting jean as well and it was an experience there virtu a champion's face to face reminiscing about some of the best of the world has ever seen and i have to say in the process ali claimed the radio host and he charmed them so much that had the and repentant an antagonist. so dedicated was he to our friendship he joined me on the campaign trail during several election cycles he came to utah year after year to raise funds for a charity benefit gain with men in jeopardy he did look at life to the lands of republicans and democrats that is so common today he had were the causes and shared humanity always a willingness to put principles ahead of partisanship to show was called the path to greatness and i will never forget that nor tness and i will neverer forget him. [applause] there were many bases to his greatness his ability as a his boxer and public figure his benevolence as a father and a friend all of these made ali great but there was something else that made him the greatest he was the greatest because the unbroken champion of the debilitated we had a great is beyond ourselves even beyond ali he pointed us to the greatness of god. [applause] dray step ali to be the greatest player of all time and yet he allowed him to wrestle with parkinson's in inescapable reminder that we're all moral and we are all dependent on god's grace. he believed this himself had once told me god gave me this condition to remind me always that i and human and only he is the greatest. ali wause] he was an unsurpassed symbolas s and the greatest because he reminded us all that god our creator and i am eternally grateful with my special bond with this special and and my friendship with his beloved wife, lonnie whom i love dearly she is one of the great women in this world. [applause] she was dedicated to her companion to the very end. i pray that he raced -- restce peacefully in the presence of the greatest of all. i can bear testimony that i believe i believe we are here on earth for recent i believe it is time to do what is right for our fellow men and women at another have government anybody who did it any better than myd, muhd friend muhammad ali godfamily. bless you. [applause]t we would like >> next move like to welcome monsignor father to the stage to has been pastor instrumental and the pastor of st. patrick's parish in pennsylvania ordained in 1970 with the title from pope john paul ii in 1991 his wisdom and scholarship and spiritual guidance for catholics and members of other faiths community go far beyond his pennsylvania home.s [applause] >> let us pray loving each turn of god as we gather to day in prayer read do so with the abiding sense of gratitude and our gratitude knows no bounds as we thank you for the gift of this good and gentleman muhammad ali opened our eyes to the evil of racism and to the absurdity of war he showed us with incredible patience that the debilitating illness joy and love in our lives he chided our conscience and awakened in a cedi persons to set aside racial differences the legendary fighter of fall times in reality taught us to embrace rather than shoot turn away to include rather than exclude mock calling himself the greatest heov shows his greatest lied in the love and concern for others those to marginalize the suffering the helpless and hopeless your gift has enriched us to make us better people and has created a more gentle world we dare not reap turn him to you today without expressing our gratitude for the gift of him.[applause] amen. [applause] few brief >> next we'll hear a few brief remarks from a professor of islamic studies from ontario canada and is equally at home busying himself with the affairs of the muslim community as sitting in the library going through books a true intellectual the initial and principal economic adviser to the ali family and instrumental in assuring the last days of his life his b burial, the shrouding and his funeral and burial today were all out in accordance with the scriptures of muslim lot. so now i will bring to a you the person i affectional they call brother dr. imam. [applause] >> in the name of god who is a loving nurturer of the creations of the ever compassion and merciful my website to share a prayer today that was adapted from i'm a traditional prayer may god's blessings and peace me upon him but before i do so of a bike to say to the family and everyone here that serving muhammad ali t has been one of the greatestea privileges of life oh god you who are the light of the heavens and the earth grant our brother muhammad alight in his heart in his earthly body in a restored to the earth of eight in his grave. of light before him as he journeys on to you. and light christ with all the key has left behind in this world and what has left grant him light in his deeds in in this world and in the hereafter in the hearts of those whom he loved and delight in the eyes of those who loved him. a light of those whom he knocked down and of those he lifted up and in his words that echo in our hearts and delight in the lives of those he touched of light inhi his children of their mothers and grandchildren of his devoted wife, lonnie i increase your servant in light and give him light embrace him and might and fill us all with light. you are the light of the heavens and the earth you who are the most merciful of those to show mercy. [applause] >> next we will hear a fewael words from the rabbi as theugge, magazine rabbi he has dedicated his life to working to heal and repair the world the rabbis a is never afraid of ruffling a few feathers but we asked him to be nice today. [laughter] [applause] the we will see about those others. [laughter] -- brothers. ♪ master of compassion and god of compassion, send your blessings to muhammad ali and all who mourn for him and the millions of people who mourn for him all over the planet i come heree speaking as a representative of american jews that played an important role of solidarity with the i african-americans in this country and today we stand in solidarity with the atomic community in this country and all around the world. [applause] we will not tolerate politicians or anyone else cutting down muslims and blaming them. [cheers and applause] we know what it is like to have a few people to act against the high as visions of our traditions to be identified as the value and one thing that we say in the magazine may have called upon the united states to stand up to the parts of the government of the of palestiness palestinians that we as jews understand that our commitment is to recognize that god has created everyone in god's image and everyone is equally precious including the palestinian people as well as all others on the planet. [cheers and applause] i know the people of louisville average special relationship to muhammad alili and i did in the '60s when he was indicted by thegainst the federal government and had a stance against the war in vietnam. although he was cheered as the heavyweight champion of the world of the honor was given to him but they come and go sports heroes come and go but there wasg something about muhammad ali that is different at the key moment of that recognition and he used it to stand up for the immoral war to say no. i won't go. and its and applause] and for that reason that tens of millions of americans who don't particularly care about boxing followed him because he was the first one to risk that honor to stand up for the police that he had to speak truth to power when the rest of the people said no. it was taken away for five years but he stood up and was willing to take that risk because of that moral integrity. so i wanand applause] i want to say how do we honor muhammad ali? the answer is to be muhammad ali today. [cheers and applause] that means us, everyone hear it is up to us to continue that ability to speak truth to power and refuse to follow the path of conformity and refuse to follow the path of conformity. tell those that it is time to share the wealth. tell the politicians it is time to end to the drone warfare of every other kindd. to bring the troops home with mass incarceration when everyone in our society tell the judges with many african americans to be imprisoned by racist judges. [applause] many are in prison today for offenses like possessing marijuana that white people get away with all the time. [cheers and applause]ed officias to tell the elected officials to imprison those who ran the big banks to cause the economic collapse of 2008 tell the leaders of turkey that they are killing the kurds intel prime minister netanyahu the way to get the security is for israel to stop thete a occupation of the west bank to create a palestinian state. [cheers and applause] tell the next president of the united states that she. [cheers and applause] tell the next president of the united states that she needs to make a constitutional amendment butted by the state legislatures and all other sources of money to be banned including corporations and individuals and make it all publicause] funding. [cheers and applause] tell her the way to achieve homeland's security is not to try new ways of domination that has been tried for the past 10,000 years and it does not work the way to get securities for the united states to become known as the most generous and caring country in the world not the most powerful. [applause] we can start with the globalob and domestic to end once and for all end inadequate education and health care so as chair of the interfaith network as a spiritual progressive common join us i want to affirm our commitment for all muslims on this planet for people of all faiths we wish you pay honor to the muslims of the world as they continue with ramadan and continue to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of muhammad ali a great fighter for justice and peace me upon him and the prophet muhammed and alle of humanity and all of us. a a ottman. [cheers and applause]ader of hie leader of his people the leader whose spirituality with the passionate pursuit of justice we're honored he is here today to share a few words and thoughts with us. [applause] [speaking native language] language. [speaking native language] >>pplause] mr. stevens from the unitedatio, nations translation my relatives, it is my responsibility to pick up the words the people of thehous. long house they wish you well they want you to be of peace of mind now this great darkness that has happened understand tmust understand that you have gathered us here and his road is straight peacefully he will wilt arrive at his land for our creator. it is the same as you call him. these are the words into the family and the relatives and friends of muhammad ali of thead ali was of leader and champion of the people. and he fought for the people of color and was a man of peace and principles and ama man of compassion who used his great gaffes for the common good. his spirit has a clear path to the creator as the spiritual leader of the confederation of tarnation and myself as the faithle clan,e keeper from the consulate chiefs have journeyed here today to hear our voices to his congregation of world leaders in honor of his work and for the rights and dignity of people for the common man. [applause] he was always in support of the indigenous people ofmi this hemisphere with our inherent land rights and self-determination and identity and collective rights that include the natural world. we know what he was up against because we had 524 years of survival trainingers au ourself. [cheers and applause] in the 1978 but congressman from the state of washington put a bill into congress to terminate our treaties with the united states and indian nations fought from california to washington d.c. to protest muhammad ali marched into washington with us peacefully. [applause] he was a free independent spirit and stood his ground with great courage and convictions and he paid a price. this country did to. we all did. values and principles will determine one's destiny and the principles of the nation for people do not have many options and you fighters know what i am talking about he said that the ring was the path to his destiny he would be heavyweight champion of the world and he was. three times. this is the fourth time. right here. right now. [applause] on his journey in life he had to learn the hard way he brought to light into this world. my world. our world. in that light will shine for a long long time peas brother. peace. event -- and on behalf of my friend and the indigenous people peas. [applause]s words >> his work was translated that was born into a traditional indigenous family growing up on the native reservations of upstate new york and in 1970 he became the chief state's keeper of the clan is and leadhip and stewardship is a source of benefits for all who know him. now the of rabbis here of the temple where he has been a leader in the interfaith work has a passion for teaching youth and his work with the youth that led him to cross the path with muhammad ali and his religious leadership focuses on compassion and care and working together to build a better world. >> with our day of atonement the most sacred day of theen year it was written many decades ago a civil-rightsan leo humanitarian leader who could never have known theya euh he was right teeing the eulogy for muhammad alih birth is a beginning and death is the destination and life is a journey from childhood to maturity from innocence and ignorance from foolishness to discretion and perhaps wisdom weakness to strength in strength to weakness and back again health to sickness and back again. forgiveness and loneliness and love and joy and gratitude and pain and compassion grief and understanding from defeat to defeat to do the intel a looking backward or ahead of victory lies not along the way but having made the journey stage by stage a sacred pilgrimage birth is a beginning and death is the destination life is a journey a sacred pilgrimage to life everlasting we say words of prayer and they remain words until we encounter a person who embodies these words to make them real. i have said these words many times before and memorial services but never have i felt them come to life to speak of a single shining so low as they do today. muhammad ali was the heart of this city though livingf breathing embodiment of the greatest we can be. he was our heart and that beats here still. [applause]t me tell yo i will tell you a story you already know one of those about him being gracious toothaa strangers the we have told, the so many times and in so many ways sometimes wee forget the lessons that they the story had to teach us. a story about the end of the book the soul of the butterfly she is driving her father to of bookstore for a project he is working on a pass the elderly man and with the bible and a beer in the offer him a ride he thinks then tuesday he has to go a few miles down the street she asked where he doesn lived he doesn't want to trouble them he has no idea who was sitting in the frenzy of the car.'s no troublet until he turns around and're juu says it is no trouble at all from the break to the bookstore once the man gets over meeting the greatest of all time he says he hasou three bibles in his house he would give them an appreciation for the ride he t says they cuba want to pay for the bible the man says no. we the bibles were meant as a gift ali last week he did for a living and it turns out he had a stroke and was forced into retirement ali tries to hand him money for the bible's but the man refuses and this is where it gets interesting. ali says take the money i am trying to get into heaven. [laughter] the man replies so am i. [laughter]an ali is not taking no for an answer and says if you don't take the money i'm not getting in and the man replies if i do take germany i'm not getting in. [laughter] there arrived at his home the man invites him into meet his wife of 30 years and gives ali the bible as he slips the money under ae kita napkin on the kitchen tablet they are about to leave and gives the man her phone number and tells him to call her if he needs a ride home from church again. sitting in the car ali turns to his daughter and asks which you really go out of your way to pick him up and drive him home? she says yes. and with tears in his eyes he says that is me and yu. [applause] he s he says you are on the road to have been therein lies his creed greatness the ability to see something greater in his ability to inspire others to see what is resided in themselves there will never be anotherad a. greatest but we together can embody the measure of his. kindness and compassion. in our hearts we can say there is ali in me. [applause] we have celebrated the life of eight louisville legend and citizen of the world and of all the words and all the way is that most powerful moments have been made in the voices of young people repeated in prayer service ibm ali. i am ali.i am not the f i am not the fighter that he was and they may not have the courage which he never lacked and i am definitely not as pretty. [laughter] but in my heart and my hope and in my prayers, i am muhammad ali. [applause]when we when we said that in our hearts and in live bad in our lives than we can build a legacy worthy of the of the greatest of all times to say that with me i n ali. [applause] we >> one of the amazing things that there's so many stories of common ordinary people virtually everyone has a story concerning how he touched their lives including my fourth gradeelped i class he helped me out and came to visit when i was sick in collective leave those experiences are synergetic and are greater than the individual parts as a walk to the streets of this city i have witnessed something i have never every witnessed in my life and i don't think i will ever witness again i witnessed our muwer of our muslimm tradition it may be looselyood. translated. [applause] a japanese buddhist dedicated to working for world peace with theg peace practice of the anti-a nuclear weapons with the construction of peace and rejoice and on stage another member of the order in together they will share a traditional chant with us. [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [chanting] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [applause] >> now we will listen to a reading by ambassador. [applause] the ambassador is the eldest of six daughters born. [applause] she proudly shares she is inspired by her parents and their parents and those before them through the descending generations the former prime minister recognized her as a key ambassador of the international cultural affairs and in 2002 appointed her as ambassador at large. powerful and eloquent we invite the ambassador to read a and share and inspire. [applause] >> this is a celebration between that's a and depletion and somehow that capacity so i ask all of you gathered and and a far to please mr. rupp the memories of muhammad ali thank you all set this very moment in the midst on ramadan every two hours one is including muhammad ali in their thoughts admits that's our their prayers of all faiths of those he touched even if they don't claim a religion are feeling something right now in honor of the families and the memories of their fathers in the spirit of my parents not comex. [applause] in the presence of my fiveve younger sisters our children and grandchildren, i would like to first honor the beloved wife, my sister, lonnie. [applause] of the strength that you know, and resonates sometimes you do need of little help the matter how magnificent your indeed those that were with him and loved him sustain that with his nine children, as well as their mother in the third generation of aliaccompany grandchildren. [applause] through this extraordinary example of a best friend. [applause] for all of the grief that i and depleted in what i am dealing from this transition there are no words but from this day and for those to come in it a life without him here presently totalngs that memories are all that we have that keep him going he touched you differently but just know th just know when you're in the presence of someone whose life is filled with principles that you have to cultivate that responsibly as well. [applause]ul this moment is very meaningful for me to have been amongst those who have spent with muhammad himself and to take part in the statements during this ongoing ceremony we had a a treasured relationship but muhammad ali was the last of a fraternity move directly by my dad saw me turning 18 or 20 there would find me somehow guided by my dad long after his leaving the earth to search for me and they did each one remaining in my life as unitarians this included muhammad ali but dad called is little brother 16 years his juniort wah and when i came upon him of childhood because you know, how it is he looks at you like a dare. [laughter] from the very moment we found each other it was as if no time had passed and all despite the efforts of separation despite all ofik the organized we dove right into the to the knowledge spaces to explore and uncover we cry out loud hisef fg grief for not focusing on my dad before he left and just as loudly we would laugh of the stories in some that cannot be repeated the what was significant was their ability to discuss openly, anything all facets of life mainly with those of great responsibilities was bestowed to them how to make thdifference in the lives off others the unifying topic was safe and respect for faith of faith even if belonging to one specific religion or and then but the gift of faith itself so in h his own words he wrote we all have the same god wehi just serve him differently rivers, lakes, p rivers lakes ponds streams oceans all have different names but they all contain water so do religions have different names the yen all to believe the truth expressed in different ways and forms it doesn't matter if you're a muslim or should believe all phen you believe in god you should believe. [applause] four if you love god you can not only love some of his children. [applause] his his words ideally shared by mena both men devotion is a mighty paying having muhammad ali in my life kept my dad a little while longer 51 years longer. [applause] i am for forever grateful that we were on this earth together to continue on the shared understanding of confidentiality and the comfort of living in his hometown for the past 50 years.[applause] [applause] that was not a planned and mostly for the gift of knowing the children going, kno. forward they are as my own family. know that as the last of there fraternity reaches have been my heart is rendered ever longingly for that tribe to tribe of significance and the tribe of character the tribe of duty and faith and ser. service to make sure the principles of men and women that they dedicated there very being to assure the you recognize your own glory but it is passed like the olympic torch. my dad would often state when concluding may we meet again in the light of and i s understanding and vice 82 with a light of that compass by any means necessary. [cheers and applause] >> representing the president of the united states and mrs. obama, . >> goouse] day afternoon. on behalf of president obama and mrs. obama i wish to express their deepest regret t that they could it not be with us today as we celebrate the extraordinary life of muhammad ali i first met muhammad ali over 45 years ago through his friendship end he would bech so touched that he is a pall bearer here today.k you lonnie. they q lonnie and because of my family connection to the president first lady last if i would read this tribute to you penned by president obama. it was 1980 and epic career in its "twilight" everybody knew it probably including ali whamp himself. ali went into one of his final fights an underdog all of the smart money was on the new champ larry holmes in the end the oddsmakers were right. a few hours later at 4:00 in the morning after the loss, after the fans have gone home in the sports writers were raiding their pages the sports writer asked the sports mitt room attended iffy bet on the fight ben mann, blacking getting on in years said he put his money on ali. th the writer asked why? why? he said? why? because he is muhammad ali. [applause] [appla why. he said i am 72 years old i owe the man for giving me my dignity. [applause]amily, lonnie president clinton and an area full of guests, distinguished guests you are amazing the man we celebrate today is not just of boxer or poet or agitator or a man of peace not just a muslim he was eck man or the kid not even just the greatest of all time, he was muhammad ali bill full was far greater than the sum of his parts bigger and brighter and more are original and influential than just about anyone in his era. [applause] you could not have made himm and yes et he was pretty also. [laughter] palin's in every city and village every ghetto of the planet by foreign heads ofof state, the beatles, of british invasion took a detour to come to him sometimes he was simply too big for america but i think the world would flock to him and wonder precisely as he once put it, but muhammad ali was america. [applause] brash and defiant and pioneering and joyful always to test the odds our most basic freedom religion speech and spirit embodied our ability to inventor selz. . .