In your opinion, was Ali a draft dodger?

He did the right thing, that defending your country crap is hilarous

The fact of the matter is that Ali's "draft dodging" or whatever you want to call it - did not originally stem from a religious stance. It turned into that. When he was Cassius Clay he failed a draft test - the requirements were then amended because they needed soldiers and suddenly he was OK to go to war. Now, he was sat on his garden lawn when finding out about this and TV crews and radio etc came up and told him he was going to war. Now, he then came out with the infamous quote "I ain't got no quarrel with them vietcong. No Vietcong ever called me N*****". However, the religious stance was taken later because it is a legit reason for being conscientious objector. Other people had taken the same stance and were not pulled to court or threatened with jail. So, before all the religious razzledazzle came into play, they actually offered to go to vietnam and do exhibition fights or have some kind of ambassador role ala Jack Dempsey in his time (another one who was accused of draft dodging) - which was declined and also clearly showed that the religious belief stance was not the core of the reason why he didn't want to go. His initial reason was out of fear and spite. He was afraid of going to war. Black people were reported to be killed in 1:7 ratio in comparison to the white soldiers. Now, further to that, he thought why he as the heavyweight champion should go to war, when he failed the test. It was after this that Elijah & Herbert Muhammad (probably moreso) started digging into how you could avoid a draft, and religious reasons were one of them. It was then Ali started talking about these things and it really more became a movement for blacks and suppressed rather than a religious movement for Muslims. I believe this too, he was likely scared to go and I don't blame him.

I didn't know that Vietnam was invading the United States. I remember the great lie well....'if we don't stop them from invading South Viet Nam,they will be on Cape Cod next'. Funny,we lost...I live on Cape Cod,and feel pretty safe.

Ali was a great in the ring but when it came to defending his country he was a coward. I didn't know that Vietnam was invading the United States.

"Dodging" the draft would've meant hiding somewhere and not showing up and staying undercover until end of days. Ali didn't dodge it, he straight told the draft to eff off and took the consequences that came with it.

Even if Ali ageed he wouldn't have even seen the front line. Would have been used as a propaganda tool whilst his countrymen go out and die for no good cause. "dodging the draft" was the right choice

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p305/kyaroso/addtext_com_MTE0MDI2MTAxNzQw_zpsczafv3oh.png

No, because he didn't flee the country in order to avoid the draft like Sylvester Stallone. He waited until his number was called like a man and was willing to face a felony conviction, having his World boxing title stripped, his boxing license and passport revoked as he was a conscientious objector of the draft based off his religious and spiritual convictions at that time. However, he was subsequently vindicated when the conviction was overturned on appeal by the U.S. Supreme court with a unanimous vote.

He probably was.

Ali did not dodge the draft. He refused to be inducted and he paid the price for it. He did not run away to Canada like many did and did not hide behind a rich father like many others did to get student exemptions or soft duty in the US. He stood up for his beliefs, and they were summed up very neatly in one statement he made: "I Ain't Got No Quarrel With The VietCong... No VietCong Ever Called Me ******." Ali was a man of honour. He conducted his life with honour and fought his bouts with honour. He never ran away.

The Government has no business drafting people to fight when there has been no declaration of war. My dad fought in Vietnam. When I was young, he wasn't too fond of Ali and even called him a draft dodger. A few months ago he was over and boxing was on. Ali was mentioned. Without being prodded he said he respected Ali for standing up for his beliefs and going to jail for them.

Ali was a great in the ring but when it came to defending his country he was a coward. You sir,are just plain stupid...

Yes....and the term,is a badge of honor. He chose not to fight in an illegal,unjust and stupid war...he was much smarter than those who did.

Draft dodger.

Or did/do you agree with the political stance he took aganist the war in Vietnam? How would you feel if a modern day champion refused to go to war? I know times are different but athletes prior to Vietnam and post Vietnam have gone to war for their countries. Personally, Im a Vet but I dont believe in drafting people because quite frankly Id rather have a guy that wants to be there fighting next to me than one that is forced, but at the same time if your country needs you... Ali didn't jump the border to Canada. He stood up for what he believed in and paid the price with a prison sentence. I have nothing but admiration for Ali, what he did, and what he stood for.

Easily a draft dodger.

If they implemented the draft today would you go? Me **** no

I'd applaud any man or woman, athlete or otherwise, who stood up and called the Iraq and Afghan wars for what they are: illegal occupations of foreign lands to steal their resources and provide territorial control and protection to the United States allies. No man should go to war and believe he is exempt of any moral responsibility. What resources were stolen by the US in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan?

"No Viet Cong ever called me nigg3r"

heard that was the reason he converted to islam, so he would not get drafted. i am not sure. by the way anybody knows Mike Tyson's muslim name?