In your opinion, was Ali a draft dodger?

[SalimShady1212]

"Why should I go and kill innocent brown people on the other side of the world, no vietcong ever called me a ******" - something along those lines, the US involvement was unjust anyway.

[socialteach]

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...

He would've never seen combat and in the ring, endured some horrific beatings and never quit; he kept going in the Holmes fight, so I truly doubt it. He was willing to face jail and the end of his career.

[Blueduck]

No matter how people try to re-write history, Ali was no hero for "Standing up for his beliefs". Ali tried every nonsense excuse to get out of the Draft, and even whined on camera that he should be allowed to fight because the tax dollars used could help more by buying more weapons. When everything else was exhausted he THEN claimed to be a ****** prohibited from fighting in the war (cause God knows ******s never fight in wars...)

If he had just stood up from the start and said "I'm not going, it's wrong." instead of weaseling out by playing lawyer games, I would not agree, but I could respect it.

[Mick6]

I'm not sure how I feel about that. To say all the wars after WW2 were pointless... Not sure I totally agree. What about the Korean War? Without US intervention would there only be one large (North) Korea? Maybe Vietnam would be a completely different country had the US fought differently. I'm not saying I really believe that. I'm just throwing that out there, I'm not all that knowledgable about those wars.

[BuckToothed]

I'm not sure how I feel about that. To say all the wars after WW2 were pointless... Not sure I totally agree. What about the Korean War? Without US intervention would there only be one large (North) Korea? Maybe Vietnam would be a completely different country had the US fought differently. I'm not saying I really believe that. I'm just throwing that out there, I'm not all that knowledgable about those wars.

They should be allowed to settle their own differences; the USA had its own civil war, so did other countries.

[sanpat]

ali, like most other high-profile athletes, would have been given an easy public-relations gig in the army. he probably could have even continued to box professionally "representing the united states military". the fact that the most famous fighter on earth refused to fight for an unjust cause defined him. he knowingly chose the difficult road that cost him dearly. it took courage, not cowardice to do so. it is why he transcends boxing.

[Overhandrite71]

overhandrite 71

No Ali was not a draft dodger. Any American war is bogus. Any person that thinks they're defending this country, by going to war is brainwashed. That's all to it, if u participate in an American war, you are brainwashed sheeples of the United States corporations. Stop all this talk about defending your country. That's a bunch of horse sh..

[Mick6]

They should be allowed to settle their own differences; the USA had its own civil war, so did other countries.

USA was one country stopping a part from suceeding from the union. The other countries were invaded. Don't think that's exactly the same thing.

[Mick6]

No Ali was not a draft dodger. Any American war is bogus. Any person that thinks they're defending this country, by going to war is brainwashed. That's all to it, if u participate in an American war, you are brainwashed sheeples of the United States corporations. Stop all this talk about defending your country. That's a bunch of horse sh..

What about Afghanistan? The U.S. should just let ********* freely train and operate from there?

[FrankieBruno]

he made the right decision