In your opinion, was Ali a draft dodger?

[Mr.Fantastic]

Easily a draft dodger.

[KayDub]

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.

[Rigel]

Draft dodger.

[BluesMan]

Yes....and the term,is a badge of honor.

He chose not to fight in an illegal,unjust and ****** war...he was much smarter than those who did.

[BluesMan]

Ali was a great in the ring but when it came to defending his country he was a coward.

You sir,are just plain ******...

[1bad65]

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.

[Barcham]

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.

[wladavit]

He probably was.

[champion4ever]

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.

[Evil_Meat]

Ali was a great in the ring but when it came to defending his country he was a coward.

You're a brainwashed drone.