Do we usually put draft-dodgers on a pedestal? What about Muhammed Ali?

Question

I think that the Ali mystique is a little too strong and needs to be deflated. Yes, my point of view is biased and I admit it. If you disagree, that's fine, just hear me out. We are so blinded by our adulation for this man that we forget the time when he was hated, and he was hated. There were a lot of draft-dogers in the Viet Nam conflict, but we didn't usually put them on a pedestal. Why should we do that with Ali? Do we give him praise for standing up for his religious beliefs? The Nation of Islam? Part of their beliefs, which Ali supported specifically, were that black people don't want to live with the white man and that black people should not marry whites. Ali supported these ideas specifically. We can say that these actions happened in the past, but do we excuse white politicians who were members of the KKK since their membership, after all, was in the past? Should Ali be praised for dodging the draft or should he be held to account for it? This is relevant to boxing, by the way, because the Ali mystique was so strong that the boxing judges would vote in favor of him even if he obviously lost a fight.

Answer 1

I don't agree with Ruddiger much, but he is spot on this time.

I can't believe you have the audacity to call Ali a draft-dodger. He didn't run to Canada or try to hide. He simply refused to go on ethical grounds and took the repercussions like a man. He was willing to go to jail for his beliefs. Take a good, hard look in the mirror and ask yourself if you'd be able to do the same. I doubt it.

Answer 2

Ali gave up millions of dollars and 3 years of his prime and had a 5 year prison term hanging over his head, and people did hate him for it back then, but years later when they realized HEY! this guy was right, the war is wrong! they loved him for it. And not everyone hated, allot of white people hated him because he was a good looking, cocky as **** black man who beat the **** out of white guys and said to the government, YOUR WRONG!. In a country where black people were **** on and they expect them to go die for them in a war that was wrong.  h**l there was a whole movement against the war. The most unpopular war in US history, To black people he was a hero.

You did not grow up when Ali did, always hearing about black people being drug through the streets, whites only laundry mats and restaurants they were good enough to go and die for the country but not good enough to eat in its restaurant.  If I was in Ali shoe;s or any black persons shoes back then id tell the rest of the US to **** themselves too. And Ali is loved for more then not going to war, he also used his influence to  free  P.O.W's of war because he was loved around the world. h**l almost the entire world hates the U S government now.

How could you hold a guy accountable for doing whats right?

**** you!

Answer 3

Wow, Ruddiger, you are definitely on the money with that.  The nation of Islam does not teach hatred of white people, and that you cant marry white people, i have no idea where you get this from.  Then you compare the nation of islam to the KKK a terrorist organization?  The reason we should go after them is because 40 years of lynching and not one member has ever been convicted in a court of law.  Anyway, in mecca where all muslims make there journey, theyre are many whites its what enlightened malcolm X.  Many african americans believe it should be separate back then because we were hung and murdered for interracial dating, and any whites who accepted us were labeled n...lovers and so forth.  So if he did believe that black people dont want to live with white people can you blame him?  He was an activist, outspoken person, did you know that ali also marched for equal rights.  At a time when America was full of hatred, and separated views, How can you ask this question of any black mand.  We didnt create slavery, or prejudice, we are just survivors of it.  You should take more time and research your commander in chief, he dodged the draft as well, and what was his reason.  Oh i had to go help with the campaign.  We spent 100's of thousands of dollars to train him to fly and when the country needed him it was more important to work on a campaign.  Kudos to Ali for sticking to what he believed and even taking the punishment and sacrificing his passion for what he believed was right.

Answer 4

Ruddiger is right on the money.  You can agree to disagree with his personal beliefs but no one can deny how great of a boxer he was.  

Answer 5

I hate to say this but ruddiger is right.The war was wrong and maybe if you do your research you would know that a couple of years before he was drafted that he was deemed undraftable.then when he becomes famous they want him in there war.do you know why?????because they thought that if ali supported them then people wouldn't hate the war so much.So when ali refused to do what they wanted they punished him for it.SO ONCE AGAIN ALI IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME.