Why is Cassius Clay considered a great man since he evaded the draft during Viet Nam?

Question

Many of us had religious beliefs or reasons for going to Nam and risking our lives but you know what that did not matter to Unce Sam. In Clays case he played the religious card and race card at the same time. i think he is a disgusting individual who chickened out. Its one thing to get into a ring with a less worthy opponent but another thing to confront an armed enemy in the jungle. Hate to burst your bubble on this charactor.

Answer 1

Actually your looking at the situation from the wrong perspective. Ali wasn't afraid of dying. In fact, by the time of the Vietnam war, Ali had already gained stardom. If he did go, he would have been shielded from combat. His role would be to improve the moral of those actually dying. Ali knew this.

His refusal to fight was not based solely on religious belief. It is true that he was a conscientious objector; however, he also was extremely pissed about the inequalities within the military.

Martin Luther King Jr. describes the war best when he said, "its a white man's war, but a black man's fight". The draft placed a disproportionate amount of minorities and poor in harms way. The unfavorable college and occupational deferments protected the upper-middle and upper classes. ML K's quote actually should be changed from "white" and "black" to rich and poor.

That is not to say racism was not a serious problem. At the beginning of the war, African-Americans were dying in large numbers; much higher proportions to that of whites. This FACT is what Ali decided to combat. How can you blame him for using his celebrity to help his own people as opposed to Uncle Sam. If it had been my brothers being sent to slaughter, I would be fighting, but not the Vietnamese.

Answer 2

What did it matter to "Unce Sam?" He had more to choose from...

I do not think he is disgusting, nor do I think he "chickened out." Those who admired him did so because he was a conscientious objector. You did not burst my bubble on this "charactor" - you merely stated your opinion in the guise of a "question." It happens here in Y!A all the time.

Can you tell me what the percentage of the soldiers who served in Vietnam were actual combat troops who "confronted an armed enemy in the jungle?"

Answer 3

My bubble is not busted at all. Civil disobedience has been used for centuries to fight unjust policies. The United States has forgotten that the Constitution is our law. The Constitution gives the right to start wars to the Congress, but since World War II, the presidents think they have the right to start wars. It is bad when pacifism is viewed as a character flaw.

Answer 4

Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. registered for the defense force draft in April of 1960. In March 1964 he replaced his call to Muhammad Ali. On August 23, 1966, Ali petitioned the Selective provider for an exemption from defense force provider. He signed as Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., a/ok/a/ Muhhammad Ali, specific container Minister, The lost united states of america of Islam. His request became into denied. Ali's A-a million draft classification became into upheld on March 6, 1967. On April 28, 1967 Ali refused induction into the U. S. military and ny State revoked his license to container as did many different states. In could, Ali became into indicted for draft evasion by the Federal Grand Jury. On June 20, 1967, a jury for the U. S. District courtroom for the Southern District of Texas, Houston branch, back a verdict of to blame against Ali on the charge of violating the known defense force education and Sevice Act because of the fact of his refusal to be inducted. choose Joe Ingraham sentenced him to a term of 5 years imprisonment and a great of $10,000. Ali appealed the subsequent day and became into released on bond. On February a million, 1970, Ali formally retired and vacated his identify. This certain that the winner of the Joe Frazier vs. Jimmy Ellis "unification" bout could be seen the undisputed champion. On 9-11, 1970, Ali introduced that he had signed to combat Jerry Quarry in Georgia, which had no state value. on the time, Ali's conviction for draft evasion became into on allure to the U. S. superb courtroom. meanwhile, Ali had gained a separate Federal courtroom action that held the ny State Athletic value's refusal to furnish Ali a license became into arbitrary and capricious and opposite to regulation. The value did not allure that ruling. On June 28, 1971 the U. S. superb courtroom reversed Ali's draft evasion conviction. *precis* He went to reformatory, published bail, and became into stripped of his heavy weight identify P.S., I in no way pronounced the cost he paid became into adequate, it merely exhibits that gold tips the scales of justice. in case you have the coin you will get out of very almost something

Answer 5

Get over it and move on with your life. You are just trying to stir up old issues for no reason other than you can't get past them.

Answer 6

He was a great boxer--not a great man. Big difference. And me believes the boxing addled his brains.

Answer 7

Didn't one or two of your presidents do the same thing?