RIP to the GOAT.

[uh-oh]

Originally Posted by Certain

There is no legal definition of draft dodger because the legal term is draft evasion. And yes, Ali was guilty of draft evasion. But the phrase draft dodger, during the war, was used to describe literally anyone who found ways out of service, including gay men and conscientious objectors. After Vietnam, however, the term became used for people who sought ways to evade duty without punishment. Draft dodgers were people who the government was looking for, not people who had stood and taken their penalties. Ali took the penalty for not serving —and, yes, he went to jail (though not prison). He was handcuffed and sent to jail on the spot.

Ali evaded the draft through the act of open defiance. Had he simply fled the country, I'd be much more inclined to agree with the concept of cowardice. That's no way to make a statement. Ali broke the law and the draft brazenly by staring the men of the military right in the eyes.

It's bizarre that anyone would even try to defend the draft or the Vietnam War to me, though. Do people scream about Rosa Parks' criminal behavior not being held against her?

i'm mainly arguing semantics on the term draft dodger.

i didn't call ali a coward, i called the people who left to go to canada cowards. it took bravery to do what he did. he dodged the draft openly.

like the thousands of punches his opponents threw while he stood in front of them, back to the ropes being a G.