I may be splitting hairs here but heat me out.
If he was truly a draft dodger, he would have gone to Canada and hung out with the other draft dodgers. He would have continued to fight, and he would have made millions—and been a beacon to other dodgers.
Instead, he turned himself in and fought a legal battle to avoid being inducted.
Now, it is possible and damned likely that we will disagree with his position. BUT, he avoided draft the legal, and proper way for a CO.
And he did pay a price. His license to box was revoked and he was unable to make a living at his profession.
I dont agree with his politics. I don’t agree with his religion. And I always liked Frazier better. BUT, I always respected his respect for the process.
You pretty much echoed me feelings, I can respect people that I disagree with, and Ali is in that category with me.
Had he had lifelong CO beliefs, I would say “give him a break”, that's what CO is for, but his CO was more or less a convenience.