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I had not known that Ali did not go to jail; but, that his conviction was reversed on a technicality by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In any case, he did not dodge the draft. He openly refused to be drafted and then submitted himself to the authorities. He was convicted, stripped of his title, and lost his license to box. (His license to box was restored upon the reversal of his conviction.)

In my book, Ali was not a draft dodger because of his willingness to go to jail. I would say the same of Hutterites who refused service during WWI (when we didn’t have a conscientious objector provision). During WWII, c.o.’s were not required to bear arms, but were required to serve in capacities such as medic. I don’t know if that policy prevailed during the Vietnam era.

It is interesting that naturalized citizens must agree to take up arms to defend this country and, yet, natural born citizens can refuse, albeit only for religious reasons. I, myself, am of the opinion that the right to vote should only be reserved for those who actually pay taxes, are willing to serve and actually serve on juries, and are willing to serve in the military upon a Congressionally-authorized draft.

I am not without sympathy for those who are repulsed by those who, somehow, avoid service, whether Mohammed Ali or Dick Cheney; and, I thank my fellow freeper for correcting me on the specific matter as to whether Ali went to jail for refusing induction.