One final blog about this Vietnam Era...
One of the most important (and talented) athletes of the 20th Century was Muhammad Ali. Ali was a boxer whose birth name was Cassius Clay. When he converted to Islam he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
Famously, during the Vietnam War, Ali was drafted and refused to go.
Do some research on this episode and answer these questions (50 words each):
1) What was controversial about the Vietnam Draft?
2) Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
3) How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?
4) How did Ali avoid jail time?
1. What was controversial about the Vietnam draft?
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam Draft was so controversial because people were not given a choice whether or not they got drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam draft was also very controversial because the people in charge of drafting randomly selected different people to go fight in the Vietnam war. (50)
2. Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
The reason why Muhammad Ali refused to go to Vietnam and fight in the Vietnam war was because he did not have any problems against the Vietnamese people and did not want to go fight in a war. He also refused to go to the war in Vietnam because of religious reasons. (52)
3. How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?
In Muhammad Ali’s case Ali refused to go to war because of his religion and was ending up not fighting in the Vietnam war. In Alvin York’s case York did not want to fight In World War One because he wanted peace but had ended up fighting in war and became a great hero. (54)
4. How did Ali avoid jail time?
The reason why Muhammad Ali had avoided having jail time due to his case for refusal of going into the Vietnam war had been taken to court and the case was appealed by the government. His case of avoiding the draft was also eventually overturned officially by the Supreme Court. (50)
The Vietnam War was a lot known for being a very controversial event that happened in America’s history. This war was fought between the communist Viet Cong from North Vietnam, and the democratic South Vietnamese, who the United States was trying to protect from expanding communist threat. Many Americans did not like this war because of the draft. (58)
ReplyDeleteWhen it had come time for Ali to go he refused because of his beliefs. Ali stated “War is against the teachings of the Holy Qur'an. I'm not trying to dodge the draft. We are not supposed to take part in no wars unless declared by Allah or The Messenger. We don't take part in Christian wars or wars of any unbelievers.(62)
Alvin York and Muhammad Ali were similar cases but also different. At the beginning of being drafted York did not want to go into the war because of his beliefs just like Ali. York did not believe in killing people. It was not in his views just like Ali stated it was not in his.(54)
Muhammad Ali was convicted of draft evasion and sentenced five years in prison and even fined $10,000 and banned from boxing for three years. Ali was able to avoid that jail time for his case was appealed and he even returned back to boxing soon after that all happened. (50)
1.) What was controversial about the Vietnam Draft?
ReplyDeleteSelective Service System is what they used In the beginning of the war, names of all American men in draft-age were collected. When someone’s name was called, he had to report to his local draft board, which was made up of many community members, so that they could begin to evaluate their draft status. Local draft boards had the power to decide who had to go and who would stay. Draft board members were often under pressure from their family, relatives and friends to let go potential draftees. (Word Count:88)
2.) Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
This is what Ali had to say on why he didn’t serve, “My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America,” Ali main cause was that it was against his religion which is Muslim. (Word Count:50)
3.)How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?
Alvin York and Muhammad Ali didn’t want to fight in the wars for almost the same reasons. Neither one of them really wanted to kill another person. The idea of killing went against both of their beliefs. Alvin York had to serve in WW1 and Muhammad Ali did not have to serve in WW2. (Word Count:66)
4.)How did Ali avoid jail time?
Muhammad Ali chose to appeal his sentence and a judge read over it and changed his mind. Ali had to throw in his title and pay money but later he was able to return. The Supreme Court found the government had failed to specify why Ali's application had been denied, thereby requiring the conviction to be overturned. A unanimous decision (8–0), "the court said the record shows that his beliefs are founded on tenets of the Muslim religion as he understands them. (Word Count:82)
*What was controversial about the Vietnam Draft?
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam draft was controversial, because those that didn’t want to fight, didn’t support it, had no choice but to take part in the fight. The majority of the fighters were around 18. Until it was passed for 18 year-olds to vote, they had no say in who their leader was; so they had no say if they fought or not.
*Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
Many people were fleeing to Canada because they objected the war. “Ali had no intention of fleeing to Canada, but he also had no intention of serving in the Army.”-(website) “My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America,” he had explained two years earlier. “And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. … Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.”-(Muhammad Ali)
*How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?
Both of the men had no thought in fighting. The men were against killing others. However, one fought and one did not. Muhammad Ali refused to participate in the Vietnam War. Alvin York took his part in WW1. They both are similar yet different.
*How did Ali avoid jail time?
“It has been said that I have two alternatives,” Ali told a crowd of college antiwar protesters. “Either go to jail or go to the army. But I would like to say that there is another alternative. And that alternative, that alternative is justice. And if justice prevails, I will neither go to the army, nor will I go to jail.”-(Muhammad Ali) In the beginning, Ali was going to be sent to jail; until it was found out that the justice department made a mistake. He was a conscience objector; nothing less, nothing more. He wanted peace. The department reversed his conviction.
(357)
Why was the draft controversial?
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam War draft was a controversial time for American people. The issue with the draft was that some people had more power than others when it came down to who was drafted and who was spared. The person selected would report to a draft center and then a committee of locals would decide whether or not this individual was fit for service. The draft led to controversy because if a drafted person went to the board and happened to know someone on the draft committee, they could influence the committee member to not deem them fit for service. (99)
Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
Ali was an understanding man. He understood that the Vietnamese had done no harm to him or his family. The reason that Ali refused to fight in the Vietnam war and instead take on a court case was that he did not want to kill anyone who had no ill intentions toward him. He also stated that “It is in the light of my consciousness as a Muslim minster and my own personal convictions that I take my stand in rejecting the call to be inducted…”. Ali faced many angry people after this court case. (95)
How does this case relate to Alvin York from ww1?
This case relates to Alvin York’s story from the World War 1 era in a few ways. Alvin York also did not want to fight in the war because of religious reasons. Ali eventually never ended up serving after his court case, but Alvin York did. Alvin York went to war even after standing against it. Alvin York became a war hero in WW1 for acts of bravery. (68)
How did Ali avoid jail time?
Ali did avoid jail time after standing his ground in the court case against going to war in Vietnam. Ali appealed his sentence which was overturned by the judge after there was not enough of a reason to deny his request to not go to war. Ali did lose his boxing title and had to pay his way out of this case. (62)
1. What was controversial about the Vietnam Draft?
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam Draft was controversial because the people that did want support the war were forced into war to fight. Draftees could be under 21 years old but no one under 21 could vote. This led to many protests by 18 year olds saying they should not be forced into war if they had no way in voting for a leader who perpetrated it. (64 words)
2. Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
Muhammad Ali refused because he had no intention of serving in the Army. Ali didn’t want to go to war because he didn’t want to hurt and shoot people that never did anything to him. He was being inducted into the Army and he refused by responding by saying “I find I cannot be true to my beliefs in my religion by accepting such a call.” He was stripped of his boxing license and was sentenced to prison. (78 words)
3. How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?
Both of the men’s cases are similar but they have their differences. Another of their beliefs went against fighting and neither wanted to go into the war. Neither man wanted to hurt another human being for no reason. Alvin York ended up serving his time in the War even though he didn’t want to, but Muhammad Ali still ended up refusing to go to war and he never fought in the war. (72 words)
4. How did Ali avoid jail time?
He went convicted to prison for draft evasion and was sentenced to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He appealed to the Supreme Court and he was out in bond awaiting the decision of his appeal. The Supreme Court ended up overturning his conviction and after he was able to go back to boxing. He cited religious reasons for his decision to forgo military service. (68 words)
(282 words)
1) What was controversial about the Vietnam Draft?
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnam war was one of the most controversial wars because it was fought between the communist Viet Cong from North Vietnam, and the democratic South Vietnamese. The United States was trying to protect from expanding communist threat. Americans believed that the interference was meddling with a civil war. Many white teens and African Americans were affected during this war because they were drafted and many died. Americans were in disagreement and they were fighting against disagreement. (77)
2) Why did Ali refuse to go to Vietnam?
Wow, that was honestly super brave of Ali to refuse to go to war, I mean yeah it was disrespectful because he should listen to the government but he was bold and stayed true to his belief. This is what he said; “My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America,” he said at the time. “And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. … Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.” He didn’t want to kill anyone and he wanted to stay away from being unfair. (139)
3) How does his case relate to Alvin York from World War One?
Alvin York and Muhammad Ali were similar cases but the same time they were different. Both man were drafted to got to war but did not want to go into the war because of his beliefs and points of view. York did not believe in killing people. Ali thought it was unfair for there to be a war. (58)
4) How did Ali avoid jail time?
Ali avoided jail time since his case was appealed and he even returned back to boxing soon after that all happened. Ali appealed his sentence but it was overturned by the judge after there was not enough of a reason to deny his request to not go to war. Ali did lose his boxing title and had to pay his way out of this case. Which was $10,000. (69)
1.The Vietnam War draft was controversial because people who didn’t support the war and couldn’t stop the war policy were being forced to fight in the wars. Draftees could be from the age 18 and up but yet no one under the age of 18 was allowed to vote. Since this law took place many 18-20 year olds were protesting that since they were not old enough to choose their leaders would be why should they be forced to fight in a war. (83)
ReplyDelete2.) “My conscience won’t let me go shoot my brother, or some darker people, or some poor hungry people in the mud for big powerful America,” “And shoot them for what? They never called me nigger, they never lynched me, they didn’t put no dogs on me, they didn’t rob me of my nationality, rape and kill my mother and father. … Shoot them for what? How can I shoot them poor people? Just take me to jail.” These were two quotes from Ali on the Vietnam War and as to why he won’t fight in the war. 97
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/06/15/shoot-them-for-what-how-muhammad-ali-won-his-greatest-fight/
3.) Both Muhammad Ali and Sgt York objected to the war but York still went and served his country. Ali completely “dogged” the draft but was punished for it. While York on the other hand, he conscientiously objected to going to war but he did end up going to war and even can be considered a hero. Both Ali and York objected to serving in the war, but one did actually go and fight for his country. (76)
4. On April 28, 1967 while the United States were at war with Vietnam, Ali refused to go into war and fight. He had relations reasons for saying he shouldn’t fight. On June 20, 1967 Ali was convicted of draft evasion sentenced to five years in prison, fined $10,000 and was banned from boxing for three years. His case was then appealed and he was able to stay out of prison. There was not enough of a reason to deny his request to not go to war so the judge decided to appeal his case. (94)