Ali was convicted of draft dodging when he very publicly burned his draft card and refused enlistment. He was arrested, in Houston, after repeatedly refusing to acknowledge his name during induction. Then he spent the next eight months fighting the charge of draft dodging as a conscientious objector, ultimately appealing and winning his defection in a SCOTUS decision. Along the way, all his titles were revoked.
Presley got an absolute sweetheart deal and spent his two years “at war”, living in a West German hotel, recording for RCA in his ample downtime, getting addicted to amphetamines thanks to a ahem helpful senior officer, and then being discharged with honors after being promoted to sergeant as part of a giant photo-op.
It does not look like Pielieshenko’s experiences were comparable in either respect.
Rather irrelevant to the original question. Any man can be drafted, whether they go or not is another question we aren’t addressing here. But thanks for that history brush up!
They’re even drafting Olympic athletes?
He volunteered.
Why would Olympic athletes not be drafted?
Because Olympic athletes getting blown up in a dumb war is bad for morale.
The Ukrainian government clearly reckons that famous people getting special treatment is worse
Might be bad for morale, but I assure you it would strengthen my resolve.
Never heard of a thing called a “celebrated war hero” and what it can do for the morale of ordinary conscripts?
See Mohammed Ali. See Elvis Presley.
In both cases, they were seen as subversives who reactionaries were glad to be rid of.
It’s not an automatic system, they stood in front of a draft board who ruled they’ll either join the army or go to prison.
I’m too old and a foreign national, but since my late teen years I was committed to doing a ted nugent if it came to it.
Ali was convicted of draft dodging when he very publicly burned his draft card and refused enlistment. He was arrested, in Houston, after repeatedly refusing to acknowledge his name during induction. Then he spent the next eight months fighting the charge of draft dodging as a conscientious objector, ultimately appealing and winning his defection in a SCOTUS decision. Along the way, all his titles were revoked.
Presley got an absolute sweetheart deal and spent his two years “at war”, living in a West German hotel, recording for RCA in his ample downtime, getting addicted to amphetamines thanks to a ahem helpful senior officer, and then being discharged with honors after being promoted to sergeant as part of a giant photo-op.
It does not look like Pielieshenko’s experiences were comparable in either respect.
Rather irrelevant to the original question. Any man can be drafted, whether they go or not is another question we aren’t addressing here. But thanks for that history brush up!
Nah, dude went out Patrick Tillman style.