Muhammad Ali fought the US Draft 47 years ago today, June 20th, 1967 (page 2)

rebel8

I still have my rejection letter from the Org. refusing to help.

Would you post it here? I'd be interested to see it. I always felt sorry for the bros--that may be the one thing the bros had worse than the women in the Org.

jam

talesin; Thanks. The one guy still in hiding, there was a dispute between

the Panthers and the US organization, he killed a Panther, 1967-1969...

No one has heard from him since...

I guess it's one of those things, that is 'nuff said, and no judgment calls made. It's far too easy to see that we are living in similar times, having our rights talem away - only it is much more insidious. Those were troubled times, indeed, and there's more to come.

xo

tal

Nathan Natas

Rebel8 said, "... I always felt sorry for the bros--that may be the one thing the bros had worse than the women in the Org."

As one of those who had to face the draft, I thank you for your compassion. I've read your story, and facing a draft board, even with all it implied, in my opinion is nothing compared to the difficulties you faced on a daily basis.

When I faced the draft board I fully expected that I would be spending some time in prison, and in the naivete that only a religion can inspire I thought it would be no big deal if I did go to prison. Fourty-six years later I read Terry's book. How stupid I was; how stupid my "elders" were!

...and the thing is, I WON! My draft board decided that I qualified for a 4-D deferment! I, yes, I - met the definition of a "minister of religion" when I was not even 20 years old! ...and here's the kicker - I believed i was, too! ...For a time, times, and half a time, give or take a few times.

One downside, years later, is knowing that so many other good guys; Farkel and Terry, among others, were thrown into the bowels of the beast while I tap-danced through that particular Great Tribulation. What it comes down to is that I had better stats than they did, and my draft board was in Long Island City, NY, not on the west coast. There were BUNCHES of JW guys who had to face the same draft board I did, but I don't know who any of them are. I tried to contact someone I knew from back then. He responded, "You ought to get a dog so you have someone to talk to." Thanks.

But the process of a draft is cruel, and the way incarcerated "men of conscience" were treated is abominable. "So, you're a "nice guy" eh? You love your neighbor, you're "god-fearing," eh? Well, we've got a little something special planned for you, pal."

My father and my uncles served in WWII. If my mom hadn't accepted that DAMNED "free home Bible study" maybe I would have served. My cousins did, and they survived. Maybe I would not have survived; there were GIs in 'Nam who were skinned alive by the VC. Maybe my bones would be in a rice paddy somewhere. Maybe I would have committed atrocities after hearing my buddy being skinned alive.

No matter where you go, there you are. And I am here.

Mikado

he was so amazing, a truly brave man.

CaptainSchmideo

Talesin: Is your friend William Gibson????!!!!

talesin

Captain S... Nope, it was / is Spider Robinson. He came to Nova Scotia, in the early 70s, dodging the draft. A really cool biker dude - hippy freak that I knew in my late teens', early 20s. I was lucky enough to realize 'who he was' in the late 90s, and sent him an email, to which he replied. He didn't remember me (lol, he was, as he said, a zoned out hippy back then), but he met this dancer gurl from Bridgewater, and that was all she wrote. Life after that, was all about her, and when she passed (early otts) is when I wrote him. A lovely man, all told, and glad he had success.. xo

tal

karter

One of Ali's many quotes.

"A roster crows only when it sees light,put him in the dark and he'll never crow i have seen the light and i'm crowing"

Karter.

talesin

NN

Please, don't regret that you did/could not go to war. YOU are a champion in so many ways, keeping your good deeds to yourself.

Perhaps if you had gone through that horror of war, you would not be present, to be the functioning, empathic person you now are. That is life, the road not taken, etc. Never regret choices, espeically those you did not make for yourSELF.

xx

tal

designs

tal- In our High School we had a placard with the names of the students, graduates, who had gone to Vietnam and died. Some of the guys I was friends with in my graduating class went over, several came back completely nuts. One was in special Forces, they threw POWs out of helicopters, killed children and women. As much as we got hung out to dry by Knorr and company at least we don't have that on our conscience.

Muhammad Ali fought the US Draft 47 years ago today, June 20th, 1967

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