• PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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    4 months ago

    FWIW my dad was drafted and couldn’t afford bone spurs. But he absolutely respected Muhammad Ali for standing up for what he genuinely believed in and exercising his right.

    But agreed - that is not Trump.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Exactly.

      The kind who dodged (or went to jail,) because of their convictions- courageous, and have as much respect in my eyes as anyone else. (And then there’s the hacksaw ridge guy. Geeze, I can’t even fathom that level of insanity. Desmond Doss.)

      Trump bought his way out because he was a rich coward.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      My uncle was able to escape at the last minute by getting accepted to a Canadian university. He eventually became a Canadian citizen, although he did finally come back (and got a U.S. federal government job, no less) after Clinton forgave all the people who fled the Vietnam draft. He’s back in Canada now that he’s retired.

      He still holds his draft card in his wallet though.

      • PrincessLeiasCat@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        I asked my Dad about his thoughts on Clinton dodging. He said he was fine with it because he was very intelligent and a Rhodes Scholar, that his talents were needed elsewhere (mind you, this was the 90’s and before we knew a lot of what we know now).

        It made me sad when he said it, like he didn’t consider himself “good enough” or have a good excuse to try and avoid going.

        That’s a cool story though, I’m glad everything turned out okay for him in the end.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          At least your dad felt that way about people who avoided the draft. There are plenty of people who felt the opposite way of your dad and derided Clinton for being a draft dodger (while forgiving Trump for it).

          But I’m sorry he ended up having to go. I wish no one had to go.