If you didnโt know, the WNBA star chooses to not stand for the American national anthem because she has gripes with her country. But she was quick to appeal to her country to save her henie.
As you may know, Russian government policy actively criminalizes homosexuality. So she dislikes her own country but makes extra rubles by playing for a country that dislikes her. A country that didnโt read her rights, she complained, as if most countries have rights guaranteed all Americans.
Quite a quandary, for the ill-educated athlete.
You’ll get no argument from me on those points. I have a hard time mustering up sympathy for her because of all of that and the fact that ignorance of another country’s laws is not a defense.
I agree Wanda. Too many times in these situations I have heard “I did not know” said by people who were charged with breaking some law in another country. One would think that, before traveling to another country, you would familiarize yourself with the laws and rules of that country.
That said, I want to add that I do believe the harsh sentence that was given was political in nature. The commies feel they will have more bargaining power in a trade because of the length of her sentence.
I also want to say I still feel sorry for her and her family. I hope this matter comes to a better conclusion.
Of course it is political. She is being used as a Putin pawn. And that itself makes me apoplectic.
Like you said, Stu, “ill-educated.” More like brainwashed. It’s a damn shame and it does not have to be this way. Still, I do feel for her.
Yes, they did sting. Perhaps in the near future she will join Rapinoe and Biles when the administration gifts her with the Medal of Freedom Award.
Indeed. Maybe better would be Rapinoe and Biles joining Griner over there for 9 years. After all, they hate America, or so they’ve so openly indicated.
HAPPY SUNDAY !!!
pallie,
A topic to unite the masses ! Brittney’s father must really have a hard time choosing love of country vs love of daughter. Ray is a Vietnam Marine and a sheriff ( retired ). A man that obviously loves his country but had a bit of a problem inspiring his daughter. Don’t know about the other kids.
Briner is a pampered American (?) superstar. Just like the others, from the day her star lit up the sky, she could do no wrong. Supposedly, a graduate from Baylor, none of that matters if we don’t ‘deal’ for her with Putin.
So why should we ? As an American athlete, you represent our country hopefully at the highest level. This includes patriotism. She has not done that. Actually, she went the other way. Brittney doesn’t want the Star Spangled Banner played at ANY sporting event, as she protests all that’s unjust. She refuses to come onto the court until the song is played. What do we do ? Why, give her a bigger a pay raise, of course !
It is written in many places, definitely in the State Department’s manuals and pamphlets. When you go abroad, you go as their guest and should behave appropriately. Their laws are often much stricter than our laws. Most countries do not take likely to illegal drugs and many countries do not like homosexuality. Maybe somebody should have read all of that to our superstar. Ms Griner just found out the hard way that their laws do apply to the great and not so great.
So, I’m slightly torn with this problem. She is a product of America. We created the monster. Do we abandoned her because she was able to take advantage of her abilities and beat the system ? Or do we let her rot in jail ? I certainly wouldn’t trade for her while we leave the other two (?) Americans behind the bars in Russia.
Tony
“๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ช๐ก๐๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ค (?) ๐ผ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ช๐จ๐จ๐๐.”
Tony, if you are speaking about Paul Whelan and Marc Fogel, I agree with you, in part. While from what I have read the proposed trade includes Whelan nothing is being said about Fogel is it not better to get 2 of the 3 than none?
In answer to your question on if we should abandon her I say, since you said “๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง.”, are we not at least partially responsible for her actions? If we are than we need to help her.
Sheโs accountable to her self. Her teammates didnโt think they were above the law. Let her rot. I hope she never comes back. She hates our country.
H,
Politics in this country are almost impossible to follow. You need a ‘cheat sheet’ to keep the players straight and on the correct team. Forget about international politics PLUS adding communist countries in the melee.
I only know what I have read about these latest three being held in Russia. You do know that not that long ago, we got one back while Whelan stayed behind. Me of the Vietnam era, find it hard to negotiate with the enemy. The Hanoi Hilton was loaded with our warriors. Trades could have been made – and probably were. My knowledge says we had the upper hand until politics reared its ugly head.
What I didn’t say in my earlier writing is that the State Department is almost usually aware of who is in what country and why. What happens after that is a toss up between those in foreign lands and our government. I do know that if appears to be imminent danger, you are told to get out. If you stay, you own it. Griner is in sports. Whelan was on a business trip. Fogel was a teacher there. Fogel and Griner ‘needed’ medical marijuana. Whelan was convicted of spying. Now, with those few facts, just what does our government do for these three ? Obviously, without going off half cocked, facts would help. Having said that. Griner and Fogel are in for a long prison life. Whelan, need more info.
sidebar: my buddy and I were guests of a foreign government for over a week. No one knew where we were, who we were or any other where. …………. When they let us out – no apologize- they said that they thought we were smuggling drugs. r i g h t
Tony
Donโt tease. Which foreign government and when?
Venezuela, 1980s. working on a refinery
I was with the boss. We were traveling during the week. Usually, contractors traveled on the weekend, so we stuck out like a sore thumb. First thing that goes is the passport. After that, it gets a little rough.
It would make for an amusing story.
Griner is entitled to all the privileges and rights of a US citizen . However, she has exhibited an attitude of disrespect for the symbols of our Government. Because she is one of us (US citizen), she will receive all the benefits, privileges our government provides itโs citizens. She will be released after the Russians get their demands met. She is a political prisoner who violated Russian laws. Griner you are not in Kansas anymore. However, she is not the hero the press will make her out to be.
About 300,000 Americans visit Russia each year. I believe those arrested most likely have done something to arouse suspicion, which is enough for arrest in Russia.
see the movie Return to Paradise with Ann Heche that deals with this very subject.
I understand American female athletes go overseas to make a ton more money than they get paid here. That being said, No American female athlete should’ve played in Russia since 2014. Putin is our enemy (& Trumpo’s best bud).
Griner is either a greedy fool or moron to not know that Russia is anti-gay, anti-black, and Putin is a fascist megalomaniac bent on upending the American-led world order. You smuggled drugs into a foreign country (even though during the 2018 World Cup, Russia let athletes bring in cannabis and opiates if they had a medical prescription). You are subject to their laws, not ours. If you were caught in the Phillipines, Duterte would’ve had you executed. And American prisons are a country club compared to Russian prisons and hard labor penal colonies.
You put yourself into this bind. You plead guilty. Your case shouldn’t be near the top of Biden’s to-do list. He has far more pressing problems to deal with than a spoiled, American-hating jerk.
Yeah, but because of her status (Black, lesbian, superstar) she gets put on the front burner, worthy or not.
Lots of circling the heart of the matter and failing to hit it, which is: she broke Russian law, was put on trial under Russian rules, found guilty by a Russian jury of breaking a Russian law, and now has to walk the walk in a Russian prison. All the talk about our country-to-country politics, her sexual predilections, her dislike of her country, et cetera merely clouds the issue, which is [see opening sentence, above].
I have zero problem with ANYONE not standing for the National Anthem. The flag itself grants you that right, as long as you do it peacefully. Being allowed to peacefully protest against our government is one of the hallmarks of this country, and anyone who says otherwise is a dope. It separates us from banana Republics and authoritarian regimes like Russia. And of course, a 9-year sentence is asinine for such a crime. But certainly when one goes to a country such as Russia and knowingly breaks the law, one is asking for trouble. And I also agree that no American athlete should be playing in a country that is clearly our enemy (unless, of course, you are Trump supporter, in which case you probably LOVE Mother Russia). I hope they find a way to negotiate her release, but she clearly made her own bed in this matter. That is inarguable.
Freeze, I too do not have a problem with someone not standing for the National Anthem for the same reason(s) you said. It seems some people feel that allegiance is more important than the truth.
There are things you are permitted to do that you should not do. Spitting on or burning the Flag, for instance. That kind of behavior elected Richard M. Nixon, and DJT.
With that said, I will simultaneously defend and decry their actions.