Brittney Griner released

[gmi3804]

Can't we all be happy for Britteny Griner? Does anyone actually believe that she should serve a 9-year sentence in a Russian labor camp for accidentally bringing 0.7 grams of cannabis oil into Moscow?

No, we're all too busy being self-righteously indignant and superior.

 

[Sanchez]

Can't we all be happy for Britteny Griner? Does anyone actually believe that she should serve a 9-year sentence in a Russian labor camp for accidentally bringing 0.7 grams of cannabis oil into Moscow?

Certainly we can be happy for her. But why can't this be a multi-faceted issue? Is this trade going to weaken future similar negotiations? Are others going to be put in danger because of the release of a mass murderer? Are we opening the door for more arrests/sentences hoping to trade for violent criminals?

This is a difficult issue. The question is whether the well being of one person is greater than the many possible future risks.

 

[pigletto]

What kind of "good criminal" would've been OK for you to swap?

One who wasn’t and arms dealer. And don’t put “good criminal” in quotes because that infers I used the term or intimated it and I didn’t . You did.

 

[mousefan73]

Total speculation but I wonder if the Russian prisoner released will suddenly disappear?? Maybe it’s a strategic plan to have justice served outside of the court system. Would be a great plot for a movie.

 

[robinb]

Certainly we can be happy for her. But why can't this be a multi-faceted issue? Is this trade going to weaken future similar negotiations? Are others going to be put in danger because of the release of a mass murderer? Are we opening the door for more arrests/sentences hoping to trade for violent criminals?

This is a difficult issue. The question is whether the well being of one person is greater than the many possible future risks.

That is true of all prisoner swaps. We all knew that Russia had a swap in mind as soon as Britteny was arrested.

 

[mjkacmom]

This was my thought; I hope if she is on court again and the national anthem is played, she doesn't take a knee. I hope she now realizes just how lucky she is to be a US citizen and just how good we all have it here compared to many other countries.

She should be happy to live in a country like this where you can take a knee in silent protest without fear of imprisonment.

 

[Mango7100]

She should be happy to live in a country like this where you can take a knee in silent protest without fear of imprisonment.

Exactly. Though apparently some people didn’t think she should be freed because she exercised her right to peacefully protest. I guess she should have just shut up and dribbled

 

[TeamRiley]

I don't care what she did on the court, I don't care what she does in the future. I am glad for her that she is coming home. I am sad that she got preferential treatment and that others should have been involved in the swap. Our administration is gutless.

 

[TAX GUY]

The replies are exactly how I thought they'd be

 

[RedAngie]

What kind of "good criminal" would've been OK for you to swap?

Oh, maybe some Russian national in a US prison with a similar lesser offense, not an arms dealer.

 

[TippyThomas]

I don't care what she did on the court, I don't care what she does in the future. I am glad for her that she is coming home. I am sad that she got preferential treatment and that others should have been involved in the swap. Our administration is gutless.

Yeah, both of them.

 

[Moliphino]

Does anyone actually believe that she should serve a 9-year sentence in a Russian labor camp for accidentally bringing 0.7 grams of cannabis oil into Moscow?

Of course not. But people really should stop going to countries like Russia and North Korea and doing stupid stuff like this and expecting the US to drop everything to bail them out.

 

[RedAngie]

Exactly. And if people would get more info it is reported by US officials that they tried to get Paul Whelan but Russia said he was absolutely not going to be released. So we could have gotten one person freed or walked away with no one. Whelan has been in prison for 4 years, so he has been imprisoned during 2 presidential administrations

Then the US should have been equally adamant that the arms dealer was absolutely not going to be released.

The administration caved, but they were canny enough to wait until after November 8.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I hope everyone can remember that we are talking about HUMAN BEINGS here.

Yeah, one of them that would have been completely forgotten about and left to rot in Russia for the full 9 years if she wasn't a celebrity.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yeah, one of them that would have been completely forgotten about and left to rot in Russia for the full 9 years if she wasn't a celebrity.

You mean she wouldn’t have been jailed if she wasn’t a celebrity from the US.

 

[tvguy]

I bet she will be very careful in the future to ensure she is not traveling with any substance or materials that are not allowed in her destination.

I’ve been watching old episodes of a show called Border Security. It is amazing how many people attempt to import items that are banned. Some appear to genuinely be ignorant but most appear to believe the rules do not apply to them.

And let's hope she doesn't have anything that is not allowed on the way home that could get her arrested and jailed again.

 

[dez1978]

I guess this is your go-to plan. Whenever you don't like addressing reasonable discussion points just call everyone a racist - that's what you want to say. It is tiresome, lazy, and indicative of an inability to utilize critical thinking skills. I am sure you will get some "likes" from other intellectually unequipped people. How about providing your thoughts on the issue at hand?

Seems to be the go to move a lot anymore. If you don't think what they think you should you must be some kind of "ist" or Phobe or whatever.

Certainly we can be happy for her. But why can't this be a multi-faceted issue? Is this trade going to weaken future similar negotiations? Are others going to be put in danger because of the release of a mass murderer? Are we opening the door for more arrests/sentences hoping to trade for violent criminals?

This is a difficult issue. The question is whether the well being of one person is greater than the many possible future risks.

Agreed 100%. It doesn't come down to just 1 issue here. It's not just about a ridiculous unjust sentence, or if she knelt on the court or any one issue. And people can be happy for her, while still thinking that releasing an arms dealer was a horrible idea.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I hope everyone can remember that we are talking about HUMAN BEINGS here. It's not about measuring one life against another or equivocating value. This was the deal and we took it. It doesn't matter if it's not ideal, or if it leaves a bad taste in our mouths. It doesn't matter who did what or who came out on top. It doesn't matter what else we did or didn't get. For Brittney's family, the only thing that matters is that she is free and returning home. Sometimes we do good where we can - and we should do that because it's good.

Brian, over the many past years, I've read many of your posts. Many good ones, many great ones. This one goes in the great category in my opinion.

 

[mjkacmom]

Seems to be the go to move a lot anymore. If you don't think what they think you should you must be some kind of "ist" or Phobe or whatever.

Agreed 100%. It doesn't come down to just 1 issue here. It's not just about a ridiculous unjust sentence, or if she knelt on the court or any one issue. And people can be happy for her, while still thinking that releasing an arms dealer was a horrible idea.

Would you feel the same if the marine was released instead?

 

[BrianL]

Brian, over the many past years, I've read many of your posts. Many good ones, many great ones. This one goes in the great category in my opinion.

Thank you, Dan.