OT Brittney Griner Sentenced for 9 years

[SOUL]

Would we really get the “rules are rules” if this was Tomi Lahren in captivity opposed to an anthem-protesting womens basketball star? Or would the same voices that condemned Lebron for “defending” Chinese violations stay consistent and realize that using a human being as a political pawn is one helluva human rights violation?

Of course it would be different.

People will rage against socialism and handouts but the minute you call it a "freedom package" the right will eat it up and take free money and make an excuse about why it's okay to suddenly do it.

The left will freak out about Trump being unhinged and potentially starting world wars but were ready to defend no-fly zones in Ukraine if enacted by Biden and are fine with Pelosi's "stunt" if it starts some crazy **** with China.

Again, it's why it's frustrating to debate in general because people have no morals, just allegiances. When politics become more like sports people will argue against things they'd be for if the shoe was on the other foot.

Griner doesn't deserve 9 years period. It's not a hard thing to accept. Debate what is a worthy "trade", sure. Debate what an idiot she is for it, fine. But anything like "she isn't patriotic so **** her" or "that's nothing because other countries will KILL you" or "it's deserved because it's Russia's laws" are just such disingenuous posts to start off with.

edit: If a Russian person went to prison here for 9 years for something we'd usually give 15 days to a month for, I'd be making the same argument.

[Johnny Bball]

Somewhat unrelated but related is the strange pro-Russian sentiment that is making it's way through the North American populace. Ironically through the 'freedom' convoy group that is coming.

As if none of them understand what Putin and this government is. What they've done and what they continue to do.

Fascism is spreading. Most of them don't even have a clue what they are signing up for. They just swallow what they read.

[JN61]

Maybe next time these athletes think for a second before they try take the law in their own hands.

A bit too harsh punishment in my mind (a year would have been sufficient) but it is what it is.

[G R E Y]

Sure PART of the point is that BG should have known/respected the laws, even if she had tried this and gone through fine previously (don't know if she had, just making the point that even a previous pattern doesn't guarantee a favourable future result, only makes you more comfortable and so lax about rules in expecting it).

And PART of the point is a lesbian playing in a country that treats gay rights just about like it does terrorist rights is also playing with fire.

And sure you do the 'crime' you do the time as assessed in the country you're in. Even if it may have been prescription or whatnot.

But there REALLY seems to be a disproportionate weighing in on her and not on Russia. Like they don't look the other way when it suits them, levy disproportionate penalties when it suits them, are seeped with corruption that lures then traps with no notice.

Yes she made a mistake. Ok committed a crime even. But Jesus Christ the dumping on her is gross. Really don't think it would be this way if anyone's favourite player were in this situation. Let alone a family member.

[Antinomy]

Welp. Shouldn’t have been over there in the first place.

[dWadeOwnzYou]

Jesus christ have a little f***** empathy. Some of you guys acted like she had killed someone. We all make mistakes at some point breaking the rules and whatnot, and we all deserve some level of forgiveness. Bottom line, she learned her lesson and that I highly doubt she will do this again.

[JN61]

There are a lot of just plain awful humans in this forum.

Well Griner broke the law. You might not think it's a big deal but many countries have similar rules and even harsher punishment for smuggling drugs. Also lets be realistic. If this wasn't awful country that Russia is a lot more people would think it's justified to get punished for breaking the law. Many, me included, think it's too harsh punishment but laws state she should be sentenced for her unlawful actions.

[Mavrelous]

I said this in the last thread regarding Griner but I lost hope in this forum where 40-50% of a thread was defending George **** Zimmermann of all people.

IThere is no dialogue with people who have made up their mind that they have no empathy and align with anything that motivates them politically.

Sure sure...

I'm already breaking my promise on not replying and this is off topic anyway so I don't really want to delve into it, but I refuse to see how those two things are even aligned. Riddle me, please. Do we still have people defending the honor of a glorified rent-a-cop who picked a fight and lost with someone who wanted a late night snack? Hell, I can echo what my mostly right-leaning grandpa said during that same situation and it was "Mind your **** business and none of that happens." That isn't political.

It isn't political, it's about the life and freedom of a girl who did something lots of people did, the character of George Zimmermann is irrelevant, just like that of George Floyd wasn't, the details of the incidents involving them were, and none of them has to do with BG, so no need to virtue signal or get on a pedestal when you are doing exactly what you are accusing people of.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Obviously the sentence is completely absurd but with the US and Russian relations arguably at an all-time low she couldn't have picked the worst time to be caught with drugs. Unfortunately Russia was 100% going to make an example out of her and she was doomed from day one.

And no the United States should not exchange her for some murdering psychopath or some arms dealer.

[76Love]

The racial undertones are running rampant right now in this thread

Posters really bringing up BLM when it's totally irrelevant to this

[Antinomy]

Jesus christ have a little f***** empathy. Some of you guys acted like she had killed someone. We all make mistakes at some point breaking the rules and whatnot, and we all deserve some level of forgiveness. Bottom line, she learned her lesson and that I highly doubt she will do this again.

Why should we care? She’s the one that went over there & broke their laws during a dangerous time period.

She wouldn’t give a damn if any of us were hemmed up over there.

[MotownMadness]

Would we really get the “rules are rules” if this was Tomi Lahren in captivity opposed to an anthem-protesting womens basketball star? Or would the same voices that condemned Lebron for “defending” Chinese violations stay consistent and realize that using a human being as a political pawn is one helluva human rights violation?

Of course it would be different.

People will rage against socialism and handouts but the minute you call it a "freedom package" the right will eat it up and take free money and make an excuse about why it's okay to suddenly do it.

The left will freak out about Trump being unhinged and potentially starting world wars but were ready to defend no-fly zones in Ukraine if enacted by Biden and are fine with Pelosi's "stunt" if it starts some crazy **** with China.

Again, it's why it's frustrating to debate in general because people have no morals, just allegiances. When politics become more like sports people will argue against things they'd be for if the shoe was on the other foot.

Griner doesn't deserve 9 years period. It's not a hard thing to accept. Debate what is a worthy "trade", sure. Debate what an idiot she is for it, fine. But anything like "she isn't patriotic so **** her" or "that's nothing because other countries will KILL you" or "it's deserved because it's Russia's laws" are just such disingenuous posts to start off with.

edit: If a Russian person went to prison here for 9 years for something we'd usually give 15 days to a month for, I'd be making the same argument.

Yeah there should be no "but this is this way" blah blah. They have one of our own and she is being treated like a damn animal.

Every American should be beyond furious over this ridiculous harsh sentence. This is a case where you let your emotions over rule whatever beyond idiotic nonsense Russia is running over there.

Me and Griner would probably argue all day over different political opinions but at the end of the day you should show sympathy over another human and do nothing but call this what it is and that pure cruel BS.

[Antinomy]

Trading the “Merchant of Death” for a minor league basketball player would be a terrible trade, I must say.

[ShootersShoot]

Sometimes i wish everyone could spend a week in jail or even do 48 hours in a solitary confinement at your local city jail to just understand how cruel this punishment is.

I'm pretty sure everyone with a brain understands this punishment is cruel. That's not the point though.

Don't care what the point is over their laws. This is something you shouldn't even in the slightest agree with. The mental and physical decay this girl is about to deal with over some weed is flat out bull to the point i say screw your laws and you're a complete waste of trash for even thinking this is acceptable under any circumstance (not you but Russia).

Most ive ever done is 90 days but you give me 9 years and i would rather be dead cause thats gonna feel more like 100 years in there.

Unfortunately there are people (governments) out there who are in control and it doesnt matter if their laws are fair in your eyes or in the majority of the world's eyes. Its a sad reflection of our planet as a whole. The only thing we can do as logical and moral people is to be aware of such laws and to make sound decisions as to not have it inconvenience/destroy our lives.

[Asianiac_24]

Can't imagine there is no political motivation behind this ridiculous sentencing. Feel sorry for Griner to have to go through this, but we shouldn't be trading Russian criminals for her.

[MotownMadness]

I'm pretty sure everyone with a brain understands this punishment is cruel. That's not the point though.

Don't care what the point is over their laws. This is something you shouldn't even in the slightest agree with. The mental and physical decay this girl is about to deal with over some weed is flat out bull to the point i say screw your laws and you're a complete waste of trash for even thinking this is acceptable under any circumstance (not you but Russia).

Most ive ever done is 90 days but you give me 9 years and i would rather be dead cause thats gonna feel more like 100 years in there.

Unfortunately there are people (governments) out there who are in control and it doesnt matter if their laws are fair in your eyes or in the majority of the world's eyes. Its a sad reflection of our planet as a whole. The only thing we can do as logical and moral people is to be aware of such laws and to make sound decisions as to not have it inconvenience/destroy our lives.

Understand but at the end of the day they wont even get a thought in my head or type from my fingers saying anything other then they are complete garbage for doing this.

[vital_signs]

Can't imagine there is no political motivation behind this ridiculous sentencing. Feel sorry for Griner to have to go through this, but we shouldn't be trading Russian criminals for her.

Wonder if we have some Krokodil dealers in prison from there, we can give them 5 of them for 1 weed "smuggler"

[JN61]

So out of curiosity, if this was a random guy caught on a vacation with no luster to his name, what would the sentence be in that situation?

In time of peace and good relations to Russia, I think its safe to say way less. However I think jail time for them triggers at 6 grams of possession and when you get caught on airport it's deemed as smuggling. and it is criminal offense. Just light googling on facts but I don't think her status of being somewhat famous in small circles is a big deal. It's just the state of world which changes the situation. Rest of the world don't look at Russians well at all and Russians doesn't look West good at all.

[AussieCeltic]

I’ve traveled the world extensively. There are certain countries like Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, China where you just don’t play around.

Do I agree with the sentence? Heck no. Weed shouldn’t even be illegal. But every country has a different culture and laws that everyone must abide by. Even as an Australian, I look at the US gun laws and think how stupid they are but the majority of your population has no issue with them.

It was a mistake by Griner, but unfortunately a very silly and stupid one.

[Bolts]

Would we really get the “rules are rules” if this was Tomi Lahren in captivity opposed to an anthem-protesting womens basketball star? Or would the same voices that condemned Lebron for “defending” Chinese violations stay consistent and realize that using a human being as a political pawn is one helluva human rights violation?

Of course it would be different.

People will rage against socialism and handouts but the minute you call it a "freedom package" the right will eat it up and take free money and make an excuse about why it's okay to suddenly do it.

The left will freak out about Trump being unhinged and potentially starting world wars but were ready to defend no-fly zones in Ukraine if enacted by Biden and are fine with Pelosi's "stunt" if it starts some crazy **** with China.

Again, it's why it's frustrating to debate in general because people have no morals, just allegiances. When politics become more like sports people will argue against things they'd be for if the shoe was on the other foot.

Griner doesn't deserve 9 years period. It's not a hard thing to accept. Debate what is a worthy "trade", sure. Debate what an idiot she is for it, fine. But anything like "she isn't patriotic so **** her" or "that's nothing because other countries will KILL you" or "it's deserved because it's Russia's laws" are just such disingenuous posts to start off with.

edit: If a Russian person went to prison here for 9 years for something we'd usually give 15 days to a month for, I'd be making the same argument.

Yeah there should be no "but this is this way" blah blah. They have one of our own and she is being treated like a damn animal.

Every American should be beyond furious over this ridiculous harsh sentence. This is a case where you let your emotions over rule whatever beyond idiotic nonsense Russia is running over there.

Me and Griner would probably argue all day over different political opinions but at the end of the day you should show sympathy over another human and do nothing but call this what it is and that pure cruel BS.

Why? I care about what happens to Griner the exact same amount as I do a starving orphan in Calcutta or a street person in Toronto or a senior citizen in Kiev or a fisherman in Tonga.

Actually probably less as she had significant opportunities living in a country she later demeaned and insulted. I don’t care if she’s back tomorrow or they keep her forever.