[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

Just because someone salutes the US Flag hardly makes one a "patriot". All kinds of charlatans play with symbols which mean next to nothing to them.

I would say this woman cares for US values more than most.

Sorry but she only cares for herself.

[MSGirl]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Although she exercised very poor judgment bringing that stuff to Russia, she is getting a really raw deal. That being said, it’s a very bad idea to exchange the merchant of death for her release. Doing that sends a strong message to Putin that he can keep snatching up American travelers and exchange them for his criminal thugs.

Her arrogance allowed her to bring her US legal drug to Russia ( actually only legal in the state she received it). And she deserves her sentence. But this situation is a double edge sword. She, and her teammates, should have never been allowed to go to Russia to play basketball, with the conflicts we are having with them. The statements made by this president to Putin seals the control Putin has over the Americans over there.

[DeeCee Dubya]

Well said man about!

[mikeycereal]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

She should have watched " Midnight Express" before going.

Ha, those were exactly my thoughts.

[YeOldeCurmudgeon]

Originally Posted by gatman16

I agree 100%. She disrespected our flag, our anthem and our veterans, but once in trouble, wants our country to help save her.

What a crock. The national anthem represents more than just the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It also represent 400 years of racism and a century of imperialism and imposing our power and influence on other nations -- which is why I detest the national anthem and "its rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air," which represents a nation of violence and is being reflected today as we speak. How much better to have "America the Beautiful with brotherhood from sea to shining sea" as our anthem.

[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

I would say this woman cares for US values more than most.

You are joking right?

She did not want our National Anthem played at her games. She kneeled when it was played, openly disrespecting our country and what it stands for.

There is some serious irony here. She is asking our country, which happens to be her country, a country she hates, to get her out of jail for a crime she committed in a country that hates our country. Her arrogance is unbelievable! Let her rot in prison.

[Keefelane66]

I have a feeling if she was white, definitely would be a different story.

[Caymus]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

I have a feeling if she was white, definitely would be a different story.

The news stories would be reduced to Paul Whelan's previous level. The media coverage of Griner's arrest was the best thing to happen to him.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

You are joking right?

She did not want our National Anthem played at her games. She kneeled when it was played, openly disrespecting our country and what it stands for.

Our country stands for its history, laws, culture, etc. and not whether or not athletes chose to salute the US Flag. So what if they kneel. They do have the Freedom of Speech this represents. Which is one of the things this great country stands for and not the phony patriotism of wags on television trying to keep their ratings by pandering to the lowest instincts of people.

[Pgcacace]

It’s a rather harsh sentence but this is not the USA. She played in Russia for several summers. I’m surprised she didn’t learn any Russian. Cannabis is legal in some states but it is still illegal at the federal level which means she also was not allowed to cross state lines with it. Too bad for her that she did not get caught in the US with it. She would have gotten a slap on the wrist.
There are sniffing dogs at the airports. Live and learn!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Taltarzac725

What our flag stands for are the values in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

I don't stand when I'm reading the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. Do you? When you look up the Amendments on the internet to make sure you know what you're talking about when you offer an opinion, do you stand up at your computer desk? No? Then why would you stand for a symbol of that document? You don't stand for the actual document.

I stand during the Pledge. I don't put my hand over my heart, and I don't recite the pledge. But I do stand, out of respect for those who choose to exercise their right to recite it.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by YeOldeCurmudgeon

What a crock. The national anthem represents more than just the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It also represent 400 years of racism and a century of imperialism and imposing our power and influence on other nations -- which is why I detest the national anthem and "its rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air," which represents a nation of violence and is being reflected today as we speak. How much better to have "America the Beautiful with brotherhood from sea to shining sea" as our anthem.

Amen. When asked "what would Jesus do?" - my immediate response would be "Jesus would kneel in protest."

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by ex34449

Lets say you owned a company but one of your employees was bashing it as publicly as possible. Would you keep that employee on? She loved the money? Fame?, it's pretty obvious she didn't love the country.

If I owned a company, I would want all employees to be well paid and happy - because then they would have the desire to make the company succeed and they would have more of a TEAM mentality. If an employee was bashing my company I would NOT necessarily think that he or she was wrong. Maybe we, the company, need to change and meet her or his needs better. I would 1st look to see if the company could be improved and in what way.

In this way, the company is analogous to US society, and the disgruntled employee represents Britany Griner. Everyone knows that the US has a racist history and tendency that way today. With a little bit of EMPATHY, we could put ourselves in Griner's shoes! She grows up with 2 prejudices against her, being a woman and being black. Then she has the added flack of being a foot or more taller than even the boys when she is in grade school. Given all those strikes against her, it is amazing that she grew up SANE and not a delinquent. So, I think that her story is an American tale of overcoming adversity and should be celebrated by Americans! And now she has a 4th strike against her through very LITTLE fault of her own - just the fact that 2 of the world's superpowers are flexing their muscles against each other and she is caught in the turmoil. Her situation can be thought of as being a CASUALTY of a renewed and more intense COLD WAR !

To expand the company analogy, and understand the Grider dilemma better, it may actually be informative to ask, "did Britany Griner let down America, or did America let Britany down"?

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Keefelane66

I have a feeling if she was white, definitely would be a different story.

100% agree.

[Joe C.]

The "rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" is in reference to what the British were doing. The Americans were physically holding onto the flagpole to keep it upright after it being hit. When all was said and done, there were a great many dead Americans at the flagpole, whose last conscious act was to keep the flag flying. That alone, deserves RESPECT.