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Post by Jack Bauer on Dec 8, 2022 12:30:01 GMT -4
To be fair, it is a direct reflection of the American public's obsession with celebrity culture. They were getting far more pressure to bring Britney Griner home than they should have, and they caved to it. It was a trumped up charge, just about any other country would have let her come home. So hopefully Americans with high profiles take it as a lesson. There's a retired marine still in Russia who they wouldn't release. Been there 4 years. But he can't shoot a ball into a hoop so nobody cares about him. And define trumped up charge. She admitted to flying into Russia with a vape cartridge containing hash. It was a legit crime. Was the penalty fair? Nope. But lets start examining American prison culture and how many minorities are in jail for minor drug possession and now realize they also can't shoot a ball into a hoop and aren't worth any trade for another prison. She's free because of who she is and what she can do. But she absolutely committed a crime and showed absolutely shitty judgement by flying into a country that going to war as a resident of a country opposing the war and doing so with illegal drugs.
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Dec 8, 2022 12:43:54 GMT -4
It was a trumped up charge, just about any other country would have let her come home. So hopefully Americans with high profiles take it as a lesson. There's a retired marine still in Russia who they wouldn't release. Been there 4 years. But he can't shoot a ball into a hoop so nobody cares about him. And define trumped up charge. She admitted to flying into Russia with a vape cartridge containing hash. It was a legit crime. Was the penalty fair? Nope. But lets start examining American prison culture and how many minorities are in jail for minor drug possession and now realize they also can't shoot a ball into a hoop and aren't worth any trade for another prison. She's free because of who she is and what she can do. But she absolutely committed a crime and showed absolutely shitty judgement by flying into a country that going to war as a resident of a country opposing the war and doing so with illegal drugs. It's plain stupidity to travel anywhere and be in violation of their laws. Ignorance isn't an excuse especially when you have people who plan your travel for you and make you aware. We have a certain priviledge here in the "west" where we go places where its risky, rules,culture and tolerances are different. And we have great governments that bend over backwards to help us get home. But we shouldn't test this. It's one more reason our arrogance/entitlement is so despised in other parts of world.
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Post by Jack Bauer on Dec 8, 2022 12:55:36 GMT -4
So hopefully Americans with high profiles take it as a lesson. There's a retired marine still in Russia who they wouldn't release. Been there 4 years. But he can't shoot a ball into a hoop so nobody cares about him. And define trumped up charge. She admitted to flying into Russia with a vape cartridge containing hash. It was a legit crime. Was the penalty fair? Nope. But lets start examining American prison culture and how many minorities are in jail for minor drug possession and now realize they also can't shoot a ball into a hoop and aren't worth any trade for another prison. She's free because of who she is and what she can do. But she absolutely committed a crime and showed absolutely shitty judgement by flying into a country that going to war as a resident of a country opposing the war and doing so with illegal drugs. It's plain stupidity to travel anywhere and be in violation of their laws. Ignorance isn't an excuse especially when you have people who plan your travel for you and make you aware. We have a certain priviledge here in the "west" where we go places where its risky, rules,culture and tolerances are different. And we have great governments that bend over backwards to help us get home. But we shouldn't test this. It's one more reason our arrogance/entitlement is so despised in other parts of world. Exactly. This wasn't just some innocent traveller caught with something she had no idea was in her possession. She flew into Russia, as an American, with drugs. It was just terrible judgment. But the real victim are the Americans still in Russia prisons who aren't worth trading arms dealers for.
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Post by bois on Dec 8, 2022 13:49:42 GMT -4
It was a trumped up charge, just about any other country would have let her come home. So hopefully Americans with high profiles take it as a lesson. There's a retired marine still in Russia who they wouldn't release. Been there 4 years. But he can't shoot a ball into a hoop so nobody cares about him. And define trumped up charge. She admitted to flying into Russia with a vape cartridge containing hash. It was a legit crime. Was the penalty fair? Nope. But lets start examining American prison culture and how many minorities are in jail for minor drug possession and now realize they also can't shoot a ball into a hoop and aren't worth any trade for another prison. She's free because of who she is and what she can do. But she absolutely committed a crime and showed absolutely shitty judgement by flying into a country that going to war as a resident of a country opposing the war and doing so with illegal drugs. plenty of the minorities you are talking about can shoot a ball into a hoop i don't disagree it was terrible judgement to do what she did and i don't disagree there are other people more worthy of being brought home first however it's pretty ridiculous that they (US) felt the need to exchange someone like they did to bring home a basketball player although from the little I have read they were attempting to bring Whelan home as well but Russia declined
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Post by Jack Bauer on Dec 8, 2022 13:53:39 GMT -4
So hopefully Americans with high profiles take it as a lesson. There's a retired marine still in Russia who they wouldn't release. Been there 4 years. But he can't shoot a ball into a hoop so nobody cares about him. And define trumped up charge. She admitted to flying into Russia with a vape cartridge containing hash. It was a legit crime. Was the penalty fair? Nope. But lets start examining American prison culture and how many minorities are in jail for minor drug possession and now realize they also can't shoot a ball into a hoop and aren't worth any trade for another prison. She's free because of who she is and what she can do. But she absolutely committed a crime and showed absolutely shitty judgement by flying into a country that going to war as a resident of a country opposing the war and doing so with illegal drugs. plenty of the minorities you are talking about can shoot a ball into a hoop i don't disagree it was terrible judgement to do what she did and i don't disagree there are other people more worthy of being brought home first however it's pretty ridiculous that they (US) felt the need to exchange someone like they did to bring home a basketball player although from the little I have read they were attempting to bring Whelan home as well but Russia declined How is it ridiculous to say that when if she wasn't a basketball player nobody would know who she is or care what prison she's in...just like Whelan. I don't see Lebron or other celebrities making sure Whelan isn't forgotten in a Russia prison. Not as politically rewarding to ask for the release of someone who served his country and is arguably up on considerably more bogus changes then Griner was as Griner actually admitted that the substance was hers and brought in by her.
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Post by bois on Dec 8, 2022 13:57:11 GMT -4
i haven't followed the story close enough to comment further
but if she wasn't a basketball player she arguably would never have been in Russia to begin with (was she not playing pro basketball there or headed to do so when caught?)
i don't really care how stupid she was doing what she did.... trading a notorious criminal who was responsible for many deaths to bring home someone who forgot to check her vape before packing her bags is not a very fair and just transaction
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Post by Captain Obvious on Dec 8, 2022 14:12:40 GMT -4
she should have been brought home but they shouldn't be exchanging real criminals to do so You're dealing with Vlad, who he sees as criminal and what the free world sees as criminal is not the same.
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Post by Jack Bauer on Dec 8, 2022 16:07:06 GMT -4
she should have been brought home but they shouldn't be exchanging real criminals to do so You're dealing with Vlad, who he sees as criminal and what the free world sees as criminal is not the same. You also probably would need to have like one of Putin's kids in an international prison to get him to ever give up a former US Marine. There is an aspect of take whatever you can get and get someone home. The US pushed for a 2 for 1 swap for months and CBS sat on this story for a week at the US governments requests because they couldnt afford a leak when they felt so close to a deal. It just sucks for the families of those who probably never get home.
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Post by themandalorian on Dec 22, 2022 22:06:19 GMT -4
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Post by Captain Obvious on Dec 23, 2022 17:02:46 GMT -4
Zalenskyy and Trump are polar opposites. He could have fled and played victim and let Putin take half or 2/3 of Ukraine but he stayed and fought for his country. Trump preferred burning the US to the ground than admitting publicly he lost and stole classified docs as leverage to try and stay out of jail.
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Post by themandalorian on Jan 14, 2023 18:44:21 GMT -4
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Post by themandalorian on Jan 18, 2023 21:23:58 GMT -4
She says she doesn't have a full tank anymore, maybe she has read the writing on the wall.
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Post by yesisaiditfirst on Jan 19, 2023 9:48:38 GMT -4
She says she doesn't have a full tank anymore, maybe she has read the writing on the wall.
This is a good story to reflect on. The article details most of her career as NZ prime Minister the ups and downs. Politicians are human. People want to attack them or hint they are in it to get rich or to make friends rich. That may be true for a few that want notoriety or need friends but most don't get rich being politicians. I could not justify giving up my career (suspending my career) and sacrifice my family time and freedom to serve for what it pays. If anything there are more road blocks for good people to serve. Especially the ones who should be serving that can affect positive change. And it's worse for women. The sacrifice before criticism is even considered is great. Yes I know in US it takes great money to be anything in politics. That system is broken even more. But most politicians of any stripe do want same things as all of us. We want health, good communities for our families and kids, grandkids it's just there are different steps to get there. This is why I denounce conspiracy theories and all. Actually politicians and the public service have no way to forever cover up or hide scandal. And most can't be bothered to even try. Regular life trumps professional life. They need to go home and live in their communities. Very few are evil dark lords pulling strings that actually work. It's hard to raise a good army for a good reason and much harder to find enough people to take risk of following you willingly to break laws and maybe take the fall. These are just jobs to most people. Not filled by superheroes.
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Post by Jack Bauer on Jan 19, 2023 11:19:19 GMT -4
She says she doesn't have a full tank anymore, maybe she has read the writing on the wall.
She's taken a ton of abuse...most of which was over the top. Fact is that people are still just drawing lines based on their own beliefs and not really taking much of the other side in consideration. But history will remember her as a leader and someone who took great lengths to try and protect her people for their own good. Or we can look at what a place like Florida has become where you can't promote diversity in the workforce or teach classes about African American history because its time to double down on ignorance.
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Post by themandalorian on Jan 19, 2023 23:41:12 GMT -4
She says she doesn't have a full tank anymore, maybe she has read the writing on the wall.
She's taken a ton of abuse...most of which was over the top. Fact is that people are still just drawing lines based on their own beliefs and not really taking much of the other side in consideration. But history will remember her as a leader and someone who took great lengths to try and protect her people for their own good. Or we can look at what a place like Florida has become where you can't promote diversity in the workforce or teach classes about African American history because its time to double down on ignorance. Ardern acted like a tyrant to people who didn't agree with her, that is partly why she was behind in the polls, that is why she resigned.
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