Woman Without a Country
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Brittney Griner: Woman Without a Country?
The Man Without a Country is the story of Philip Nolan, an American Army officer who becomes a confederate of Aaron Burr in an 1807 plot to overthrow the US government. (Although Nolan is a made-up character, the treason plot headed by Burr actually occurred.) Nolan is captured, put on trial, and convicted of treason. (In real life, Burr was exonerated.) During his sentencing, Nolan explodes in the courtroom and shouts to the assembled crowd, “Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of her again!”
As punishment for the outburst, the magistrate grants Nolan his wish, sentencing him to spend the rest of his life aboard Navy warships, unable to ever set foot in the country again. In addition, the crew of every warship he is transferred to is warned never to mention the United States to Nolan and to omit any mention of America in the newspapers and books provided to him. He is shunned instantly every time he inquires about the United States. For the next 55 years Philip Nolan literally becomes a man without a country.
Comes now Brittney Griner and the U.S. has a woman without a country. Ms. Griner, one of the top players in the WNBA, a seven-time All Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been in a Russian prison for the last five months. While traveling in Russia, she was arrested at a Moscow airport for transporting in her luggage a vape cartridge containing hashish oil. She recently pled guilty and now faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in a Russian penal colony.
Ms. Griner’s situation has at least a passing parallel to that of Philip Nolan.
In 2019, she voiced the opinion that the WNBA should stop playing the national anthem before games and she adamantly remained in the locker room while it was performed.
She told the Arizona Republic, “I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. I think we should take that much of a stand.”
Ms. Griner maintained that she was not disrespecting the country, although an outside observer might be excused for being skeptical about her showing at least some animus toward America. She criticized the U.S. as somewhere “we can’t just live. We can’t wake up and do whatever we want to do. Go for a run, go to the store to buy some candy, drive your car without the fear of being wrongfully pulled over.”
Her NBA counterpart, LeBron James, echoed a similar sentiment when he pointed out that Griner has been detained in Russia for “over 110 days,” and asked, “Now how can she feel like America has her back. I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America. (LeBron quickly walked back his remarks.)
But now that Griner is imprisoned in Russia, with little hope of immediate release, her bitter words take on a new meaning...
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Brittney Griner: Woman Without a Country?
The Man Without a Country is the story of Philip Nolan, an American Army officer who becomes a confederate of Aaron Burr in an 1807 plot to overthrow the US government. (Although Nolan is a made-up character, the treason plot headed by Burr actually occurred.) Nolan is captured, put on trial, and convicted of treason. (In real life, Burr was exonerated.) During his sentencing, Nolan explodes in the courtroom and shouts to the assembled crowd, “Damn the United States! I wish I may never hear of her again!”
As punishment for the outburst, the magistrate grants Nolan his wish, sentencing him to spend the rest of his life aboard Navy warships, unable to ever set foot in the country again. In addition, the crew of every warship he is transferred to is warned never to mention the United States to Nolan and to omit any mention of America in the newspapers and books provided to him. He is shunned instantly every time he inquires about the United States. For the next 55 years Philip Nolan literally becomes a man without a country.
Comes now Brittney Griner and the U.S. has a woman without a country. Ms. Griner, one of the top players in the WNBA, a seven-time All Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, has been in a Russian prison for the last five months. While traveling in Russia, she was arrested at a Moscow airport for transporting in her luggage a vape cartridge containing hashish oil. She recently pled guilty and now faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in a Russian penal colony.
Ms. Griner’s situation has at least a passing parallel to that of Philip Nolan.
In 2019, she voiced the opinion that the WNBA should stop playing the national anthem before games and she adamantly remained in the locker room while it was performed.
She told the Arizona Republic, “I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. I think we should take that much of a stand.”
Ms. Griner maintained that she was not disrespecting the country, although an outside observer might be excused for being skeptical about her showing at least some animus toward America. She criticized the U.S. as somewhere “we can’t just live. We can’t wake up and do whatever we want to do. Go for a run, go to the store to buy some candy, drive your car without the fear of being wrongfully pulled over.”
Her NBA counterpart, LeBron James, echoed a similar sentiment when he pointed out that Griner has been detained in Russia for “over 110 days,” and asked, “Now how can she feel like America has her back. I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America. (LeBron quickly walked back his remarks.)
But now that Griner is imprisoned in Russia, with little hope of immediate release, her bitter words take on a new meaning...
In 8th grade American history we watched The Man Without a Country, not being told it was a work of fiction. It was decades before I learned none of this was true.
Pure and presumably intentional indoctrination from the teachers unions in service of their technocratic betters.
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It's all about the Benjamins.
Kinda true, as far as it goes. Griner's personal life aside (y'all know my opinion of same-sex marriages and children), she's always had talent and played well. She's a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. But... She's probably played in front of more people in college than in the pros...At least in America. Butts in the seats equals money, and women's basketball does not draw the crowds men's basketball does. In fact, I think the WNBA would have folded if not for a constant infusion of money from the NBA. While men make millions in the NBA, Griner made the most money in the WNBA last year - $227,000.
In order to bump her income - athletes have short careers for the most part - she's worked at getting endorsements from Nike, where she usually sports men's clothing and playing basketball abroad, because women players can make more money in foreign leagues. Griner makes over $1M for a season in the Russian league.
She's simply chasing money.
Like a lot of athletes in pro football and basketball, she's a cannabis user. Guys use it to recoup and for pain management...Pro football players get injured on a weekly basis and pro basketball players work in an almost never-ending season, with the wear and tear on the hips, knees and ankles.
Well, what might be okay and legal in much of the U.S. as far as drugs go, Russia is another ball of wax, especially when they want to make an example out of you. I suspect she's taken the drug into the country before, with a nod and a wink. Right now, is not the time for an American to be traveling in Russia with contraband. Dumb Brittney.
What may be her only way out of Russia and a lengthy prison sentence, is a prisoner exchange with the U.S. If the State Department gets her out of this self-made mess, I wonder if she'll still continue to kneel for the Star Spangled Banner?
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Dont know if this was a set up or not by the Russians, but if not, you have to be 100% sure you know the laws of the country for drugs.
If any thing, you have to assume the worst. I feel sorry for her, but if this happened AND she knew the drug laws, then I dont have as much sympathy.
But, being a foreigner in another countries prison cannot be fun. Ouch!!
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Dont know if this was a set up or not by the Russians, but if not, you have to be 100% sure you know the laws of the country for drugs.
If any thing, you have to assume the worst. I feel sorry for her, but if this happened AND she knew the drug laws, then I dont have as much sympathy.
But, being a foreigner in another countries prison cannot be fun. Ouch!!
@taiwan_girl said in Woman Without a Country:
being a foreigner in another countries prison cannot be fun. Ouch!!
A brief aside: The autobiography of con man Frank Abagnale ("Catch Me if You Can") has an interesting story at the end. Abagnale was finally arrested in Sweden. He actually enjoyed the Swedish prison system - he had access to books, good food, and he eventually became friends with the guards, staff and warden. Unfortunately, he was going to be extradited to (I think) Italy, where prison life is not so cushy. Italy had a claim on him because of crimes he committed before his conviction in Sweden.
He was able to avoid Italian extradition by having the warden convince the Swedish government that he was persona non grata, and had to, under international law, be removed to his country of origin. Presumably, once he arrived in the US the italians would give up their efforts, and he would be jailed in the US.
He serves a long sentence at Perpignan's prison, barely surviving the subhuman living conditions. His only sympathetic visitor is a U.S. liaison who regrets to inform him this is typical for inmates.
Frank is later transferred to Sweden. He stonewalls a few legal inquiries until he's made aware how fair their system is. With his cooperation, a defense attorney argues technicalities about the fraud charges and gets him a reduced sentence. He finds the prison system is much more hospitable.
Escapes
The prospect of Frank being handed over to other countries with harsh prison systems, like Italy, earns him some sympathy. One of the higher-ups pulls some strings to have him extradited to North America so he can be in his home country, at least.Frank is flown home where officials wait to take him into custody as he disembarks the plane. Instead, he escapes by unbolting the aircraft's toilet, dropping through to below-deck, dropping again to the runway, and legging it.
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@taiwan_girl said in Woman Without a Country:
being a foreigner in another countries prison cannot be fun. Ouch!!
A brief aside: The autobiography of con man Frank Abagnale ("Catch Me if You Can") has an interesting story at the end. Abagnale was finally arrested in Sweden. He actually enjoyed the Swedish prison system - he had access to books, good food, and he eventually became friends with the guards, staff and warden. Unfortunately, he was going to be extradited to (I think) Italy, where prison life is not so cushy. Italy had a claim on him because of crimes he committed before his conviction in Sweden.
He was able to avoid Italian extradition by having the warden convince the Swedish government that he was persona non grata, and had to, under international law, be removed to his country of origin. Presumably, once he arrived in the US the italians would give up their efforts, and he would be jailed in the US.
He serves a long sentence at Perpignan's prison, barely surviving the subhuman living conditions. His only sympathetic visitor is a U.S. liaison who regrets to inform him this is typical for inmates.
Frank is later transferred to Sweden. He stonewalls a few legal inquiries until he's made aware how fair their system is. With his cooperation, a defense attorney argues technicalities about the fraud charges and gets him a reduced sentence. He finds the prison system is much more hospitable.
Escapes
The prospect of Frank being handed over to other countries with harsh prison systems, like Italy, earns him some sympathy. One of the higher-ups pulls some strings to have him extradited to North America so he can be in his home country, at least.Frank is flown home where officials wait to take him into custody as he disembarks the plane. Instead, he escapes by unbolting the aircraft's toilet, dropping through to below-deck, dropping again to the runway, and legging it.
@George-K I guess he got a bit "lucky". LOL
The thought of spending time is prison is enough to stop me from doing any crimes. LOL
