Does the Brittney Griner Case Predict or Illustrate:
RACISM WRIT LARGE ON A GLOBAL SCALE? OR, IS IT JUST ANOTHER UGLY AMERICAN PROBLEM AND WORTHY OF THE SUPER SECRET CONE OF SILENCE?
(https://www.thenation.com/article/world/russia-brittney-griner-wnba/) *
Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea, the World has watched [with tacit approval(?)/by intelligent design(?!?)/building generational wealth from every incursion(?)] Vladimir Putin's long game, a revival of Russia's desire for(?)/obsession with(?) global dominance after a WWII that ended badly for them, followed by a Cold War/Iron Curtain-Berlin Wall epoch that also ended badly for Russia.
I remember the huge deal made of Dr. Zhivago- the novel that became a 3 hour(?) epic film. What this next paragraph highlights is that, from start to finish, the entire Twentieth Century was an Epic Sociopolitical and Socioeconomic miasma, but always with a veneer of opulence, wealth , and region-specific power and control. "Doctor Zhivago is an epic, a romance, and a history. It tells the story of Russian people forced to live through the many tragedies of the first half of the twentieth century, and it tells of the emotional trials of love in its most complicated forms."
In the article noted above*, shared for your consideration and undoubtedly widely read, there is a call for at least 3 actions: 1- saying Brittney Griner’s name, 2- blaming the detainer(?), and 3- shaming. I would very much like to believe that behind the scenes USA-led, Texas-led ( she was born in Houston) and Arizona-led diplomatic negotiations are underway since she was detained. However, given what the GOP has maintained a laser like focus on in all three of the aforementioned places, that choice of belief feels delusional, naive, some would even conclude insane. Right now this young woman is facing a minimum(?) of 10 years in a Russian Gulag.
There is so much I do not understand about my home country, USA, for allowing so many of our brightest and best WNBA stars to have Russian careers. No American legal team, no European legal team, no UN Mediation Mission, no Eastern European, African, or Asian legal team has formed to advocate for Brittney's family, her spouse, or for her- Why? The attempt however symbolic, could have inspired a movement.
Perhaps Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and their family could take up her case. In a truly inspiring example of truth and reconciliation, perhaps Chris Rock could mention her in each of his performances, and donate all or some high percentage of the proceeds to attempt to buy her extradition back to the USA. Haven't the USA, the (former) U.S.S.R., and modern Russia made enough from the opium ( poppy ) fields to give her a pass-- and fund her rehabiltation -- at the end of the day it was hashish oil-- non-nuclear WWIII, not even a deadly COVID variant.
I am clear that the current Religious Zeitgeist Crowd, playing to all of their worst "COVID19-is-what-the/they / them/ those______________( fill in any of the people groups "They!" love to demonize or hate here) deserve" will remain silent. Will anyone else with power and or finances do anything to FREE BRITTANY GRINER AND RETURN HER TO THE USA!
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