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The MAGA faithful who refuse to celebrate Brittney Griner's release ( NBC News Opinion Piece )
NBC NEWS THINK OPINION ^ | 12/10/2022 | Tiffany Drayton

Posted on 12/10/2022 6:31:52 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Conservatives are obsessed with a patriotism litmus test rigged against Black Americans.

Brittney Griner’s release from a Russian penal colony Thursday as part of a prisoner swap for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout was met with widespread celebration. Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after vape canisters and cannabis oil were discovered in her luggage at the airport. President Joe Biden’s announcement that Griner was safely on a plane bound for the U.S. means the gay WNBA star will miraculously make it home to her wife and family in time for the holidays.

But perhaps not surprisingly, the basketball star’s release was also met with (another) round of backlash. Many of these criticisms, which gained traction online, have once again centered on Griner’s perceived lack of patriotism. But this kind of litmus test has long been rigged against Black Americans. As with the culture war over critical race theory, conservatives are quick to weaponize criticisms of American history or misbehavior in an attempt to police Americanness and keep Black advocacy against racism and white supremacy at bay.

In 2020, amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests decrying police brutality and racism, Griner stated that the national anthem shouldn’t be played during games and refused to be on the floor while it played. Griner is an articulate athlete, and her intention was always clear. “I don’t mean that in any disrespect to our country. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years,” she told The Arizona Republic at the time. “I wanted to be a cop before basketball. I do have pride for my country.”

And yet, we have tweets proliferating across social media accusing Griner of disrespecting the American flag (she didn’t) or kneeling during the national anthem (also not true).

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Russia
KEYWORDS: americanpressganging; brittneygriner; conservatives; joeandhunter4whelan; maga; marcfogel; paulwhelan; pinwheelsforeyes; prisonerswap; tiffanydrayton; viktorbout; whelan
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To: SeekAndFind

Will the people killed and maimed by the arms dealer celebrate the American hating racist ball chaser?


61 posted on 12/10/2022 9:09:28 AM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: EEGator

“She’’ is a guy.

Saints alive the f’ing world has gone insane.


62 posted on 12/10/2022 9:24:46 AM PST by jmacusa (Liberals. Too stupid to be idiots. )
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To: jmacusa

Are you saying she has a penis, or was born with one?
Proof?


63 posted on 12/10/2022 9:28:35 AM PST by EEGator
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To: SeekAndFind

“... Griner’s perceived lack of patriotism. But this kind of litmus test has long been rigged against Black Americans.”
So; is the author saying that Black/Israelite Americans are not Patriots?


64 posted on 12/10/2022 9:39:03 AM PST by 55Ford
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To: SeekAndFind

“Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after vape canisters and cannabis oil were discovered in her luggage at the airport.” HER luggage? Are they sure? Seems I had read differently.


65 posted on 12/10/2022 10:16:16 AM PST by oldtech
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To: SeekAndFind

To me it’s as simple as why trade for a guilty prisoner, Griner, instead of an innocent one, the former Marine.


66 posted on 12/10/2022 10:57:05 AM PST by Rowdyone (Vigilence)
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To: SeekAndFind
In 2020, amid widespread Black Lives Matter protests decrying police brutality and racism, Griner stated that the national anthem shouldn’t be played during games and refused to be on the floor while it played. Griner is an articulate athlete, and her intention was always clear. “I don’t mean that in any disrespect to our country. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years,” she told The Arizona Republic at the time. “I wanted to be a cop before basketball. I do have pride for my country.”

Then why did she do that? What was her point?

67 posted on 12/11/2022 1:29:58 AM PST by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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To: TexasFreeper2009
She wasn’t wrongfully arrested, she pled GUILTY!

Yes, but the Russians have to be taught that in a free society real criminals must be freed and political prisoners must be locked away indefinitely.

That’s the Bidamerican way.

68 posted on 12/11/2022 1:41:09 AM PST by gitmo (If your theology doesn't become your biography, what good is it?)
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