Triumph or Tragedy?

12/10/2022

WNBA star, Brittney Griner, was released from a Russian prison in exchange for a convicted arms dealer, Viktor Bout (pronounced Boot).

Viktor Bout is known as the "Merchant of Death," and was in prison in the United States, "on charges of conspiring to kill Americans, acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles, and provide material support to a terrorist organization."

Paul Whelan is a former marine who was dishonorably discharged. He was detained at a Moscow hotel in December 2018 by Russian authorities for allegedly being a spy. In June 2020, he was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian prison. He thought he was being traded for Bout with Griner. He was not.

According to CNN, Whelan said he was happy that Griner was released, but “I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release, especially as the four year anniversary of my arrest is coming up.”

First, click the image to read an Op-Ed by a sports reporter for the Ft. Worth Star Telegram. Next, read the Twitter comments of those who follow the reporter who wrote the piece, then, tell us what you think!

1. INCLUDE: First Initial, Last Name AND Class Block.

2. Respond in no more than five (5) complete sentences and no less than three (3) complete sentences. (This helps you write more concisely and think more critically.)

3. You MUST comment on at least TWO other posts from any student in any class. Your replies cannot be identical comments on different posts and posting shallow comments such as "I agree" or "I disagree" will earn you a zero. Make sure your reply addresses the comment that you are responding to.

CAUTION!! Do NOT embarrass me, yourself, your class, the English department, the school, your family or your upbringing with tasteless, meaningless comments. This is for a grade.

DISCLAIMER: If you do not respond AND comment on TWO others, you will not receive credit for this assignment. If you do not write your name correctly, and I don't see your work, you will not receive credit for this assignment. It's all or nothing.

WARNING: If you post even one second past midnight, your comment might appear to be posted, but as soon as it is opened to be graded, it will automatically delete.

Due Fri., December 16, 2022 11:59 p.m. CST

Saniyah Joubert 7B

12/11/2022 01:36:48 pm

I believe it's a triangular triumph, look at the glass half full then empty. I mean one of them did get released, although the other is still in jail its better than 2. Thats just the risk they took.

Bralin Wilkinson 6B

12/12/2022 10:34:16 am

I agree, It must be very risky to even trade people like this.

chase moore 6b

12/12/2022 11:37:42 am

i agree with her it must have been a hard choice to make

brooke

12/16/2022 09:53:48 am

i agree because he did in fact kill someone

Tindle. A 7B

12/12/2022 02:55:12 pm

You're so right, because you cant really look at this one way. It seems like this decision was hard to make. They could've traded Viktor Bout for Brittney Griner because they honestly felt like they wanted her back , or they could've traded because they wanted to appeal to the community.

Janelle Melgar 6B link

12/14/2022 11:51:50 am

I agree it was a risk they were willing to take and the outcome seems okay, like you said it's better than both being in jail.

tony 5b

12/16/2022 01:23:24 pm

i agree too because we dont need a basketball player over our opponents gunsmith

Khamari Caldwell

12/12/2022 09:01:07 am

I think that this trade was stupid. Why are we trading a Russian arms dealer for a WNBA player. She got herself in that situation by trying to take drugs into a country that has strict rules on stuff like that. She needs to be held accountable for her actions and suffer the consequences.

chase moore 6b

12/12/2022 11:36:41 am

i agree with her because we are trading arms dealer that sells guns and other things just to start back doing it again but she did to her self in a way and should have know the rules and other thing in that country but at the end of the day she is still a us citizen

Banks.M 6B

12/12/2022 03:48:58 pm

I agree with this comment because Griner should get the same treatment as everyone else. Who ever came to Russia and breaks rules.

alexus austin

12/16/2022 11:39:28 am

i agree with her because they should get the same treat ment as she did not bc of there color

Joshua Deleon 2A

12/13/2022 12:51:59 pm

I agree because losing a arm specialist for a normal american citizen does not make it fair. She was traded because of her popularity but other americans are sitting in prisons for the same reason.

S. Griffin 3a link

12/13/2022 07:40:15 pm

I agree, she shouldn’t have brought drugs in a country without knowing if they allowed it but that shouldn’t mean that she deserves to be held accountable.

Geoffrey Ojeh

12/13/2022 09:54:48 pm

I concur that she shouldn't have taken narcotics into a country without first verifying that it was legal, but it doesn't automatically justify punishing her.

J. RockwellI 7B

12/16/2022 12:32:47 pm

i think tragedy is the way to go because i don't know how to do this thing so that is my thought

george a 5B

12/13/2022 08:29:07 pm

I agree she should have to face her own actions

Kaylee Holt 6B

12/14/2022 09:23:37 am

I agree because she shouldn't have brought the drugs to Russia because she should know that when she gets caught there's consequences and she wasn't even thinking about that.

Janelle Melgar 6B link

12/14/2022 11:54:37 am

I agree they should have left it how it was because what if something bad happened during the trade.

Shamarian Samuels

12/14/2022 12:58:37 pm

I agree with you it's a 50/50 shes back home where she belongs but a really dangerous person who got released

Xavier McDonald 7B

12/15/2022 09:30:01 am

I agree with this because we have so many people in jail for small drug charges but she gets to just go on about her life.

Cam Jeffers

12/16/2022 12:32:45 pm

i agree cause its just wild im not team USA anymore

tony 5b

12/16/2022 01:25:00 pm

exactly because if thats the case drugs should be legal

Leonardo Guzman 1A

12/15/2022 09:59:45 am

I strongly agree, a trade like this has to be very worthless, with no gain whatsoever. Like how it is said, everyone's actions have consequences, which will affect them at any cost possible. If proceeding to do a negative action, such as an illegal thing, you should be suffering the consequences for your actions. No person should ever go off unaffected for negativity they've brought upon.

Kevin Jacinto 6B

12/15/2022 10:42:52 pm

I completely agree with you, at one point people should be responsible for their own decisions.

brooke

12/16/2022 09:55:24 am

Thats what im saying. She kinda needs to stay there,because who brings that type of stuff to an airport anyway

Makyia Lyons link

12/12/2022 09:22:35 am

I think the trade was a good idea, because they said on the news that they weren't going to release her until they got the guy that they wanted back to Russia. They got what they wanted, and they released her. Now she is finally free, and she can be with her family again.

Bralin Wilkinson 6B

12/12/2022 10:35:09 am

I agree, it was probably scary for her to be staying in Russia for that long.

Saniyah Joubert 7B

12/12/2022 12:52:23 pm

Yea I mean you can't win for losing, so in my book one of them being released is better then them both being in jail.

Alexia Ruiz

12/14/2022 03:30:58 pm

I agree with you, the trade was smart. But they still need to get Paul out.

Xavier McDonald 7B

12/15/2022 09:32:47 am

I disagree we just traded a menace society for a basketball player like the government gotta think with their brain sometimes rather than try to please the community.

Cam Jeffers

12/16/2022 12:29:15 pm

i agree cause its just rediculous

Bralin Wilkinson 6B

12/12/2022 10:33:39 am

I think that this trade was sort of a 50/50 type of thing. Yes we got a person who was from the U.S. back from Russia but we basically traded her for a dude who has weapon connections all around the world. And he will most likely try to blow up the U.S. since he is free now and the government doesn't even realize they released Makarov from Modern Warfare back into the world.

Saniyah Joubert 7B

12/12/2022 12:46:10 pm

Yea I agree, I believe it depends on what perspective you look at it from.

Tindle. A 7B

12/12/2022 02:51:17 pm

I agree with you, because on one hand its like shes back home with her family as she should be, and on the other hand they realesed a very dangerous person.

Tacherianne

12/12/2022 03:52:19 pm

Yes, I agree he could do anything with those connections I think theyre unaware and russia is siding

Joshua Deleon 2A

12/13/2022 12:53:43 pm

I agree with this because why give up britney griner for makarov, i dont think it makes sense to have Americans sitting in american prisons for the exact same thing.

Geoffrey Ojeh B6

12/13/2022 09:56:00 pm

I agree with this since it doesn't make sense to me to have Americans detained in American jails for the same offense as Britney Griner.

E. Adame 2A

12/13/2022 02:05:55 pm

I agree with you that it is a 50/50 situation. Like even though we got someone back we could be put into more danger from this trade. I don't know if it was the safest option

george a 5b

12/13/2022 08:31:25 pm

I agree it really is a 50/50 shes back home where she belongs but it is a dangerous person who got released

Kaylee Holt 6B

12/14/2022 09:27:00 am

I agree because its great to get our US citizens back but we released a dude who's gonna try to kill the US as much as possible and is gonna try to conquer the US.

Alexia Ruiz

12/14/2022 03:34:52 pm

Yeah, I doubt they would do this but they should ban him from the U.S., he hates us and probably wants us all dead. Banning him would be the smart thing to do.

Gabriel Castaneda 2A

12/15/2022 10:28:38 pm

I agree because the trading is more dangerous towards us because Victor can really be a treat and call whoever he knows and could have all of us killed as some type of pay back. he may have the urge to do it again and kill more innocent americans.

Kevin Jacinto 6B

12/15/2022 10:44:41 pm

I agree, basically no one is in the right and no one is in the wrong. Also things could go either way.

Tindle. A 7B

12/12/2022 02:46:06 pm

What I think about this whole thing is that there's many different factors that go into these kind's of decisions. You can see both sides of why people are with or against the fact that they traded the "Merchant of Death" for a basketball player. It sounds funny, but she deserved to come home, and so does Austin Tice, so honestly I can't say much about the trade.

Banks.M 6B

12/12/2022 04:14:56 pm

I do agree with this comment because there are different ways to look at this situation but at the end of the day Griner and Bout committed a crime and needs to serve their time.

E. Adame 2A

12/13/2022 02:09:48 pm

I do agree with your opinion on this. I agree she deserved to come home and I'm sure there are many more people. This could be more dangerous for us to do this trade but it takes multiple people to make the choice.

Banks.M 6B

12/12/2022 03:36:02 pm

I personally like this trade was the worst decision the U.S. could have ever had I understand she is apart of the WNBA and the LGBTQ+ community and she is black but the U.S. is basically trading one life for a million lives because when Viktor Bout is freed back to Russia they will let him free and he may or may not find his way back to America and kill millions of people. On top of that Griner broke a rule and she is going to jail for it I mean that is a lot of time just because of a weed pan but still she broke a rule and needs to serve her time. The U.S. should have traded Bout for Whelan if he really is a spy he can help the U.S. find out if Russian is planning to attack and that is how I feel about the trade.

12/12/2022 03:51:03 pm

I agree, whelan could help rather than Bout being a threat and its okay for Griner to face some kind of time, consequences come with that.

Tacherianne Terry

12/12/2022 03:49:35 pm

I think it wasnt a good trade because of what they did. Why trade a possible threat affiliate with her? Yes, she brought drugs in and she should face time but not as much as they were giving her, and whelan should have been traded rather than Bout. He didnt do much at least not as much as Bout did.Bout could still do the same thing he was doing going in. Also think Russia wants Bout for their upcoming attack.

S. Griffin 3a link

12/13/2022 07:45:09 pm

I agree, she should have gotten less of amount of time because it had put too much pressure on her.

Kaydin Lake 3A

12/14/2022 01:30:23 pm

Not even being too much pressure on her, the time that she was given was irrational, and didn't match the seriousness of the crime she committed.

Joshua Deleon 2A

12/13/2022 12:50:47 pm

I dont think the trade made sense. Britney Griner was a normal WNBA player and giving up a special arms dealer who conspiring about killing Americans makes no sense. I think America lost the trade and should've requested a first round pick as well.

A. Hernandez 5B

12/14/2022 11:41:06 am

I agree, because the arms dealer can be a threat to us again. It doesnt make sense to trade somebody more dangerous than the other. Britney was just trying to take in marijuana where she shouldnt be, she isnt a dangerous person at all.

Sanchez.A

12/14/2022 01:25:49 pm

I agree, this whole trade to begin with was a mistake and the U.S did not think through.

j martinez 3a

12/15/2022 09:18:51 am

i agree this whole trade was not a good idea for the us if anything it was stupid .

E. Adame 2A

12/13/2022 02:12:16 pm

I think this is a half and half kind of decision, even though we are bringing Griner back, letting Bout go back could be dangerous for us. I'm sure that a lot of thought could go into decisions like these. I don't have a big opinion on it but it's right and wrong.

Shamarian Samuels

12/14/2022 12:55:47 pm

I agree with you its so hard to pick a side its a win win and a loose lose situation.

j martinez 3a

12/15/2022 09:19:55 am

i somewhat agree it was a still a lose but i mean also we did bring someone home but also it was a stupid trade .

S. Griffin link

12/13/2022 07:36:00 pm

In my opinion I feel like this trade was the worst decision the U.S. could make because people are making a big deal about her being apart of the WNBA, the LGBTQ+ community and that she’s black. It shouldn’t matter to the U.S. about what community she’s in is and how she looks. This just shows that they are basically using up her life for a million other lives. When Viktor Bout is freed back to Russia they let him free without any hesitation, knowing if he might kill people. On top of that Griner ended up breaking a rule, which meant she was going to jail for it. I feel like the U.S. should have traded Bout for Whalen if it was really a problem, even if he was considering to help the U.S. so they could find out if Russia was planning to attack.

George Arellano 5B

12/13/2022 08:28:06 pm

I believe that this trade was a horrible decision on behalf of the U.S. They're trading a war criminal who supplied many terrorists with an arsenal, for a lady that brought drugs into a country with strict borders. I personally think she should have suffered the consequences of her own actions. She shoudn't have gotten the time she was facing but she brought it on herself.

Zariya Boyce 1A

12/14/2022 11:25:49 am

Yes I agree, we all make choices, and her choices got her in the situation she's in. She did it to herself, and should've done her time. Russians are brutal, and are strict she should've known what she was getting herself into. It was a dummy move.

A. Hernandez 5B

12/14/2022 11:45:06 am

I agree, because why trade someone who was already trying to harm us for a women who tried to take marijuana in a country that it is illegal to have in. She shouldve served her time for trying to do something like that where she isnt supposed to. It was a dumb trade because it was unfair to trade somebody who had marijuana, for someone who tried killing a lot of Americans.

C Valdez 3A

12/15/2022 11:01:56 am

It really was a horrible decision and she should have done her time instead of releasing a terrorist for her. Grinner taking her time in prison would have been a much better choice.

Geoffrey Ojeh B6

12/13/2022 09:53:49 pm

This trade, in my opinion, was horrible. Why are we exchanging a WNBA player for a Russian arms dealer. She put herself in that predicament by attempting to import pharmaceuticals into a nation with severe regulations around such things. She must be made to pay for her misdeeds and face the repercussions.

Zariya Boyce 1A

12/14/2022 11:28:27 am

I agree, but the time they were giving her was ridiculous. There are drug dealers literally everywhere, but that doesn't make it a excuse for what she did.

Kaylee Holt 6B

12/14/2022 09:35:43 am

For me this trade was BS because even though were getting our US citizen back and she was apart of the LGBTQ+ community she was basically smuggling drugs into Russia and should face her punishment because she obviously wasn't think about what would happen. The US had no reason to give an arms dealer back because he's gonna do what he can to either destroy the land of the US or take over and make it Russia's land. This trade would of never happened if people would stop being feines toward drugs and would stop selling them, if you can't get a real job instead of selling then that's your problem.

A. Hernandez 5B

12/14/2022 11:38:11 am

I think the trade was dumb because why trade a WNBA player for an arms dealer that is more dangerous. Now that the trade happened the arms dealer can be a threat to us Americans. Brittney should be held accountable knowing that she couldnt take marijuana over there.

lili

12/14/2022 03:12:04 pm

i agree this is bad for america

Shamarian Samuels

12/14/2022 12:50:55 pm

why are we exchanging a WNBA player for a Russian arms dealer. He is more of a threat to us than she is. And letting him go is putting a threat to all of our lives .

lili

12/14/2022 03:11:30 pm

i agree stupid trade

Sanchez.A

12/14/2022 01:22:35 pm

I think the trade was a dumb decision because I feel that Russia had a bigger advantage than the U.S. I just feel that they really did not think things through in this trading process. I also feel like in the end they let go someone that might be a threat in the near future considering he is a Russian arms dealer.

Kaydin Lake 3A

12/14/2022 01:24:20 pm

I do believe that ,in a sense, it has something to do with social status and appealing to the audience, the American people. I don't think it wasn't a matter of the U.S. government wanting to, but kind of having to. Because of the fact that, she's very famous and a U.S. citizen. So, I think they were obligated to get her back to sort of prove a point on, " We look out for ours, no matter what. " Just think if the U.S. government didn't make an effort to get her back. People would make all types of reasons in their heads on why. For example, skin color and beliefs. Some may even go as far as her sexuality. I think the reason why they made the decision that they made was so they could avoid that reality.

Janelle Melgar 6B link

12/14/2022 02:39:22 pm

The trade was both good and bad. I say this because it is possibly better to just keep them where they were so that they could deal with the consequences of their crimes. On the other hand it was maybe a good idea to trade them because what if the one of them got harmed badly.

lili swain

12/14/2022 03:11:10 pm

although i love brittany griner as well watching her play i do not agree with this trade because who we traded her for he is an expert with bombs and we let him free all she does is play basketball we shouldve let the marine go if any thing

Keyuante S 2A

12/15/2022 09:15:15 am

Yes i agree its marines that have been in there for years and she couldve just served her sentence

e.Thompson

12/15/2022 01:14:33 pm

right why would they trade somebody who is against americans back where they came from?

Alexia Ruiz 1A

12/14/2022 03:25:48 pm

It's not a triumph. I think it's worth celebrating Brittney's release but we can't forget there's still another person in prison for a crime they didn't commit. They need to get Paul out before they call it a triumph.

Keyuante S 2A

12/15/2022 09:14:28 am

yes i agree but she couldve served her time though we couldve got someone or a better deal if we are trading the merchant of death, the worlds knownn arms dealer

Mackenly Mitchell link

12/16/2022 11:30:46 am

I agree, she ought to suffer the consequences of her actions jus lik everyone else

Kaydin Lake 3A

12/15/2022 10:36:14 am

Yes, the same effort and trouble they went through for a person that doesn't even respect the government and its country, should be the same effort to go through to release a U.S. marine.

Keyuante S 2A

12/15/2022 09:12:44 am

In my opinion i belive that trade was horrible on the us end because we traded someone thats known as the merchant of death or the god of war for an WNBA player that was stupid and knowing we got other soldiers and marines in the russian prison as well so i think that wasnt a smart trade but i also feel its more behind it

Kaydin Lake 3A

12/15/2022 10:33:21 am

I do believe that they should've traded someone of equal value. And, I do agree that the trade was bad because it seems like Russia was the only one that benefited from the deal really completely. A well-known weapons dealer for a WNBA basketball player. Like, dirt for gold almost.

Gabriel Castaneda 2A

12/15/2022 10:34:50 pm

I agree because even though the trade was horrible, there could be some stuff that the people are hiding that they don't want us to know. There has to be a reasoning on why this has happened or a deeper meaning. This action could put the US in danger and potentially hurt us all.

Pina 7B

12/16/2022 01:12:28 pm

I agree with you because they released a killer of Americans for an WNBA player.

j martinez 3a

12/15/2022 09:15:53 am

For me i think this trade was a stupid one because britney went to another country knowing the laws are diffrent from the us . I think russia really won this trade because they got someone who killed lots of people and not only that he has so many connections to cartels and other things like that . And also we had a marine who couldve also got and i think it wouldve made the trade worth it .,

ryan brown 3A

12/15/2022 08:02:35 pm

Yeah she should have look at all the laws in russia before she went over. It's not like she had all the knowledge accumulated by the human race on her phone.

K Stern 5B

12/16/2022 09:00:35 am

I agree. Brittney should've looked into the laws of Russia before doing anything foolish. She's a grown woman and can educate herself.

Morgan Johnson 5B

12/16/2022 12:38:32 pm

I agree, with Vicktor's history in America there could be a problem now that he's in Russia. He could probably help Russia when it comes to murder.

Xavier McDonald 7B

12/15/2022 09:28:30 am

I think that the U.S. was dumb to do this exchange. Griner had illegal substances, enough to distribute and got caught in a place where they take it very seriously. We just traded an arms dealer somebody that sells weapons that can kill people for a basketball player that got caught with drugs. If she doesn't serve any time while here then the U.S. The government should release all people in jail on small drug charges. To make it worse we didn't even get a US Marine that is still over their in jail.

C Valdez 3A

12/15/2022 11:09:40 am

Yeah this trade was a huge loss a terrorist shouldn't be released just because some basketball player couldn't follow the rules she should have just done her time instead of trading for her and it should have been to suffer the consequences of her actions instead of having other people suffer for it by having Viktor released.

C Valdez 3A

12/15/2022 10:51:55 am

I think this trade was awful taking Grinner and in exchange is a horrendous choice she should not have been released for Viktor because he's a terrorist selling missiles and weapons to terrorist and is going to get people killed. Doing this also shows a bad example because countries might try to imprison other sports players to use for exchanges. The U.S. could have at the least released Paul since he's a marine to justify the exchange more but they picked the worst choice they could have picked.

e. Thompson

12/15/2022 01:13:43 pm

i agree the trade was awful.

ryan brown 3A

12/15/2022 07:58:12 pm

trading the life of one american for the life of more is the worst thing I think you could do. It's supposed to be from the for the people not the person.

Nox ( Katelyn) Sears

12/16/2022 09:26:19 am

I completely agree. This man is dangerous and we just traded him with a women who took drugs to a state that doesn’t allow it! Like no! The U.S needs to do better.

Morgan Johnson 5B

12/16/2022 12:29:46 pm

I agree, they shouldn't have been traded with Viktor. He wanted to help aid Russia. It makes no sense to trade for him.

Isis Ortiz 7B

12/16/2022 12:43:01 pm

I agree a lot. He was known for wanting to kill Americans and they still decided to trade him. He could be planning something in the future.

E. Thompson-smith

12/15/2022 01:13:02 pm

i agree because whats the point of releasing the guy who was trying to harm americans. That was kinda of pointless to release him to where he came from. also i feel like the trade was jus very careless and ingnorant.

Pina 7B

12/16/2022 01:10:53 pm

I agree with you they should have put in more thought to this trade and think it over.

Ryan Brown 3A

12/15/2022 07:55:23 pm

I'm happy that Griner got out of the Russian prison. I think that the U.S. has to do better. After googling it I found out that griner was in prison for 294 days, that's not even close to the amount of time whelan spent in prison. They should have got him first especially since he served in the military.

Gabriel Castaneda 2A

12/15/2022 10:18:12 pm

This trade was not right for the US, They should have let Brittney Griner finish her sentence due to her bringing in drugs to a country. Trading guns and drugs is basically what they are doing because Brittney had drugs and they traded her for Victor who is an armed convict. The trade is bad for the US and people will talk about this for a while.

Mackenly Mitchell link

12/16/2022 11:28:16 am

I bet if she wasn't a celebrity they would not have pushed for the trade

Raheem Beck

12/16/2022 12:34:58 pm

I agree with you because she wasn't even thought of to be freed until the LGBT community came out with all that publicity and hate forBiden if not she would've did the full sentence.

Isis Ortiz 7B

12/16/2022 12:41:57 pm

I agree. This could cause a lot of problems for the US if this man decides to do something in revenge. I feel like Russia might be planning something using the man as leverage.

Kevin Jacinto 6B

12/15/2022 10:48:49 pm

I certainly care about this trade, because we’ve traded 2 people who are both in the wrong. We traded a WNBA basketball player who chose herself to take drugs into a country who doesn’t allow it. For a guy who can cause hard to a lot of people here and around the world. So no one wins besides Grineir getting back home I guess.

K Stern 5B

12/16/2022 09:02:53 am

I agree. She should've checked into Russia's laws before taking drugs over there when a lot of drugs aren't even legal in her home country.

Nox ( Katelyn) Sears

12/16/2022 09:24:59 am

Why did we have to trade? Why couldn’t she just stay there? It’s her fault for taking drugs in the first place! This trade could have been dangerous too.

marina santos 7b

12/16/2022 12:31:07 pm

The only good thing is that shes safe and back but her actions werent reasonable since she was going to a rough country

K Stern 5B

12/16/2022 08:54:51 am

I think it is absolutely sick to be trading humans. I feel like this trade isn't worth it. I get the U.S wants her back in her home country but trading her for an armed convict who has tried to kill Americans isn't a smart trade.

R. Brown 7B

12/16/2022 12:40:02 pm

I definitely agree because a trade like this shouldn't happen. especially when it's a basketball player against a dangerous arms dealer.

Nox (Katelyn) Sears

12/16/2022 09:23:40 am

I thought this whole thing was stupid. It’s her fault for taking drugs to another country. Karma is a b! We didn’t have to trade a Russian arms dealer for her. She doesn’t know how lucky she is, because people aren’t as lucky as her to come back to her home state.

M. Espino 7B

12/16/2022 12:36:05 pm

I strongly agree. She shouldn't have been taking drugs to another country to begin with. That man is an ARMED DEALER and we traded her for him.

brooke

12/16/2022 09:58:45 am

I believe this was an odd trade. This man is in jail for murder, and shes in there for a mistake she made. In my eyes how this is going could lead into something really bad

Mackenly Mitchell link

12/16/2022 11:27:04 am

The only reason people pushed for griner to be released is because she's black. Regardless she brought illegal substance to another country, while being ignorant to the regulations in Russia. I think she should go ahead and face them consequences, because that was just not a wise thing to do, especially in Russia.

M. Espino 7B

12/16/2022 12:34:37 pm

I agree. She was aware of the rules and still decided to disobey them. She should be able to face the consequences of her actions.

R. Brown 7B

12/16/2022 12:37:15 pm

I completely understand where you are coming from. In a way it's unfair that they're releasing her for those reasons. She should face the consequences just like anyone else.

Morgan Johnson 5B

12/16/2022 12:26:30 pm

I don't they should of traded Brittney for Viktor, a man who was aiming to kill Americans back where we came from. I don't have much to think on this topic. I just think is amazing how she free now.

santos 7b

12/16/2022 12:29:41 pm

Atleast she's free but the fact that victor has less time in russia is insane.She didt deserve to be in that situation.

Raheem Beck 5B

12/16/2022 12:32:42 pm

I agree because this isn't going to do nothing but cause more problems for america beause he is going to get to russia and help come up with ways to take us out.

m. santos

12/16/2022 12:28:13 pm

why did we have to resort to trading human being for a human being? She's an olympian and should be valued like that like what if it were a male olympin how fast would they act to get them back.You're trading an athlete for a armed criminal that is threating americans.

Raheem Beck 5B

12/16/2022 12:31:00 pm

I think the only reson Biden released Brittney was because of all the publicity and hate he was getting for not signing off and freeing her. I believe if word got out that they freed Paul instead the whole LGBT community and everybody would've made a big ceal of it. Both of them should have ben freed their crimes weren't that wrong but the merchant of death dude shouldn't have been who we traded with instead we find another way or another person.

Cam Jeffers

12/16/2022 12:31:48 pm

i mean to be fair if you was in her shoes you would want to get out of there but its still her fault going to russia with that on her so i disaggre she if that killer bomb us im no more team USA.

Mya Espino 7B

12/16/2022 12:31:57 pm

I think the trade was kind of a dumb decision on USA's part. She was put in there for bringing drugs into their country when she may have known that they have strict drug policies there. They traded her for an armed man who is known for wanting to kill Americans. I think they could've found another way to make a different trade.

Ricardo Lynch 3A

1/6/2023 05:26:02 pm

I agree with this statement. She should have been aware of the country's drug laws before bringing it.

R.Brown 7B

12/16/2022 12:35:00 pm

I think that the trade should not have happened. We are trading a basketball player for an arms dealer. An arms dealer that threatened to kill Americans.

cedric lott 2A

12/16/2022 02:54:57 pm

I agree, the trade is just not reasonable to me cause of her behavior and the fact she know thats not the right thing do. She need to use her common sense like a normal human. I think she needs to remain where she is

Isis Ortiz 7B

12/16/2022 12:40:00 pm

I think the trade was stupid. She shouldn't have been smuggling drugs to another country. Yes, it is a good thing that we got her free, but we also just lost one of the most dangerous men in Russia.

Desiree Ware 3A

12/16/2022 11:18:08 pm

I agree, I don’t know what she was smuggling drugs in a country you know nothing of. And as you mention we lost one of the most dangerous men in Russia, horrible.

Heela A 7B

12/16/2022 01:04:08 pm

I think the trade was really bad. She should be facing the consequences for what happened.

cedric lott 2A

12/16/2022 02:51:47 pm

I agree with the fact that they should be having consequences for what they have did. I wont say that they dont have the right to do that but why even trade her for him she should have just served her time. Also, the trade was terrible cause she souldnt have been smuggling drugs.

Paola Pina 7B

12/16/2022 01:10:12 pm

This trade was not the best decision that the United States has made. They traded an WNBA player for a Russian arms dealer and killer. I think they made this decision because the government would receive hate for not accepting the trade. They should made smarter option to release both. Before she went to Russia she should have not brought drugs to a foreign place.

Desiree Ware 3A

12/16/2022 11:15:36 pm

I agree the people would be mad at the government, but that trade was worthless it earned us nothing.

Ricardo Lynch 3A

1/6/2023 05:25:00 pm

I agree. I do find it stupid that the U.S government made the trade so they can prevent backlash.

R Aponte 2A link

1/6/2023 08:14:44 pm

Exactly, It was not a good decision because they are going to find a way to use him. They are doing this to make them look better, but for what if she was doing something illegal. She put herself in that situation knowing it was wrong.

tony robinson 5b

12/16/2022 01:22:23 pm

trade a gunsmith back t his country is dub because we dont need a drug addict basketball player when we are in war with Russia.

jalyn suber

12/16/2022 01:23:30 pm

i feel like it’s good for britney but bad for everybody else because he can make a bomb and blow up the US

cedric lott 2A

12/16/2022 02:33:28 pm

Th trade was not good for the united states. why would thye trade a wnba player for an russian arms dealer. Thye definitely made that decision becuase they felt like the government was goign to recieve hate for not accepting the trade

R Aponte 2A link

1/6/2023 08:12:16 pm

In my opinion, The U.S. did not make a good decision, and they should've looked more into what they needed to do. I don't understand why they thought to bring her out if she was doing something illegal. They need to process what they did because it's not good.

Desiree Ware 3A

12/16/2022 11:13:18 pm

This trade is pointless, I honestly don’t feel bad for Brittany she needs to take responsibility for her own actions why would you even be taking drugs in a foreign county or drugs period as a famous basketball player. We really trading a Russian arms dealer for a wnba player, do better.

Ricardo Lynch 3A

1/6/2023 05:21:53 pm

Brittany should've faced the consequences of her actions. There is no good excuse for bringing drugs into a foreign country. What makes this even worse is that Russia exchanged her for an arms dealer who's nick named "the merchant of death". This situation is truly ridiculous.

R Aponte 2A link

1/6/2023 08:03:52 pm

I think that the trade was wrong because she was doing something illegal. They should have thought about their decisions more, and tried to work something differently out. The woman knew what she was doing, and the US is just giving her a slap on the wrist .

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Mixed Ink

Mixed Ink is our class blog, the window into our souls. It was designed to improve students' writing, critical thinking and communication skills by giving them a platform to provide meaningful content based on their interpretation of what they see.

Although the students receive a grade based on a rubric for completing this assignment, they are not graded on complexity of thought. This is a place where students of all levels can freely, confidently and creatively express themselves and their opinions in a nonjudgmental platform. They are required to respond to and critique each other, but degradation, slander, lewdness, etc., will not be tolerated.

Bridge Builders

All subjects are vital to learning, but English is the bridge of communication. So let's build the arch, one word at a time...

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Learning Objectives

Communicate effectively
Be aware of current events
Write concisely
Boost critical thinking skills
Be accountable
Follow directions
Have a voice about what goes on in the world around you