We should be both happy for Brittney Griner and devastated for Paul Whelan
When news broke about Brittney Griner, WNBA homecoming queen, I was heartbreakingly relieved. Like many, I followed this story from her arrest to her sneaker touching US soil early this morning. Though, the loudest comments I saw were not with the same joy I felt but of anger — at President Biden, at BG, and at the people happy for the Griner family.
It’s difficult to grapple with this story because of the nuances of this prisoner swap that the public may never know. All we see is US Marine veteran, Paul Whelan, still held at a Russian penal colony, where conditions are wretched. But everyone trying to out-woke the woke is hating on the wrong person. We should be irate with Vladimir Putin, who is holding Whelan hostage and has been for four years. Aside from American administration officials and his family, who knew that Whelan was detained in Russia? Who knew about Trevor Reed, another US Marine veteran released in a 1-for-1 prisoner swap earlier in 2022 after three years of detainment? What about all the other wrongfully detained American prisoners in other countries, like China and Iran, and within our own borders?
Paul Whelan demonstrated dual emotions when he spoke to CNN about Brittney Griner’s participation in a prisoner swap with Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout: “Whelan said he was happy that Griner was released, but told CNN, ‘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.’’
It’s okay to be happy that BG is home safely. It’s also okay (and correct, frankly) to be upset that Paul Whelan was not a part of this prisoner swap. As much as President Biden tried to bring Whelan home, both governments know Whelan is a higher level offender than BG. According to US administration officials, “Whelan said he was told that because the Russians have accused him of being a spy, ‘they’ve put me at a level higher than what they did with Trevor (Reed) and Brittney’” (CNN). Whelan was convicted of espionage; this does not mean he is or was a spy, but he was convicted by the Russian legal system. Unfortunately, that means a spy is worth more than someone with a vape pen.
However, let’s not forget that we’re trying to make deals with someone who doesn’t seem to be… all there. Putin is still ten months into a war he started with Ukraine, who is receiving a lot of international aid, including from the US. While this could be considered a “strike while the iron is hot” moment for the US, which I think is why Whelan’s freedom was even on the table to begin with, but this can also be a “drastic measures” or “Hail Mary” moment for Russia. If they have minimal stakes to lose with America because of war sanctions tanking their economy, Putin could easily rescind all talks of a prisoner swap altogether. He either has higher leverage than Biden or no leverage at all.
And we know how Putin works by now: if he doesn’t benefit in any way, he won’t do it. How will he show strength in a time of war? Trading a person who had a vape pen for an arms dealer. At face value, this sounds like a ridiculous trade, and it is, but Putin is making this trade look great in his favor. That’s why Griner and Whelan are mere pawns to Putin. Detaining them only gives him leverage because he knows our values, not because detaining them protects the Russian people. It protects Putin. That is why this trade sounds imbalanced. Because it is. It is not fair, and it does suck.
Furthermore, this trade does not mean Biden chose Griner over Whelan, as CNN reported: “‘This was not a situation where we had a choice of which American to bring home. It was a choice between bringing home one particular American — Brittney Griner — or bringing home none,’ a US senior administration official said Thursday morning.”
It is also being reported by CNN that other offers were made to Russia, but Putin declined all of them, using his leverage of withholding Whelan in exchange for convicted murderer and spy, Vadim Krasikov, who is detained in Germany (not the US) for a life sentence. Now there’s a whole other third party necessary to facilitate a trade for Whelan’s freedom. Unfortunately, it seems that the only way to get Whelan back to the US is by bringing Germany into the discussion as part of a weird three-way trade. Krasikov, who murdered someone in broad daylight, appears to be vital in bringing home a Marine veteran falsely accused of espionage. If the “price” or “bargaining chip” is Krasikov, Griner’s freedom had nothing to do with Whelan’s continued detainment, but we do see that Russia is putting a high price tag on Whelan: “a spy for a spy,” a 16-year sentence for a life sentence, a man for a man.
Do we expect fairness from Putin? No. Do we expect him to do what makes sense? No. When has that ever happened? Never.
To those saying, “All or nothing” to a 2-for-1 trade, it may not be that easy and clear-cut. Obviously Biden wants Whelan home. Even just politically, Whelan’s freedom means great things for Biden, but that does not appear to have been possible with the US alone. The German administration declined releasing Krasikov. Thus, the Biden administration took what they could get for a high price because one life saved is better than no lives saved. Who are we to dictate whose life is worth more than another? Or, is one life better than none?
It is also obvious that BG became a well-known name with her arrest due to marijuana charges, something many Americans value and have recently decriminalized. The tag, “WNBA star” prefaces Griner’s name in the mass coverage of this international story. However, even though BG helped the US win two Olympic medals, she was not a “star” until her arrest (AP News). Not many people were trading her basketball card (if they even have those) before this horrific incident.
And the reason the WNBA plays in Russia during the off-season is because they do not earn a comparable salary as players in the NBA. Players in the WNBA have to hustle like the rest of us. If they didn’t have to play in the off season, BG wouldn’t even be in this situation, but who’s blaming unfair wages for Whelan still being detained? Nobody. It is clear that BG’s “stardom” was not a reason for her freedom. Not many people were trading her basketball card (if they even have those) before this horrific incident.
Rather, people are attacking President Biden or making this a racial issue or an LGBTQIA+ issue (especially with the recent passing of the Respect for Marriage Act that only turns into law that States must affirm a same-sex marriage as long as it was done legally). Anger is pointed at “wokeness” for prioritizing marginalized communities.
Griner, as a queer and Black woman, is the perfect target for attacking these groups of people. It is because she is Black and queer that Biden chose her over Whelan — no. That is just incorrect. This senseless attack and loose tying-in of legislation to create even the slightest bit of equality only widens the gap between the predominantly White, heteronormative, evangelical society and marginalized populations. It also closes the gap for conversation about diversity and equity.
So it’s not just because BG is Black and queer that her freedom was granted in exchange for Viktor Bout’s freedom. And it is not because she is a “WNBA star” or because she furthers “the woke agenda.” Her freedom was granted because one is better than none. Griner’s freedom had no ties to Whelan’s freedom. Does it seem unfair that a US Marine veteran is still detained under unimaginable conditions? Yes! Because it is. But only because he was wrongfully convicted by Russia.
Furthermore, the fact that Whelan is considered a spy and BG had less than a gram of marijuana oil on her person, Whelan is considered to be a higher-level threat. Everyone involved knows that, even Whelan. America is going to have to put up a lot more to get Whelan back home.
But it is possible to be happy Griner is home and devastated that Whelan is not. Griner is not responsible for Whelan being “left behind” when she is a pawn herself. We have to be careful where we cast blame and how we target marginalized people. This is how we indirectly say that one life is worth more than another life because of our race, creed, sexual orientation, etc. This is when we dehumanize the people we are trying to bring home.
Instead, let’s use this momentum to put Whelan’s freedom on the table. Let’s not stop talking about wrongfully detained Americans around the world and in our own country. We have the largest prison population in the entire world. Let’s not stop talking about it and bring all of these people home.
Last edited December 9, 2022, 6:25 pm.
