Russia recently arrested Wall Street journalist Evan Gershkovich and charged him with spying. The circumstances leading up to the arrest are unclear, but it is suspected that Gershkovich may have been conducting investigative journalism in Russia, which the authorities interpreted as espionage. With that in mind, let me ask y’all this: why is no one standing on a soapbox like they did when basketball star Brittney Griner was detained, proclaiming that Gershkovich should have known better than to break the law and spy in another country?
Here’s another question: if Russian officials claimed that reporter Evan Gershkovich had hemp oil on him and arrested him, would you believe he was innocent? Or would you note that Russia saw him as a high-profile journalist who could be used as a pawn for a prisoner swap? Would you wag your finger and say he should have known better than to break the law? Didn’t folks do that with Brittney Griner? Why not now? What if they agree to do a prisoner swap and the US gives up a ruthless killer or arms dealer? Will folks be mad like they were when they made a similar exchange for Brittney?
What if we found out that Evan Gershkovich didn’t stand for the national anthem at every ballgame or event he attended, where the flag was raised, and the song was sung? Would we question his patriotism and say he should stay in a Russian prison as many did with Brittney? Would we give Evan Gershkovich the benefit of the doubt? If so, why? Does he get a pass? Where are all the people who pontificated about Brittney Griner and her supposed wrongdoing but are silent now?
Who do we believe – the US officials who say he is not a spy, or do you believe Russia, who says he broke the law? Lots of folks were pretty gung ho that a country we are basically at war with was somehow telling the truth when they arrested Brittney. Why do we believe they are lying now?
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