After some difficult military indoctrination, our trainee group was ordered to about face as the flag of the USA was raised and the National Anthem was played. An emotional experience for all. I never tire of seeing Old Glory at full staff and hearing the strains of the Star Spangled Banner. When/if Griner is released, I wonder if the racist, America-hating lesbian will think differently of the country that has given her so much.
When I went overseas in the Seventies while in the USN, they were very diligent about educating us regarding drug use while a visitor in foreign countries.
As everyone knows, drug use was relatively commonplace back then in the USA. But they told us that even if punishment was lax in the USA, not to expect any laxity in foreign countries when there as a guest.
They warned us that we would see foreign nationals in their countries using drugs freely, but if we assumed it was okay and we were caught, we, as Americans, would be treated quite differently than the locals who wouldn’t be punished at all.
On our first deployment to the Med, they told us of an American sailor busted for possession of marijuana on a previous deployment, and was still there.
When I went on our next deployment the following year, they told us the story again and said he was STILL there with no release in sight.