When Putin Becomes Religion

[cbayer]

http://registan.net/index.php/2012/08/17/when-putin-becomes-religion/



by JOSHUA FOUST on 8/17/2012

Pussy Riot have been found guilty of “religious hatred” for their February 21 protest at the Christ the Savior Cathedral. Here’s the offending 55 seconds of performance that got them into so much trouble:

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The case itself is troubling for many reasons. For one, Pussy Riot are clearly not expressing hatred of Orthodox Christianity, but they are clearly protesting the Church’s close relationship to Vladimir Putin. Hating Putin is not hating religion, unless Putin is now religion. That’s something that could possibly have worrying consequences if it goes much further.

But of course there’s more. Pussy Riot have been turned into a cause célèbre by the West’s pop culture mavens. Madonna, Paul McCartney, Bjork, even Sting — who apparently learned his lessons after screwing up in Kazakhstan — have publicly issued statements supporting the fem-punkers.

And that’s all well and good. Pussy Riot are being unjustly persecuted (in the U.S. they’d have been given a slap on the wrist and a fine and let go), and it’s appropriate to protest when that happens. But there’s also an uncomfortable Kony 2012 aspect to the Pussy Riot protests as well.

more at link

[pinto]

1. Pussy Riot Testimonies (Modern Poetry in Translation)

Interesting court statements from the three women ~ pinto

Pussy Riot Testimonies
By Sasha Dugdale

The trial of three women who climbed onto the ambo of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow to sing a protest 'punk prayer' has been international news. There has been widespread condemnation of the harsh treatment meted out to these young women, who caused no damage or injury, and yet have spent five months in remand prison and now face a three-year prison sentence.

Their trial was described by Russian and international observers alike as 'unobjective', a 'show-trial', and was compared to the famous trial against Joseph Brodsky, sent into internal exile for an equally trivial crime.

MPT, committed to a free exchange across all frontiers, is publishing the final testimonies of the three women, made in court on the 8 August 2012. They are translated by MPT Editor Sasha Dugdale.

Testimonies

These testimonies were made on 8 August at the Khamovnichesky Court. Each speech was met with applause and the judge saying repeatedly, ‘we are not in a theatre’.

When the girls left the court they had a standing ovation.
This testimony was recorded by Andrei Kozenko for Lenta.ru

http://www.mptmagazine.com/feature/pussy-riot-testimonies-59/

[dimbear]

2. The Russian church seems completely comfortable cooperating with Mr. Putin.

Cozying up to power again after all these years in the shadows. All those nostalgic yearnings fulfilled, no ill consequences expected.

Russian history.

Does Putin have a beautiful mysterious daughter?

[cbayer]

3. Looks more like collaboration than cooperation, doesn't it?

[dimbear]

4. I wonder if Putin is interviewing new candidates to be Rasputin. n/t

[humblebum]

5. Beautiful church. nt

[Odin2005]

6. Why doesn't Putin give up the pretense and just declare himself Tsar?

[Igel]

7. I'm not Orthodox. But at least I've tried to understand.

St. Maria, Virgin, Drive away Putin
Drive away! Drive away Putin!
(end chorus)

Black robe, golden epaulettes
All parishioners are crawling and bowing
The ghost of freedom is in heaven
Gay pride sent to Siberia in chains

The head of the KGB is their chief saint
Leads protesters to prison under escort
In order not to offend the Holy
Women have to give birth and to love

Holy shit, shit, Lord's shit!
Holy shit, shit, Lord's shit!

(Chorus)
St. Maria, Virgin, become a feminist
Become a feminist, Become a feminist
(end chorus)

Church praises the rotten dictators
The cross-bearer procession of black limousines
In school you are going to meet with a teacher-preacher
Go to class - bring him money!

Patriarch Gundyaev believes in Putin
Bitch, you better believed in God
Belt of the Virgin is no substitute for mass-meetings
In protest of our Ever-Virgin Mary!

(Chorus)
St. Maria, Virgin, Drive away Putin
Drive away! Drive away Putin!
(end chorus)

Yeah, it's a crappy translation. I should produce my own. Not today.


It's a good place to show empathy. Empathy that's biased is just called "bias."