Support for ‘Pussy Riot’ is an obscene hypocrisy
Christ the Savior Cathedral | Katedra Chrystusa Zbawiciela | Wikimedia Commons
Last week Russophobic members of the U.S. media, led by the Wall Street Journal, celebrated the sentence reduction to time served for Pussy Riot punk rock member Yekaterina Samutsevich. She was originally sentenced to two years for her part in the February, 21 2012 desecration of Christ The Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
The Appeals Court reduced the sentence on the grounds that Samutsevich was stopped by security guards before she could join the band mates who actually committed the acts of desecration. The other members will continue their 2-year jail sentences.
From the day these hooligans committed the crime, condemnation of Russia by the U.S. government and mainstream media has continued in a never-ending torrent. Many of our western allies followed along in this blatant show of hypocrisy and self righteousness.
It seems no commentary of the story can be published or shown on TV unless the criminal act is referred to as “an anti-Putin punk prayer.” Pussy Riot performed it in the Cathedral because they claim the Russian Orthodox Church supports President Vladimir Putin.
Iliya Pitalev | Wikimedia Commons
Not surprisingly, this one-sided coverage has snowballed. Activist celebrities like Sting and Madonna have jumped on the bandwagon. Madonna has called Pussy Riot’s desecration of the cathedral an act of artistic expression. During concerts she has stripped down to her bra, revealing the words “Pussy Riot” painted on her body. The U.S. State Department declared: “We urge Russian Authorities to review this case and ensure that the right to freedom of expression is upheld.”
In reality, the facts of this case have been buried because they don’t fit the story line. Pussy Riot desecrated Christ The Savior Cathedral in Moscow. This magnificent place of worship is the largest Orthodox Christian church in the world.
It has a hallowed history going back to the Czar Alexander I. Notably, Boris Yeltsin requested that upon his death he lie in state at the cathedral rather than the Kremlin to symbolize Russia’s break with Soviet atheist past.
Keeping with Orthodox Christian tradition, security at the cathedral is minimal. Pussy Riot had little trouble getting inside, setting up in front of the sacred alter and videotaping their so-called “punk prayer.”
Dressed in garish Halloween-type costumes with strange hooded masks over their heads, they stomped and bounced in front of the altar belting out “songs” such as “Holy Sh-t.” Within 5 minutes security forcibly removed them. However, the person making the videotape got away and soon posted a clip on YouTube.
And for this, we Americans call them poor girls whose rights to artistic expression were trampled?
To put into perspective our hypocrisy, ask yourself what would happen if a punk band snuck into the National Cathedral and sang “Holy Sh-t” song while blasting Obama policies and the Pope. Or if they made a similar “punk prayer” against Benjamin Netanyahu and Judaism at the Temple Emanu-El, the world’s largest synagogue, in New York.
In the U.S. such acts are covered by hate crime laws which can easily carry two years jail time.
As for Madonna, I suggest she express herself artistically in Saudi Arabia, America’s ally, in Mecca’s main mosque. It will ensure that her body of work will receive attention long after she departs from this life.
The U.S. government’s and mainstream media’s support for Pussy Riot doesn’t just stink – it is obscene hypocrisy that puts another crack in the American Exceptionalism story.
October 15, 2012 - 6:00 AM
Solid comments, accurately capturing the hypocrisy. The claim by Americans to ‘Freedom of Expression’ evidently escaped their lack of knowledge that Russia doesn’t adhere to the US Constitution. As Mark pointed out, there are lots of religious places of worship in the US where the outrage would be unbelievable. Of course, with Madonna, she’s just desperate for attention, and seems to support insulting many types of religion, excepting Kabbalah, her current religion of the month.
Hey MarkJ, thanks for providing the rest of the story.
1) Pussy Riot always dresses that way. Go watch some more of their stuff and then come back when you get some culture.
2) If the Supreme Court can get behind the Westboro Baptist Church picketing soldiers’ funerals screaming “God hates f**s,” I can certainly get behind a Fugazi reunion in the National Cathedral. I’ll be the one in the pit next to the rectory.
3) I remember when it was abhorrent to condone the conflation of church and state. Since when is the church patriarch calling Putin “a miracle from God” an acceptable act from any religious figure? (If you can’t think of a response, it’s because there’s not a good one.)
Trespassing may be considered a hate crime by some, but that would involve something like breaking in, not walking in unabashedly through an open door. What you call criminal we used to call civil disobedience. You may argue otherwise and that’s fine; it’s just that it’s usually the argument on the wrong side of history.
I disagree with this man’s assessment that the same fate would have befallen these women here in the states. Expressions of political dissent I can only assume are far more commonplace here than Russia. He claims “security” at the Orhodox Church was minimal but then suggests their counterparts here would have to “sneek” into the Washington Cathedral which is open to the public. I am thankful we live in a country where political protests are allowed and that a stunt like this would not end in two years in jail. Having worked in law enforcement for quite sometime, I can imagine charges of trespassing being filed, some local media attention, some suspended jail time and community service. I doubt very much this would be classified as a hate crime.
Based on the descriptors used, such as “magnificent place of worship”, “hallowed history” it seems Mr. Jurkevich has elevated this church above other institutions in Russia. Would the same fate have befallen these women had they made the same protest in say the Russian house of parliament? Would he then still refer to them as “hooligans” or would he see them as protestors with a cause? I’m not sure the Russian authorities would make that distinction.
MarkJ, can you provide examples of where something like this has resulted in 2 years in prison for a hate crime in the U.S.? Did they cause any permanent damage to the cathedral? Was anybody physically injured?
Very pleased to see I am not the only person put off by this blog post. Almost everything I have read regarding Pussy Riot’s legal problems seems to point to the fact that in the U.S. they wouldn’t have been punished so severely. I highly doubt it would be considered a hate crime and if so, what freedom do we have? Here we can pretty much say anything we please in a church, and if not, well we make our own damn church! Get over yourself, get some culture ( as others have already stated) and make sure you know who you are talking about before you call everyone in support of Pussy Riot a hypocrite! FREE PUSSY RIOT!!!
In the United States we fervently cherish and defend our religious freedom as well as our right to protest. As noted in #3 above, the Westboro Church, a “church” of all institutions, protests at the funerals of American soldiers calling them “Fags”, and this right is upheld. The fact the KKK is allowed to spew its venom is another indicator of our tolerance. I very strongly question if either of these groups, along with many other hate groups in this country, would even be allowed to exist in Russia let alone demonstrate.
While the band’s behavior was ridiculous, the fact remains that their interruption of activities was done in a whorehouse (women sell physical comfort, men sell spiritual comfort).
However, given the young ladies rudeness and immaturity in the way they expressed themselves, I suspect their real problem with spiritual whorehouses (churches) is that women are excluded from working in them as prostitutes (priestcrafters).
The true religion is simply submitting oneself to love and the golden rule. The ideas are a universal constant, innate knowledge, and carry their own authority as the truth. They are literally the only thing all rational adults agree on, so they must be the highest truth. And we all report directly to these principles and never to another person. No intercessors are ever necessary. But every religion put their icons between us and the Eternal so they can be milk us in the icon’s absence. Priestcrafters should get real jobs and help their neighbor’s for free like the rest of us.
I’m not sure why it’s relevant what would have happened to them in the United States. Russia’s not the US. Frankly, I couldnt’ care less what happens to those women…they knew where they were and what they were doing, and the entire thing smells like a publicity stunt.
As Crooked Road #1 said “As Mark pointed out, there are lots of religious places of worship in the US where the outrage would be unbelievable”.
#6 ladygirl…have you really considered the analagous scenario already put forth? “Or if they made a similar “punk prayer” against Benjamin Netanyahu and Judaism at the Temple Emanu-El, the world’s largest synagogue, in New York.” If you believe that the Obama Administration and mainstream U.S. media would consider that artistic expression, then you probably all ready made a downpayment on the proverbial Brooklyn Bridge.
Dave G#8 – You better do your fact checking a little better. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Russian, Greek etc., there are no restrictions on priests to marry and have children.
#9 Kristen, aren’t most demonstrations publicity stunts? Those for instance who protest the abortion issue on either side do it purposely in full view of the public and especially the media. Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on the bus means nothing if the public does not know about it. The Arab Spring protests? The man standing off the tanks in Tiananmen Square? I think just because it happens overseas does not mean its unworthy of our attention. Russia remains one of the most powerful and influential countries in the world and their government’s reaction to this protest tells the world not much has changed. I wonder where this country would be without the right to protest peacefully and publicly.
Look, the Pussy Riot folks were trespassing for the purpose of committing blasphemy.
The Westboro Baptist folks commit their blasphemy in public places. They’d get popped, too, if they invaded a church and did their act there.
Does it merit two years in prison? Not in my mind. If they had shot their video outside the cathedral, I wouldn’t have a problem with that they did at all. But it’s not necessarily public property — even if it is open to the public.
http://tinyurl.com/3pef588
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Jefferson Memorial Flash Mob Arrested For Dancing, Protesting Court Ruling (VIDEO)
First Posted: 05/30/11 11:56 AM ET Updated: 07/30/11 06:12 AM ET
U.S. Park Police arrested five people on Saturday at the Jefferson Memorial. Their offense? Dancing.
The dancers were protesting an appeals court ruling handed down last week that the national monuments are places for reflection and contemplation — and that dancing distracted from such an experience.
In 2008, Mary Brooke Oberwetter and a group of friends went to the Jefferson to commemorate the president’s 265th birthday by dancing silently, while listening to music on headphones. Park Police ordered the revelers to disperse and arrested them when they did not.
SNIP
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scott w, no, I don’t think that the guy standing in front of the tank in China was engaging in a publicity stunt. And I’ve never said that things that take place overseas don’t merit our attention – I usually say quite the contrary. I just don’t think that this particular event – staged by a “group” 99.9% of the planet hadn’t heard of before this, who calls themselves “Pussy Riot” – rates much interest. Sorry, but there are far more egregious civil rights violations going on all over the planet, all the time, that would be more concerning. They weren’t here, the US is different from Russia, and everyone gets to follow their own laws or live with the consequences.
Trespassing sure, not two years worth. Are we not applying our western standards to Russia where religions are regulated by the government and essentially need its permission to exist?
http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_russi1.htm
These women hold the same protest at Russia’s equivalent of say their Faith Hollow Pentecostal Church in southwestern Va. and no one hears about it or cares about it other than the congregants. So that church is less “hallowed” and is not a gaudy “magnificent place of worship” because it is not virtually state sanctioned as is the Russian Orthodox Church? This protest is as much the Russian government as it is about religion. Sure they knew what they were doing and knew they could get the time they got but that’s part of the process and consequences of protesting. They chose that church because of what it was, what it represented and because it was Putin’s church. You might not have much sympathy for these women but I have none for that Church and its ties to the government.
More:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/13/putin-russia-little-separation-church-state/?page=all
Sorry, in #15 I meant to say:”equivalent of OUR Faith Hollow…”
Kristen#15 – In a round-about way, I agree with you, that the arrest of some punks for committing blasphamy, video taping it and putting it on YouTube in one of the great Christian Orthodox Cathedrals should not be a big topic of interest in the United States. No more than if some punks did the same in St. Peter’s Basillica in the Vatican or at the main Mosque in Mecca, and then got punished.
But Obama’s State Department decided to make an issue out of it. The U.S. news media decided to make an issue out of it. And, that, should be of interest to us all.
David #14 points out the latest example of why the media and State Dept. positions are hypocritical. And take a look at how many of the comments on this thread are totally niave in their belief that in America a similar act is legal or would result in only a slap on the wrist. That is just not the case.
There is a lot of ignorance on the subject in America. That is why I thought it was worth stimulating this discussion.
Mark, from what I’ve read, the Russian Orthodox Church does support Putin. Putin paid Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Church a pre-electio visit and Kirill called Putin’s time in office a “godly miracle”. Putin responded something to the effect that Russia must move away from the primitive notion of church and state. Putin pledged over $100 million for the construction of Orthodox churches.
Things sure do get messy when church and state are not separated.
Kristen I disagree. Tiananmen Sq. meant nothing if it happened behind closed doors. Who was Rosa Parks before she protested? What difference does it matter what these women call themselves? Aren’t you getting hung up on the purposely provocative name? Would it make it any difference if they called themselves Partridge Family II? Haven’t people been singing songs of protest since music began? The fact you had never heard of them or any other protestor before should not be the issue. You keep saying the U.S. is not Russia and I agree totally because Mark and Dan I think are applying our western values to a Russian issue. But I maintain, because of its sheer size, economic influence and military might, what happens in Russia is still very important.
markj, I have no idea why the State Department addressed this. When I said I didn’t find it very interesting, I meant that I didn’t find the upheaval around these girls’ punishment to be that interesting. The event itself was newsworthy…I just don’t see turning the perpetrators into a cause celebre.
scott whitaker, I think a lot of what happens in Russia is very important. I just don’t think that this is. As for what import their status as a minor girl band calling themselves “Pussy” has – I’d say that if a 50-something black woman like Rosa Parks had been arrested and sentenced indentically to these women, we’d never have heard of it. The only reason we even know this happened is due to the noteriety of the principals.
If they are genuinely interested in broadening “freedom of expression” in Russia, they’ll have plenty of time to get back to it once they’re out of jail.
ladygirl:
“FREE PUSSY RIOT!!!”
This sounds like it just has to be a good thing.
Dan:
13.”Look, the Pussy Riot folks were trespassing for the purpose of committing blasphemy.
The Westboro Baptist folks commit their blasphemy in public places. They’d get popped, too, if they invaded a church and did their act there.”
Exactly. That makes all the difference. I support Wesboro’s RIGHT and Pussy Riot’s RIGHT to say whatever they want, but I support private property and the rights that go with it, too.
As for the penalty, I’m not sure. This was done for publicity and was a calculated risk. People that do these things for a slap on the wrist which is outweighed by the benefits gained by the act have no incentive to clean up their act. Losing two years of freedom might be what is needed to dissuade people from doing this again.
Mark J I repeat I spent my life in law enforcement so my comments do not arise from naivety. You assert similar crimes would result in similar sentences and you were challenged to name some but have not. I ask what makes the Cathedral great and not some others? Does the fact this took place in a church you deem “hallowed” mitigate its political ties to a repressive form of government? This is not yours or my Methodist church down the road. This is Putin’s church in Russia, a country that regulates its churches, and Putin’s church is “hallowed”? Excuse me if I don’t share your reverence. Why did you not tell us from the get go this was another anti-Obama screed?
Bill P.#20. The Russian Orthodox church has always had a special relationship with the rulers of Russia, going back 1,000 years. There may be exceptions, but by tradition the Russian Orthodox church supports the Russian ruler and urges its flock to do so.
The resurgence of Russians returning back to the Orthodox church after the fall of the Soviet Union has far exceeded the expectations of most sociologists. The church is very popular.
Regarding Putin’s populartiy – during the first two terms it was extremely high. It still higher than what most U.S. President’s ever dream of. I just did a google check and it was over 60% at the beginning of the year.
It is a different environment and a different culture. It has been a very successful one for many hundreds of years, not withstanding the disasterous Soviet era.
Viva la difference, as the French say.
Bill #20, I am not sure how much the Russian government has pledged to rebuild churches in Russia, I will take your word for the amount. But, please understand the context. During the 70 years of Soviet rule, especially under Stalin, churches were systamatically destroyed.
Both Yeltsin and Putin have made great strides in rebuilding what has been destroyed. Under Yeltsin, Russia was literally bankrupt and he could not do much. Under Putin, Russia has been economically resurging – many indeed call it an economic miracle. This allows the church rebuilding process to proceed faster.
The vast majority of Russians think this is a good thing.
Bill#20- and finally, you correctly observe that the relationship between the Russian government and the Russian Orthodox church is closer than that of any religion in the U.S. is to the U.S. government.
But, while it is different, why do you find it objectionable. Israel, our closest ally in the words of many, refers to itself as “The Jewish State”. It has a state religion, which has legal privledges and governmental support that no other relgion has. And Saudi Arabia is another notable ally that has a state religion.
I think on this point, you also have to give Russia a break.
Again, as the French say Vive la difference.
Wrong Mark J. In comment #11 you referenced my comment #8, saying: “You better do your fact checking a little better. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Russian, Greek etc., there are no restrictions on priests to marry and have children.
May I suggest you read a little better Mark?!… I never said they couldn’t. What I said was women cannot be priestcrafters (in those god businesses)!
And as for those religions you mentioned – and every other one, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc… I’ll say it again plainly: True religion is simply submitting oneself to love and the golden rule. The ideas are a universal constant, innate knowledge, and carry their own authority as the truth. They are literally the only thing all rational adults agree on, so they must be the highest truth. And we all report directly to these principles and never to another person. No intercessors are ever necessary. But every religion puts their icons between us and the Eternal so they can milk us in the icon’s absence. Priestcrafters should get real jobs and help their neighbor’s for free like the rest of us.
Re: Comment by MarkJ — October 15, 2012 @ 4:10 pm
The resurgence of Russians returning back to the Orthodox church after the fall of the Soviet Union has far exceeded the expectations of most sociologists.
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That was a repetitive theme and point-of-pride, when last I was in Russia — i.e., for the St. Petersburg 300th year anniversary celebration.
Mark, as my dear Mom says,z “if we were all the same, the world would be a boring place”
Dave Gresham, post 28 is so simple and smart that I would love to see it debated by the RW religious loons. In fact, we should make a pool for who can debate it the longest without having to throw a rock-paper-scissors Biblical trump card.
John#31, generally speaking humans seem to have a deep seated need for organized religion. It satisfies a need for a shared faith that is reinforced through community. Humans are an incredibly social species.
Of course there is a material number of exceptions, like Dave Gresham. But then again, scientists claim something like 8% of bulls are homosexual. Isn’t that about the same as they claim for humans?
Personally, I don’t mind and will not interfere in the lives of the Dave Greshams and gay bulls of the world. On the other hand, Dave, with his minority view ought to be more tolerant of the beliefs, needs, traditions and lifestyle of the majority of humanity.
You are indeed a jerk evich
I think this is interesting. Apparently when De Tocqueville first referred to American exceptionalism, he was actually being insulting.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/rodda/2012/08/31/fyi-republicans-tocqueville-was-actually-insulting-america-when-he-referred-to-it-being-exceptional/
…Here’s what Alexis de Tocqueville actually wrote. He introduced his opinion that America was “exceptional” by saying that Americans didn’t have any original thoughts or advances in science, literature, or the arts because they relied on the thinkers of Europe:….more….
http://sojo.net/magazine/2012/01/america-exceptional
…Alexis de Tocqueville, perhaps the best-loved (and certainly the most-quoted) Frenchman in U.S. history, also detailed certain features in which the U.S. was exceptional. But they’re not exactly the attributes candidates are referring to today. For example, he said that Americans were so focused on making money that they didn’t pay attention to “science, literature, and the arts” as Europeans did, yet somehow Americans had so far avoided “relapsing into barbarism.” (He spoke before the era of TV shows such as Married with Children and Jersey Shore.) Our preoccupation with money even made Americans disregard religion, he said, except “from time to time,” when we shoot “a transient and distracted glance to heaven.” This money-focused turn of character, de Tocqueville concluded, made America exceptional—but not in an exemplary way.
The first historical record of the precise term “American exceptionalism” actually comes (this is embarrassing) from Joseph Stalin, who complained that American Communists thought themselves an exception to the normal rules of Marxist economic evolution. They were guilty, he said, of “the heresy of American exceptionalism.”….
Scott#34, indeed very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Sad and childish response Mark J. My opinion of you is much diminished. And as for my minority viewpoint (obedience to love and golden rule), you are unfortunately right. Hope you get there someday.
Dave#36, I am quite sure that I share your personal views much more than you imagine.
Where you and I seem very different is in how we accept those who have opinions and values very different from our own. And how we speak about opinions and values different from our own. Judging from your comments, I believe I am more open to appreciate and be respectful of different opinions and values than you are. That is true in both the cases that I agree with the majority and in the cases where I am in the minority.
Upon further review, as they say, I stand by my comment which I think nails the point. I am hopeful that upon further review, you will soften your reaction.
I think “desecration” is a strong word and much like those who believe gay equality in marriage rights will ruin the “sanctity” of marriage, I think it is the wrong word. They did not spray paint anything, break anything, or abuse anything (that I am aware of) but the peace of the Sanctuary and while that is offensive, at best it would be trespassing and public nuisance or some such petty crime. True “desecration” is a whole other kettle of fish. I believe the same would be true for such activity here. Israel or Saudi Arabia would doubtless be less inclined to consider the role of civil disobedience or protest as we do. That is part of our heritage as surely as any church is.
I may be wrong, but I think our State Department spoke to the nature of public protest and the outcry from the people of Russia and Europe who felt the leaders were refusing to listen to their pleas, not in support of the activity of the group.
The “crime” does not seem to merit the punishment to me, even as I do consider it highly offensive and cruel to the Church.
What has four legs and an IQ of 300? Mark Jurkevich vs. Dave Gresham!
Thanks for backing me up John, but you should save you breath. He’s obviously not capable of responding like a man when he makes a mistake.
Dave Gresham, religion is like a speck of dirt in one’s eye. It may be too small for anyone else to see, but it impairs your sight, is painful, irritating, and just screws up your whole day with discomfort. I don’t think most people realize how toxic just a little bit of religion can be and how adversely it affects all of their other decisions and beliefs, even the seemingly unrelated ones.
All that said, I support both your and Mark J’s right to believe or not believe whatever you want. Who knows… perhaps the bulls he thinks are gay just have a speck of dirt in their eyes. lol.