Russia demeans itself by jailing Pussy Riot dissenters. Long live hooligans.
Barb ShellyA lot of folks are complaining about the tone of the political contests, and indeed they are uncivil and offensive.
But there’s this: At least we’re not Russia.
The news today out of that land is that three members of the punk band Pussy Riot face two years in jail for being judged uncivil and offensive.
The three young women performed one of their acts near the altar of a Russian Orthodox Church in February. Their performance included an appeal to the Virgin Mary to throw out Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Apparently it contained some obscenities.
Well, the church got mad and the musicians ended up in court, where today they were convicted of the crime of hooliganism. The women offended the feelings of Orthodox believers and displayed a “complete lack of respect,” the judge decreed.
If offending people and showing insufficient respect qualified as crimes in the U.S., half the population would be in jail. Maybe more than half.
So today I am proud to live in a nation which protects free speech, however rancorous. And here’s to hooligans, wherever they may be.
Johnathon Busby
9 months, 1 week agoYep, though there was a decade or so of hope that Russia might improve, Putin seems to have shown with no uncertainty that Russia will remain a defacto dictatorship.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 1 week agoI am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad the big 0 has “reset” our relations with Putin and HIS gang…
What a leader we have in jimmy II, such an insightful person.. Why he no doubt looked in Putin’s eyes and saw peace….
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 1 week agoThat’s because the shooter Buzz was a lib…
the star has no reason to criticize libs shooting people— only those dreaded right-wingers!!!!
Steven Fetter
66223
9 months, 1 week agoOne of the biggest foreign policy mistakes by President Obama was the unilateral abandonment of the missile system in Poland.
The interceptors were to be placed In Poland as a shield for Europe from missiles launched by Iran or Russia.
The Russians objected and Obama capitulated, breaking both a campaign pledge and another promise made to Poland shortly after taking office to go forward with the European Ballistic Missile Defense program.
Putin returned the favor by opposing US policy in every corner of the globe. Obama received a Nobel prize. And the press gushed about the respect we garnered from the citizens of the world.
Putin played Obama like the inexperienced, community organizer, ideologue that he was. Hopefully the bear mauling he received was instructional.
Phil Cardarella
9 months, 1 week agoWhat many overlook is the new symbiotic relationship between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. He may be an atheist KGBer but he is willing to use religion to smack down his opposition. Not unlike the way guys who would sacrifice toddlers to Baal if that is what it took to keep the 15% tax rate on dividends all claim to be “pro-life” to get Catholic votes.
Oh, and the dangers inherent in the very concept of “hate crime” — something used to turn a simple (perhaps tasteless) prank into a serious crime. Lest we lose track, we have similar laws that make a minor offense a felony if done for a “discriminatory” reason.
Oh, and, Buzz? A crazy guy shot someone whose employers he disagreed with. Luckily the guard survived and the shooter was stopped. Not cool, but not a massacre, either.
Best I can tell, you are upset that leftie loonies — who appear fortunately inept at killing — do not get the publicity of their successful mass-murdering counterparts to the right.
If it will make you feel better, I officially condemn all shooting of folks over religious and political differences. I don’t even think you should lock up mediocre girl bands over such foolishness.
Kent Mueller
9 months, 1 week agoPhil, you speak of mass murders from the right in a way that reminds me of Brian Ross. Brian Ross not only was wrong, but he was completely exposed as the left wing ideologue masquerading as a serious newsperson that he is. You phrased your words to imply that mass murder is a right wing thing. It isn’t, not matter how much you want it to be.