Pussy Riot

I'm tired of explaining the same principles over and over both on Facebook and in news forums. Here's the deal.

The issue with Pussy Riot is not about Pussy Riot at all. They are not trying to bring attention to the freedom of speech or the freedom of protest or the freedom of conscious or the freedom of thought. These are not the issues they are trying to bring into the light of discussion, yet these are what the western press is focused on.

While it is true the freedom of speech and protest is much more limited in Russia than it is in the US or other western countries, they certainly had it, and somewhat still do. Back in January Pussy Riot utilized their freedom of speech in a public protest that was outside in public grounds to protest Patriarch Kirill's support and urging of Orthodox to vote for Putin.

There were no arrests. There was also not much attention brought to the issue.

One month later, Pussy Riot stormed the main Cathedral of Russia and during the service (westerners might call this Mass or Communion or Eucharist - the Orthodox call it Eucharist or The Great Thanksgiving) and performed their prayers on the altar to remove Putin. They were subsequently removed with the help of Russian forces. A few weeks later both a video of their act was released and they were arrested for hooliganism.

The law they broke is a simple and just law. You cannot protest on private property (even if open to the public) without due consequences. The same law is in the US, the UK, Western Europe, Australia, etc. If it were allowed, anti-abortion critics could non-violently protest inside of Planned Parenthood and the Westboro Baptist Church would be much closer to the scene of their protests. The WBC is very careful about remaining their proper distance from everything they attend/protest so that they are not arrested. Terrible theologians, but good lawyers.

However, again, again, again I repeat, repeat, repeat, this is not about Pussy Riot's right to protest or freedom of speech. They desire that we pay attention to the corruption between the Russian Orthodox Church and Putin. Not about their rights. About the unjust political ties.

I do not think I can emphasize this enough. Let us pay attention to what Pussy Riot wants us to pay attention to, not their own ability to protest.

To emphasize this, let's go back to the beginning. They utilized their right to protest and their freedom of speech in January (before it was taken away and protesting has since received much heftier penalties - change came after their February arrest). When they realized their protest didn't work, didn't garner the attention about the corrupt policies/relationships they went for a new route.

This is my speculation, but I think that Pussy Riot decided that they would break a just law, a law that should remain in existence (although perhaps with lesser penalties - a fine and community service would do well. Although they did get 2 years out of a possible 7 and they might get some commuted so from the possibility they received some leniency even if I don't think jail time should be part of it). There is nothing wrong with the law they broke, except maybe the penalty, but they broke it to bring attention to something else, something greater.

This is not about Pussy Riot, their conviction of their crime, their sentencing, their right to speech, their right to protest or any of that. This is about what Pussy Riot was trying to bring to our attention and that is the unjust relationship between the Russian Orthodox Church and Vladimir Putin. I give them a lot of respect for this and I might even liken some of the actions to the Holy Fools like St. Basil the Innocent of the 15th century.

I have a lot of respect for them and for what they're trying to do. I do not have a lot of respect for the way we're not focusing on what they want us to focus on.

So, please honor Pussy Riot and don't demand treatment for them; demand a change in Russian politics on the whole and their church-state relations.