Don't Free Pussy Riot

Last night I saw Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, and now I’m convinced that Pussy Riot should be in jail, which I think was not the filmmakers’ intent.

The video shows three strong feminist women and their history of activism, culminating in their action in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The three who were arrested—Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich— are not the only members of their political collective, although you wouldn’t know that from the film. They also are not “girls,” they are young women in their mid-20s and early 30s, they are wives and mothers, they are educated and intelligent enough to have devised an ideological basis for their political protest. Yet since their arrests, they’ve been portrayed as “girls” who “didn’t realize” that defiling a revered place of worship would offend anyone, which is complete bullshit: The whole point of the action was to offend as many people as possible. If people weren’t offended, they wouldn’t pay attention. Well, they’re paying attention now; they’re paying attention all over the world.

The women of Pussy Riot must have realized there were likely consequences for their actions. Just as Edward Snowden was prepared to accept the loss of his well-paid job, the end of his comfy life, and his possible extradition to the US to face treason charges, so Pussy Riot should have been prepared for arrest, trial, and conviction. They say they are feminists: Let them act like feminists. Their prison sentences are the proof of everything they’ve said about Russian repression. Let them take the consequence of their actions like strong feminist women, not disingenuous, apologetic little girls. In the words of Sammy Davis Jr. “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.”

Be punk, Pussy Riot: Be strong.

UPDATE 6/18: So what I was trying to say was unclear, and that is the fault of my writing. Mostly I was objecting to the documentary's portrayal of "girls," but also there's the rather alarming footage of the three prisoners apologizing and saying they "didn't mean to offend anyone." This is contrary to their otherwise strong statements--contrary, in fact, to their actions. The obvious injustice of two years in prison for their protest is what has called international attention to the very repression they were protesting. I have friends who participated in ACT UP's protest inside St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1989; no one went to prison, but it brought international attention to the AIDS crisis and forced the government to begin dealing with it. I hope Pussy Riot's Punk Prayer will turn out to be as influential. Also, one week on, Edward Snowden looks less like a hero. -B.

 

 

Comments

[SPB]

You are an idiot of the first order. The church and state in Russia actively work together to suppress sexual minorities and women. Just yesterday the lower house of their parliamentary body made publishing information about the normality of homosexuality punishable by prison.

Only a moron thinks that something is accomplished by being sent to prison for having and using human rights. People should not expect prison for speaking up, people should demand freedom.

As far as "defiling a revered place of worship" - the Russian Orthodox Church has regularly defiled itself for decades by working with every human rights-defeating government it could... the Czars, the USSR, Yeltsin and now Putin. Snitches and secret police informants. Said church is also the official state church; these women's taxes pay for the building they were arrested in. Maybe if the ROC doesn't want the Russian public in the church and speaking their mind then the Russian church should stop taking the public's money and making political pronoucements.

I had a piece on this published on CounterPunch; unfortunately they allowed a famous Orthodox anti-Semite Holocaust denier (a former Jew! - how weird is that?!) who uses a fake name while working for Putin's media wing respond to me:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/08/09/in-defense-of-pussy-riot-and-the-russian-punk-movement/

'FMU's staff should really stick to writing about music (i.e. "dancing about architecture") because every time you screw with politics you royally ---- it up beyond recognition.

[Crooked Rain]

It's like you watched a completely different movie. I surely didn't see "apologetic little girls" but rather strong women fighting for a just cause. Were the hundreds/thousands of suffragettes that were unceremoniously tossed in jail and force fed while fighting for their basic human rights "apologetic little girls" too? I would call freedom of speech and separation of church and state pretty solid reasons to put up a fight in my book. Stick to music dude.

[Ralphine]

*I* don't think you're an idiot of the first order, Firecracker.

[Ralphine]

And when did you get HBO?

[afrank]

i don't think you really get what they were protesting against and i'm wondering if you really know much about life and reality in russia. i agree that they should be prepared to be punished for it, but say some occupy wallstreet guys were arrested for an illegal protest, wouldn't you say that 2 years in jail is a bit steep?

[Julio B.]

It worked for Gandhi.

[BT]

The New York Magazine article was pretty interesting this week I thought - it just documented two PRs' 'anonymous' press tour of NYC to hype the HBO doc, but there seemed to be a glaring overtone of emptiness around the whole piece which I felt was the writer's intent. They were introduced to a Berlin DJ cohort of Peaches, had to meet supporters, refused to really say anything except that it was all cool to be here, and unable to voice anything about the cause or issue because of 'security reasons'. So why were they here? To be accessories to the TMZ machine or just to be fabulous in NYC but yet not be photographed I guess. It's a new kind of celebrity I suppose and the Western entertainment machine if trying to figure out what to do with them. It's kind of annoying seeing Western rock stars leech onto the story to project a jolt into their own faded radicalism...Madonna etc., It's like U2 trying to leech on to BB King all over again...

[boil]

SPB, I wonder, would Alexander have spewed hate vomit all over WFMU like that? And then expected people to swing by for a visit? Idiot indeed.

[простой парень]

путин должен сидеть в тюрьме!!!
рпц-кгб

[Forked Tongue]

"They've been portrayed as 'girls' who 'didn’t realize' that defiling a revered place of worship would offend anyone..."

I'm not sure who has portrayed them this way but I'm pretty sure it's not them, and I'm not sure exactly why it's up to us to accuse them of acting like "disingenuous, apologetic little girls" because of how they've been "portrayed." Or to condescendingly tell them to be "strong," as if they need our wisdom in their predicament. Or Sammy Davis Jr.'s.

This is a misguided, fabulously narcissistic post on a subject the writer is poorly equipped to pass judgment on from her comfortable New Jersey home.

[Reimer]

Thought the sentencing was excessive but that they badly need a 'slap' like most of the toxic brats championed by the (liberal) media.

[Sotise]

What an outrageously Absurd position....but hey Never mind Russian Prisons Build Character,and Moral Fortitude....
You are from Planet America so your ignorance that the Russian State is a criminal Organization, which Murders,Plunders and suppresses all Opposition...is almost excusable...

[Joe]

THANK YOU!!!!

[SIV]

Punk and politics don't mix. Fuck Communism.

[Forked Tongue]

I've had no use for Bronwyn's spoiled-brat political contrarianism since back in the 90's, when she used to: (1) Boast about how she was voting for Ross Perot because he would make everything so awful that people would finally--umm, I'm not sure what; (2) Mock David Dinkins' mayoralty because--umm, I'm not sure--decide they'd been better off with Koch? (3) Smirk with utter pleasure in herself when she told guests how much she "liked" Giuliani--er, I'm not sure why--but it sure sounded contrary! (4) Claim Bruce Springsteen was no different from Skrewdiver (5) Absolutely puke in her throat whenever she mentioned the concept of "political correctness"--as if that meant anything more at the time than being kind of circumspect about calling black people the N-word.

This post is no different from the usual. The last time I was aware of one of her posts here was when Ted Kennedy died and she took it upon herself to deliver her judgment that he didn't deserve forgiveness. Exactly when she became the judge of Ted Kennedy's character, or Pussy Riot's (who have apparently offended her by not being willing to stand up for their beliefs--yes, you read me right: Bronwyn doesn't think Pussy Riot are courageous enough)--is not clear to me. But the awesome courage with which she deigns to advise Pussy Riot on how to be strong and brave will probably impress those fans of hers who want to be impressed. That's how contrarianism works, infantile though it may be.

[Ralphine]

All I know is that that was one LONG hockey game that ended just now.

[Cotton Mather]

Yeah, these Pussy Riot fools don't have a clue, nor do their spoiled children followers. Let's keep it real. Keep your eye on the ball and don't be distracted by this pathetic spectacle of stupidity.

[James]

I love it when someone urges other people to go to jail for their beliefs--usually it comes from someone opposed to those beliefs. Those opinions and condemnations are usually given people who collapse in hysterical meltdowns when they themselves receive a parking ticket.

[Edward Hutchinson]

It's especially rich that she compares Pussy Riot negatively to Edward Snowden, who fled the country to avoid prosecution (gee, why didn't Pussy Riot show stones like that?) and who apparently has some very naive ideas about the commitment to freedom of governments like China and Russia.

[Mogambo... Mr Mogambo to the Likes of You]

A meaningless, substanceless article which is basically saying "Look at me, I'm so cool, I write smug little internet articles sneering at people who actually do stuff!"

Way to go, Iowa. Go read some books. Travel some. You really need to broaden those tiny-wee American horizons.

[Rob]

I don't understand why this is on the WFMU blog.

There is none of the normal insight or placing of political opinion within the framework of the artist's work.

I hope this petty diatribe isn't an indication of a shift in policy by WFMU.

[Edward Hutchinson]

Well, I'm sure the members of Pussy Riot feel very well schooled now in how to be brave and strong. But let me ask a theoretical question:

Say it's 1986, and you come across someone who you don't know but figure is roughly in your peer group saying "Don't free Nelson Mandela. Mandela belongs in jail."

Now, in 1986 there were people in the USA who felt that way. 180 members of Congress voted against a resolution calling on South Africa to release Mandela. But that was because they considered him a terrorist, and that doesn't seem to be your argument here.

What if the theoretical speaker said "Mandela knew what he was getting into. He should take the consequences like a man and not like a spoiled little boy. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time."? How would you respond?

I think I would respond in one of two ways: If I were feeling patient enough, I might try to explain that the purpose of calling international attention to an unjust imprisonment is to bring pressure to bear on the offending government to reverse the injustice. That yes, those who commit civil disobedience have to be willing to pay the consequences but the rest of us should be hoping for the correction of the unjust system they were protesting, and part of that means maybe they won't have to serve the full length of an unjust sentence.

Or, I might just decide that anyone who could make a statement like that is so arrogant, glib, and self-involved that it's just not worth the effort.

[Kray]

NO NO NO. Just because repressive laws exist and people "know" that they could be imprisoned for defying them doesn't mean they "deserve" to be in jail.

[Cohost Jay]

"One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty." - MLK Jr. in his Letter from a Birminghman Jail

Pussy Riot did just this (in their own punk ski-mask-wearing kind of way.)

[rah]

I think Bronwyn's point is a valid one: that when people rely on the activist approach of civil disobedience they should be ready to make substantial sacrifices. Civil disobedience only works by bringing a ruling regime's moral authority into question, and that can only happen if the wider public has an injustice to react to, in this case an imprisoned Pussy Riot. Although it seems Bronwyn's criticism might have more to do with the film itself and not Pussy Riot's politics.