Or I (heart) Pussy Riot

I’ve only just come across this story as I catch up on my podcasts and as Christian Piatt covered a few days ago. Christian covers the discomfort we have in the prophetic action and the challenge of protest in an admirably personal way. You should really check out his post. It can also give you a little background on the story.

The only piece that I want to add is what was brought up by a reporter in a conversation for On The Media, which is what this reveals about the Russian courts. The entire case against the group of young women was based on several people’s testimony, not that they did it, but that they were hurt by the performance. This is interesting in light of the many things I’ve written about the need for respect, including today’s other post. The law is about offense, the action took place in a church, and the protesters asked for forgiveness at the opening of the proceedings.

Those offended said no.

Christian Piatt rightly references the overturning tables idea of Christ-like prophecy. And it is the Christians testifying, and the Putin regime that stand convicted by this moment.

This is what separates the prophetic from blasphemy and the ethically courageous from the morally cowardly: how we treat one another. Our country was born from early settlers that, to avoid religious persecution, came to a new country, killed its inhabitants, and persecuted one another because of religion and in the name of morality. How this artist collective has been treated by the Russian authorities doesn’t compare with the Salem witch trials. None of them is going to be burned alive. But it is that same unethical persecution for morality at work.

My prayers go out to these women, to those effected by this farcical tragedy, and particularly to Putin. That they all may know what has truly transpired here.

Related articles

• Pussy Riot – “Putin Light Up The Flames” (stereogum.com)
• The Priest Who Beat Pussy Riot: The Orthodox Point Man with the Kremlin (world.time.com)
• Russian police hunt two more members of Pussy Riot (telegraph.co.uk)