Russian Freedom...

[Provost Harrison]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19297373

When I first saw the headline I wondered what the hell it was about, but I see Russia is still doing a good job of being a land of freedom and free speech. Serb, what do you say to this, or is this just another lie from the corrupt press of the decadent West?

[Asher]

Also from Russia: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19293465

Gay parades banned in Moscow for 100 years

Moscow's top court has upheld a ban on gay pride marches in the Russian capital for the next 100 years.

[Provost Harrison]

I'm so overjoyed that democracy in Russia is working out so well.

When it Putin going to be appointed president for life?

[loinburger]

Isn't Serb a Stalinist? Of course he's opposed to other people's freedom of speech

[onodera]

Serb has already said he would like to see them burn.

It's a ****ing travesty of a case.

[Wezil]

A ticket for mischief would have been appropriate.

2 years jail time is obscene.

[Asher]

One of them is a permanent resident of Canada, apparently.

[Elok]

Sorry, didn't see this, guess I'm blind. Now I know what both our Russians think...attempting to set aside my biases in favor of the Orthodox Church and against no-class hippie performance-art protesters, a month would've been far better. I would normally suggest a simple fine, but their level of Western support suggests that any fine would be paid, and then some, by somebody like Madonna. Community service would be the ideal punishment, come to think of it--does Russia do that?

[Barnabas]

I would make them write 10.000 times in a blackboard than they shouldn't have done what they did. 2 years in jail is an excess.

[DaShi]

Well, since they are not American, they don't have freedom of speech. Thus, they should be punished for this. I suppose, how much depends on the values of their country.

[Wezil]

I would normally suggest a simple fine, but their level of Western support suggests that any fine would be paid, and then some, by somebody like Madonna.

If they were issued a fine (or other appropriate reprimand) Madonna would never have heard of it.

[Uncle Sparky]

If they were issued a fine (or other appropriate reprimand) Madonna would never have heard of it.

Not necessarily. One of the groups previous stunts involved an orgie in a museum - I believe Madonna has that trademarked.

Originally Posted by Elok

I would normally suggest a simple fine, but their level of Western support suggests that any fine would be paid, and then some, by somebody like Madonna.

...and this time they prayed to Madonna.

[onodera]

Yes, we do have community service, and no, your source in your other thread has it wrong: there was no service so they couldn't've interrupted it and there are no expletives in the song "Theotokos, deliver us from Putin".
I personally am fine with community service as the best fitting punishment, but I guess the subject of the song didn't like it.

[Uncle Sparky]

More Russian Freedom -
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wor...166684216.html

MOSCOW - Some Russian activists have sued Madonna for millions of dollars, claiming they were offended by her support for gay rights during a recent concert in St. Petersburg.

Anti-gay sentiment is strong in Russia. In St. Petersburg, a law passed in February makes it illegal to promote homosexuality to minors, and the author of that law has pointed to the presence of children as young as 12 at Madonna's concert on Aug. 9.

Russian news agencies quote Alexander Pochuyev, a lawyer representing the nine activists, as saying the suit was filed Friday against Madonna, the organizer of her concert, and the hall where it was held, asking for damages totalling 333 million rubles, or nearly $10.5 million.

Responding to criticism that the plaintiffs were stuck in the Middle Ages, the lawyer said they were using civilized, modern methods to defend their rights. "No one is burning anyone at the stake or carrying out an Inquisition," Pochuyev was quoted by RIA Novosti as saying. "Modern civilization requires tolerance and respect for different values."

The complaint includes a video taken at the concert showing Madonna stomping on an Orthodox cross and asking fans to raise their hands to show the pink armbands in support of gays and lesbians that were distributed among the audience, the new agency reported.

Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, did not immediately respond to emails asking for the singer's reaction to the lawsuit....

Another funny bit about the P*ssy Riot case - the offended senior cleric, Putin's favourite, has had a few controversies of his own, including owning a $25,000 watch (he has taken a vow of poverty) & winning a $350,000 law suit against a cancer patient.

[Wezil]

Oh those Russians...

[Elok]

Yes, we do have community service, and no, your source in your other thread has it wrong: there was no service so they couldn't've interrupted it and there are no expletives in the song "Theotokos, deliver us from Putin".
I personally am fine with community service as the best fitting punishment, but I guess the subject of the song didn't like it.

The accounts actually weren't clear about the precise circumstances; I sort of assumed there was a service or there wouldn't have been anyone to notice. Were they putting on a show for tourists? I guess it doesn't matter. As for the expletives, I've read that the lyrics include "****, ****, holy ****" or something like that--a sort of parody of the trisagion, I guess--and "You believe in Putin; ***** (suka), better believe in God." Are those complete fabrications, or are the words used not considered profane in Russian? Like I said, the accounts are hazy and often contradictory.

[Snotty]

At least they arent being sent to Siberia for the rest of the brief lives.

Things are improving

[Dr Strangelove]

More Russian Freedom -
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/wor...166684216.html

IIRC during the concert Magonna stomped on an Orthodox cross. How would we feel about this law suit if for example she had trammeled a Menorah?

[onodera]

No one cares about the cross, it's propaganda of homosexuality among minors that she's sued for. Apparently, according to this law you cannot even tell that some men **** each other in the ass until they are 18.

[onodera]

The accounts actually weren't clear about the precise circumstances; I sort of assumed there was a service or there wouldn't have been anyone to notice. Were they putting on a show for tourists? I guess it doesn't matter. As for the expletives, I've read that the lyrics include "****, ****, holy ****" or something like that--a sort of parody of the trisagion, I guess--and "You believe in Putin; ***** (suka), better believe in God." Are those complete fabrications, or are the words used not considered profane in Russian? Like I said, the accounts are hazy and often contradictory.

Now that you've mentioned it, these are actually mild expletives. The first one is not a parody of trisagion, the word is repeated several times to fit the rhythm (holy, holy, holy sh!t). The other one is correct, except they are not addressing the listener, they're talking about the patriarch (the one with the reverse vampiric watch).
Actually, they didn't sing this in the church, as they got kicked out real fast.

[BlackCat]

Onodera, can you say anything about a claim I have read in a danish newspaper : They only mimed in the church and music+song was added later.

[onodera]

Onodera, can you say anything about a claim I have read in a danish newspaper : They only mimed in the church and music+song was added later.

Do you think there are readily available electric sockets in Orthodox churches for people to plug their electric guitars in? Of course the music and the song were recorded separately. They might've tried to sing *something* in the church, though.

[Dr Strangelove]

There would be electric sockets at least somewhere in most American churches. Electricity has been around for over one hundred years. We use electric lights, electric organs, microphones, amplifiers. Besides, weren't most of those churches museums at some point during the Soviet era?

[Elok]

The cathedral in question was destroyed by the Communists ages ago, and recently rebuilt using tons of donations. I guess they felt including electric sockets would be unfaithful to the original? Dunno. My church building has electric sockets, but then it was built for some kind of Protestant sect in the early 1900s or thereabouts. Anyway, from the sound of it they didn't have time to set up an amp whether there were sockets available or not.

Also, Madonna would NEVER stomp on a Menorah. She's totally into Judaism and the Kabbalah and stuff. Especially the parts she thinks are about the clitoris.

[onodera]

The cathedral in question is huge. Also, it's not a Catholic or Protestant church with rows and rows of benches and an altar on the far narrow side. It's nearly square, and the ambon is quite far from the nearest wall.

[Hauldren Collider]

IIRC during the concert Magonna stomped on an Orthodox cross. How would we feel about this law suit if for example she had trammeled a Menorah?

Exactly the same?

[Sava]

Madonna was always a harpy cnut hag

if you want freedom, get the fkuc outta russia