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Post by OrthodoxBrit on Aug 21, 2012 23:07:19 GMT 2
Hi.
I am sure we all have a view on the P*ssy Riot situation in Russia (and I have seen many up on FB) so, what do people think?
Was the sentence correct?
Was it jailworthy at all?
Feel welcome to share it all here.
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Justina
Monastic
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Posts: 25
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Post by Justina on Aug 22, 2012 9:19:32 GMT 2
Well, I think we can all agree that their actions were disgusting and highly disrespectful.
It's not really my place to say whether they deserved 2 years jail for it, but I feel that some sort of punishment was necessary to indicate to others that such behaviour is not acceptable - no matter what religious/political group their targeting.
.....although i'm thinking that maybe 2 years jail is more on the severe side? I'm not sure. But the problem is they're not remorseful for their actions at all. If they want to stage an anti-Putin protest, do it somewhere else! Have some respect for the places people hold sacred!
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Post by simplyorthodox on Aug 22, 2012 13:35:53 GMT 2
Well, I'm not that into politics, so I am not sure how to reply. I just can say that my heart broke when I saw them like that inside the Church. Also Maddona's action of stomping the Orthodox cross was the same painful.
I personally respect all the religions and all the beliefs, and I wouldn't offend anyone... But these actions offended not only me, but millions of Orthodox Christians (and Christians from other denominations) as well.
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Justina
Monastic
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Posts: 25
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Post by Justina on Aug 22, 2012 14:31:30 GMT 2
I agree with you simplyorthodox. They claim to be all feminist and against injustice, but their actions have offended many. What's more, is that they've sparked similar acts by their supporters (like the pulling down of that cross). I can't see how that supports women's rights or pushes freedom in any way.
It's interesting that the Russian Orthodox Church is 'calling for mercy within the limits of the law'.....I'd say that's a fair call. What does everyone else think?
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Post by panagiotis on Aug 22, 2012 23:09:53 GMT 2
I don't like how these women have been made heroes by the media, especially in light of their previous "protests", which have been often tasteless displays of offensive behavior. True, meaningful protests, like those of Martin Luther King Jr. in America or Ghandi in India were never like this.
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Post by adammichael on Aug 23, 2012 5:31:16 GMT 2
I think the sentence was fair and well-balanced. But, really, I'm more concerned about the conversion of these girls. I have an icon of the Holy Royal Martyrs in my icon corner and I've been asking their intercession for these young women's conversion (in particular, I'm asking the martyred Grand Duchesses to pray for them). And by extension, I pray that any future decisions regarding their sentence would be conducive to their conversion.  |
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elionberger
Hermit
Orthodox Church of Korea
Catechumen
Posts: 65
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Post by elionberger on Aug 23, 2012 12:47:14 GMT 2
I have a response to this in the Orthodoxy Classroom section under the "Conversion of the Slavs" section. I would like to hear other people's thoughts on this . . .
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Post by Vlad on Aug 25, 2012 1:52:10 GMT 2
One should understand that this group deliberately did an illegal act. To add insult to injury, they did this in a major religious building, and insulted virtually everyone who is tied to that building religiously. It was an insult and a huge slap in the face to every Orthodox Christian. Their two year sentence is very generous of the court, considering they could have been sentenced to seven years.
One should also note that the Russian Orthodox Church, and Putin, both of which are being criticized for the situation, reached out and asked for mercy on the part of the court.
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Post by JamesfromTA on Sept 12, 2012 18:16:09 GMT 2
It's an odd situation; my opinion on this situation has flitted back and forth.
What they did was totally wrong. The fact that they haven't (to my knowledge) produced a statement condemning all those who in protest of their imprisonment have committed hate acts directed at Christians (sawing down Crucifixes etc.) to me makes me wonder whether they were actually sorry for offending Orthodox Christians in the first place.
That said, I don't think they should have been imprisoned. They had been in prison for months without trial, they should have received a fine and a caution. Of course, Russia has it's own legal system and the judges probably did as they saw appropriate. As Vlad has said, the government and the Church did ask for mercy and under Russian law they should have got 7 years. At the end of the day they knew what they were doing, they knew that they were breaking the law...they aren't innocent in any case. That all said they do deserve compassion and mercy. When the trial was going on I prayed for them and I think we should keep praying for them that God takes mercy on them and perhaps enlightens their hearts resulting in conversion.
What annoys me about this whole situation is that people are getting so up in arms about these women being jailed when Christians are routinely martyred across the Islamic world and Asia but I don't see people holding protests and flash mobs or petitions to save lives or stop the imprisonment of innocent people who's only crime was to practise their faith, not hurt people and call it a "peaceful" protest.
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Post by admin on Sept 12, 2012 19:09:17 GMT 2
Any action which denigrates in any way any belief is wrong, and it should be condemned.
Pussy Riot included.
Also, politics has no place in the Church.
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Post by theophilus79 on Sept 19, 2012 14:09:59 GMT 2
I would be unhappy had this occurred in a mosque, synagogue or even a Protestant gathering place. Interrupting a service devoted to the worship of God is not the proper forum for the making of political statements.
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Post by timotheos on Jan 29, 2013 21:01:51 GMT 2
I heard P*ussy Riot's music, and they were terrible! Worst band I've heard in a long time.
As for the situation, I think it speaks well that the Russian Orthodox Church requested clemency for the band. The protest in the church, however, was shameful and irresponsible. There's a time and a place for everything, but dressing up like members of the IRA and protesting inside a holy space is flat out wrong.
Was this worthy of jail time? I don't think so. They chose to do this at a relatively quite time, and they apologized for their protest. A fine perhaps, but putting them in jail would give them unnecessary attention from Western media.
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