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Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:31 am Post subject:

Surprised that Webster didn't ban it for illogical spelling Laughing

Sashadroogie · Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:34 am Post subject:

Here's another objective report from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19303187

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Whether anyone agrees with what they did or not,they have succeeded in getting a lot of bad publicity against Putin and his crap regime!If they had quietly ticked-them off and let them go, or even just fined them,the whole thing would have been history by now.
The truth is that the way the authorities over-reacted reveals a lot about the kind of place Russia really is underneath-i.e. if you don't want trouble,keep you mouth shut and get on with dealing with your daily problems!Trying to cause problems for those with power will only bring you far worse problems of your own!
In most western countries they would also have been arrested initially,but kept in far better conditions than in Russia and probably either given a severe reprimand and made to do comminity service etc. if they were not fined fo causing a 'breach of the peace' etc....
But then again,the reasons behind the protest in Moscow were political and regimes like Putins cannot tolerate this because it reveals their own insecurity and weakness!This is the major difference.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:27 am Post subject:

I'm not so sure about the insecurity and weakness comments. I doubt the leadership is too bothered about whatever foreign states have to say on any of this.

maruss · Joined: 18 Mar 2003 Posts: 1145 Location: Cyprus

Biut I definitely agree with the second statement you made-they don't give a s***!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:42 pm Post subject:

Why would they? I very much doubt that even WTO accession will change that.

ancient_dweller · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 415 Location: Woodland Bench

HEADLINES IN UK:

"*beep*-riot - political victims"

"Assange - Sex predator wanted for rape"

HEADLINES IN RUSSIA:

"*beep*-riot - hooligans - blasphemous"

"Assange - victim of US revenge"

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

In the case of Assange, I think the Russians have it right.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:19 pm Post subject:

Well, I for one fully support Assange's right to express himself freely and love his artistic interventions and installation. I wish that the decadent West would extend the same rights to its artistes as the great Motherland does : (

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 11:16 am Post subject:

"This devoutly religious country"?! Has the BBC gone off its rocker?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19671361

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

From the British point of view, and the BBC is very British, Russia is a highly religious country. Most say they believe in God and many go to church. Compare this with the UK.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 12:33 pm Post subject:

Hmmm. I'm not sure about this Cole. Religion plays virtually no more part in Russian daily life than it did when they were officially atheists. Most of the fuss about *beep* Riot is political and national. The whole blasphemous angle seems manufactured to me.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Hi Sashadroogie. Yes, there is a considerable difference between Russian espousal of religious belief and actual practice, but in the UK, even formal acceptance of religion is weaker than lukewarm. E.g. Many people admit that they only write 'C. of E.' (Church of England for those of you who are not from the UK) in the census as a default and only go to church for 'hatchings, matchings and despatchings'. Russians at least in theory are devout, even if their knees never hit wood. Most of my students say they believe in God and in a recent lesson a few referred to going to church to pray as well as for the proprieties.

As for the politics. well yes, the musicians/protesters intended it to be political so the response was likely to be political. However, given the level of attachment to religion, however theoretical, I think the outrage was genuine in many cases. Certainly, I have heard the protests referred to as 'hooliganism'.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

And Sashadroogie, how does the recent banning of Jesus Christ Superstar in Rostov fit into this scheme of a basically irreligious society? Comments by the supporters of this intolerance include things like 'the Patriarch should have given permission first' and 'any really religious person wouldn't be attending plays, they'd be in church'. Enough sanctimony there to fuel a fleet of popemobiles.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Mind you, Rostov is also the place where a few years ago they stopped a rugby match on the grounds that they thought a riot had started.