Pussy, Putin and the right to be insult religion

[dellzeqq]

I've got a new rule. Never pass a law that Vladimir Putin would vote for. Because one of these days we'll have our own Putin (except that he'll be called Osborne) and next thing you know, people will be on trial...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/30/pussy-riot-trial-putin-russia-church

 

[rikki]

I'm sure that Putin votes for some (one or more) very good laws.

But I agree this is a bad thing. Be it blasphemy or insulting, it must not be made a criminal offence.

 

[Aperitif]

I remember Fred Flintstone had trouble when he tried 'putin out the cat'...
That's an awful story - and the blogger who faces five years in, for speculating that the rigged elections were rigged...Never mind, let's buy some more houses in London and everything will be ok. Also, I can't visualise Georgy Osborniev cutting the same jib as 'Vlad the Imprisoner' when he bares all for the press call.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

"Punk Prayer" Lyrics:

(Chorus)
St. Maria, Virgin, Drive away Putin
Drive away! Drive away Putin!
(end chorus)
Black robe, golden epaulettes
All parishioners are crawling and bowing
The ghost of freedom is in heaven
Gay pride sent to Siberia in chains
The head of the KGB is their chief saint
Leads protesters to prison under escort
In order not to offend the Holy
Women have to give birth and to love
Holy shoot, shoot, Lord's shoot!
Holy shoot, shoot, Lord's shoot!
(Chorus)
St. Maria, Virgin, become a feminist
Become a feminist, Become a feminist
(end chorus)
Church praises the rotten dictators
The cross-bearer procession of black limousines
In school you are going to meet with a teacher-preacher
Go to class - bring him money!
Patriarch Gundyaev believes in Putin
Bitch, you better believed in God
Belt of the Virgin is no substitute for mass-meetings
In protest of our Ever-Virgin Mary!
(Chorus)
St. Maria, Virgin, Drive away Putin
Drive away! Drive away Putin!
(end chorus)

As one of our resident "Virgin Mary Worshipping" God botherers I say no blasphemy present, and more power to their protesting elbows.

 

[srw]

I'm glad to see that even right-on rock can't construct a decent lyric. Maybe it's more convincing in Russian, but somehow I doubt it.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Although the lyrics to their song are somewhat criminally bad, this is terrifying.

 

[srw]

More seriously - could it happen here? Unlikely, I think - the Church of England has a built-in centralising stability mechanism in the shape of the General Synod. If it can't even get its act together to approve modernising moves that 70% of its members are in favour of, it's not going to become an anti-free-speech dictatoriat.

(But plenty of modern hymns worship songs have lyrics just as dire, and I'd be delighted if some of the people who inflicted them on the world were locked away pour encourager les autres.)

 

[MissTillyFlop]

More seriously - could it happen here? Unlikely, I think - the Church of England has a built-in centralising stability mechanism in the shape of the General Synod. If it can't even get its act together to approve modernising moves that 70% of its members are in favour of, it's not going to become an anti-free-speech dictatoriat.

(But plenty of modern hymns worship songs have lyrics just as dire, and I'd be delighted if some of the people who inflicted them on the world were locked away pour encourager les autres.)

This is true - there were some pretty cringy hymns at my school and church.

I don't think it would happen here, because in recent years, governments have been distancing themselves from the church and would certainly not look to them for reinforcement.

 

[dellzeqq]

well............we are assailed by calls to extend the offence of blasphemy to religions other than Christianity - and one can see the force in the arguments. But..........writing this poem got James Kirkup a stretch, and the poem is still banned in the UK (the link is to a US server)

http://www.annoy.com/history/doc.html?DocumentID=100045

 

[Boris Bajic]

If you want a laugh, watch French TV newscasters talk about Putin.

But Osbourne a new Putin? His type are out there, but Osbourne is not one such.

He is ineffectual, weak and without a compass of any discernible variety, but he is no Putin.

 

[Peter Armstrong]

I just wish Religion was never made up in the first place, the world would be a better place.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Hmm, I can kind of see why a poem about necrophillia is banned.

But on the other hand, I suppose if you can freely buy books by the Marquis De Sade, then I don't see how this is any worse.

 

[srw]

writing this poem got James Kirkup a stretch,

A suspended stretch*, quashed on appeal - if wikipedia is correct (and it usually is on things like this).

And that was 35 years ago. A lot has happened in those 35 years.

*I realise that in the context that might be considered in somewhat bad taste...

 

[srw]

I just wish Religion was never made up in the first place, the world would be a better place.

Sorry sunshine - I'm afraid you're going to have to learn to live with the fact that it exists. And is absolutely fascinating.

 

[dellzeqq]

A suspended stretch*, quashed on appeal - if wikipedia is correct (and it usually is on things like this).

And that was 35 years ago. A lot has happened in those 35 years.

*I realise that in the context that might be considered in somewhat bad taste...

the poem is still banned.....I'm sure that if you quoted it on CC you'd not be hauled off to the pokey, but you take my point. Laws are sometimes used in ways that those asking for them cannot imagine