Riot Grrrls

Vladimir Putin is, to put it simply, a badass. He's a former KGB agent, an imposing physical presence, a man who cultivates an intensity and mien of intimidation. His Wikipedia entry suggests that he flies military jets, engages in martial arts, tranquilizes tigers and polar bears, rides motor bikes, drives race cars, shoots darts at whales, scuba dives, and plays ice hockey, not necessarily all at the same time. (For Dave, I note that I had Putin's visage in my head as I imagined how Sokolov looked in Neal Stephenson's REAMDE.)

And yet, with all that, like men from time immemorial, he finds himself confounded and at least a little bit scared of the indomitable passion of a group of unreasonable women. (Unreasonable used in the most approving manner, in this case.)

Pussy Riot are a punk band/performance art collective made up of ten or so women, a group whose made it their business to protest the current state of Russian political affairs, bringing them into direct conflict with Putin - a type of conflict his typically direct style seems somewhat ill-equipped to manage, at least from the perspective of public relations.

Several members of the band were arrested in March after a particularly provocative performance at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Their subsequent harsh treatment at the hands of the state has made them a cause celebre, with human rights activists, governments, and the obligatory posturing Madonnas and Bjorks of the world standing in solidarity.


And so on the one hand we have the the patriarchy heavy handedly enforcing its hegemony, while women once again appear to be the saner and more patient sex. As it was in the beginning, so shall it be for a while longer.

Still think I prefer the Sex Pistols, though.


In case your Russian is a bit rusty, here are the lyrics:

 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 shit, shit, Lord's shit!
Holy shit, shit, Lord's shit!

(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)