Pussy Riots and a Government of Pussies

Governments bullying citizens, governments bullying governments, and pussy governments (like my own) abandoning their citizens to the hands of others. For all our so-called “development”, our institutions and some people’s mental states are appallingly archaic, fascist and cowardice. Doesn’t give me much faith in any of our political leaders or “democracy”…

It seems a terrible combination of power and fear has the leaders of our society acting worse than children in a playground. Are the school bullies of global politics so insecure about themselves that they think they must bring down and torture anyone caught calling them a name or exposing the crimes of their past?

One would hope that political leaders had grown out of their teenage insecurities and could approach conflicts in a more mature way than: ‘get-em’, ‘lock-em-away’, ‘shut-them-up’ and torture them so no one else dares to challenge their authority. Can’t we leave such barbarianism to the Dark Ages?

Is it so hard to take a look in the mirror, admit one’s shortcomings, and discuss one’s intentions and outcomes in a way that those around you can respect?

Julian Assange is now at the crux of a political standoff between the United Kingdom and Ecuador, while Australia sits cowardly watching from the sidelines. The Australian government’s lack of care for Assange is like a parent watching his child being beaten up by the teacher, and the child’s friend stepping in to help while the parent looks the other way.

Stuart Rees, Chair of the Sydney Peace Foundation (who awarded a “Gold Medal” to Assange last year [1a]) states clearly what is needed:

In terms of justice for Julian Assange and for any other advocates of free speech and freedom of the press, the following issues need to be aired by the media.

1. Assange has provided a  massive public service by, among other things, revealing truths about murders by US military. His challenge to governments’  secrecy explains their desire for revenge.

2. So called British justice put Assange under house arrest for almost two years when he had been charged with no offence. No other defendant suspected of alleged similar offences has been treated in this way.  Cowardly governments have made the alleged sex offences in Sweden into a major issue, not Assange.

3. For centuries, powerful governments have behaved as though they can do what they like, even if they call this ‘ the rule of law.’ In this watershed case, a small government Ecuador has challenged the bully boy tactics  – witness the UK threats – that have lasted for so long but now should end.

4. All citizens who believe in freedom of the press, freedom of speech and the values associated with diplomatic immunity, can insist that the Ecuadorian decision to give asylum to Assange should override any other consideration and no amount of quibbling by so called legal experts to support the governments of the UK, Sweden and the USA should be heeded.

5. Here is a massive opportunity for the Australian government to show its determination to stand up for the right of an Australian citizen.[1b]

Will the UK (who may themselves feel bullied by the US) breach Ecuador’s sovereignty in order to get Assange? How can all this fuss be made with the cover of alleged sexual assault charges in Sweden made by a girl who spent the following day and evening with him? [2]

As the SMH pointed out this morning, Foreign Affairs and Trade Department documents show that ‘Australian diplomats have no doubt the United States is intent on pursuing Julian Assange’.[4])

What a brave act of Ecuador—the Ecuadorian government and Ecuadorian people—in standing up for this Australian’s basic human rights. Why isn’t the Australian government doing more to resolve this issue???

Maybe they can learn something from the definitely NOT COWARDICE Pussy Riot (a Russian feminist punk-rock musical collective) who have been sentenced to gaol for two years for singing a “punk prayer” that condemned ‘the Church’s open support for the state and called on the Virgin Mary to “throw Putin out” of power.’[5]

The court ruled: ‘Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Marina Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, stood watching in handcuffs in a glass cage as the court delivered its verdict… “Tolokonnikova, Samutsevich and Alyokhina committed an act of hooliganism, a gross violation of public order showing obvious disrespect for society,” the judge said. “The girls’ actions were sacrilegious, blasphemous and broke the church’s rules.”‘[5]

The Pussy Riot and the Australian government demonstrate two very opposite uses of the word “Pussy”. I must say I know the usage I’d like to see more of.

P.S.

Julian Assange first public statement since entering Ecuador’s London embassy on 19th August followed by statements of support from around the world:

Including the wonderfully flamboyant fashion designer Vivienne Westwood (who I met back in my Paris modelling days – an unsuccessful but memorable casting) made a show of support for Assange with a representative reading her statement: “Through WikiLeaks, Julian Assange continues to expose the lies and distortions of the authorities. His fight is our fight. It is a fight for freedom. Freedom for information. We are Julian Assange. I am Julian Assange. With love, from Vivienne.” 

Love it when worlds of my past and present collide.

References:

Assange/Ecuador:

[1a] http://sydneypeacefoundation.org.au/peace-medal-julian-assange/

[1b] http://sydneypeacefoundation.org.au/brave-and-principled-ecuador/# (Press Release from Stuart Rees)

[2] http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/07/19/3549280.htm (Four Corners’ fantastic feature on Assange)

[3] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19303189

[4] http://www.smh.com.au/national/us-intends-to-chase-assange-cables-show-20120817-24e1l.html (Sydney Morning Herald today)

Pussy Riots:

[5] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-17/judge-finds-pussy-riot-guilty-of-hooliganism/4207014

[6] http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/08/201281610563073589.html

Picture:

http://www.zdnet.com/russia-today-hit-by-ddos-as-anti-wikileaks-group-claims-responsibility-7000002794/