Psychoanalysis strives toward
increasing freedom to live an increasingly broadened, enriched life. I am glad
to be an American citizen, born in the USA, in the country whose Constitution
has survived longer than any other. It was hammered out and became the law of
the land more than a decade after the Continental Congress signed the
Declaration of Independence-- the latter, of course, the event we today celebrate.
Last week the Supreme Court broadened our freedoms by striking down DOMA (the
Defense of Marriage Act which narrowly defined marriage so as to discriminate
against homosexual couples). I have long awaited the day when women would be
free of their minority status, too. I have wondered why nations don’t rise up
in outrage against rape as a weapon of war, against female genital mutilation,
glass ceilings, sex slaves, child brides, and other socially sanctioned
violence against women.
So I smile when I think of the Feminist
- punk rock - protest - performance group Pussy Riot, formed the day Russian
President Medvedev announced that power would be handed back to Putin for six
more years. Mass protests ensued. Members of Pussy Riot were arrested six
months later for their performance on Feb 21, 2012 in Christ the Savior
Cathedral. This hooliganism garnered a two year prison sentence for two of its
members. Pussy Riot accused Putin of depriving Russia the right to decide its
fate. ‘Nadia’ says the alter of the cathedral where the feminists performed was
chosen because “a woman should occupy it.” [the altar] “I believe that a woman
should be allowed to run services and that a woman should stand at the altar
because she is not a sinful creature.” What a concept: egalitarianism in
religions.
Called “demons” by those who support the Russian
Orthodox Church, Pussy Riot says, “As artists, our goal is to change
humanity,…to free society from prejudices and stereotypes, to be the voice of
the voiceless….We are jokers, jester, holy fools.” Their offensiveness, to
some, was meant to challenge complacency and ask uneasy questions.
Psychoanalysts ask uneasy questions, striving not to give offense. Still, I
applaud these exuberant, brave, questioning, young women, fundamentally non
violent, their guerilla performances, colorfully
clad and masked (in balaclava), waving purple flag, fisted as they
scream their protest to electric guitar. A favorite is Putin Zassel, written in response to regime troops being sent out
to contain anti-Putin demonstrators of Dec 24, 2011. Performed in Red Square
Jan 2012:
Lyrics (to Performance No. 4
The masses rise up and move on the
Kremlin
Explosions set off at Security
headquarters
Bitches piss themselves behind red
walls
Riot is here to abort the system
An attack at dawn? Don’t mind if I
do
When we’re whipped for our freedom
The Mother of God will learn how to
fight
Magdalene the feminist will join the
demonstration
Uprising in Russia
The charm of protest
Uprising in Russia
Putin pissed himself
Uprising in Russia
We exist
Uprising in Russia
Riot! Riot!
Take to the streets!
Occupy Red Square
Show them your freedom
A citizen’s anger
Uprising in Russia
Riot! Riot!
Take to the streets
Occupy Red Square!
Show them your freedom
A citizen’s anger
As Egypt struggles to find its
way, having ousted Morsi yesterday, perhaps the huddled masses yearning to
breathe free will one day no longer need to be on U.S. soil to do so. I hope
Egypt strives in its future toward a more inclusive constitution where woman
are equal under the law and toward a democracy that does not solve its mistakes
with military powers. Do Pussy Riot members Nadia and Masha smile from their respective jail cells? Thomas
Jefferson who, as you know, penned the Declaration of Independence, advocated
revolution, “The tree of liberty must
be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
