Madonna's pink ribbon concert draws wrath of Russian ministers, church

Saint Petersburg this year passed a loosely-worded law that fines those “promoting homosexuality” to minors and apparently equates it with pedophilia

well that part is interesting--the rest of it, yawn. While it does seem that Pussy Riot and their sentencing, which hasnt occured yet, is a little over the top. Madonna's little demo I dont know if it aided their plight or not-it's kinda hard to tell which side she is on. Did she want to draw attention so that Pussy Riot does get a stiff sentencing? Or does she think that if Russia goes lenient on them, it was because of her?

tolerance in Russia, new name but with that old Soviet values

Anti-gay laws, mix between church and state (in a post-Communist country!), rise in neo-nazi activity, censorship... Russia's going backwards again.

Russia, keepin it classy since 1917. Seriously, I never thought I would end up on the same side of an issue as Madonna (who gets my Donald Trump Award for leveraging very modest talent in to mega riches), but she is right and the Ruskies are wrong.

Seriously, The Putin govt. is thuggery at its worst (well I cannot say "worst" because during the Cold War this type of behavior would not even merit an honorable mention. Let's say he is an irritating, undemocratic, blowhard willing to use violence, corruption, and the everpresent "foreign adversary" to maintain his grip on power.) What does the Russian govt. contribute to modern society beyond Vodka, AK's, xenophobia in a variety of forms, and obstructionism so that Assad can continue to murder his own?

You go, Material Girl. I will even overlook the fact that I no longer find your disrobed body attractive.

Shining a light on gay rights and Pussy Riot's trial, whatever happens is a good thing. Putin would just as well keep these issues out of the headlines, in Russia OR the west.

Yes Russia is intolerant and backward but Madonna preaching these values for her own commercial gain is also a bit offputting

mix between church and state (in a post-Communist country!)

That's a trick. Communism is just a religion where one worships the state. The Russian Orthodox Church has been lock step with the Russian government and the USSR before that even when religion was technically a no-no.

Very true that the damned Orthodox Church was lockstep with every Russian government that was, including the Soviet government. (The Soviets restored the Patriarchy, which was abolished by Peter the Great). Religion was no a no-no in the Soviet Union but was strictly controlled. The Orthodox Church as come into its own as a powerful authoritarian force under Putin.

@Wakarimasen

but Madonna preaching these values for her own commercial gain is also a bit offputting

She doesn't need to preach anything, she still has commercial gain no matter what. Those people didn't go to her concert to watch her support Pussy Riot or gay rights, they went to her concert. Period. They'd go either way.

I never liked her music, but it's good that she uses her celebrity status to promote and publicize these issues. And Nadezhda's too damn cute to be incarcerated. (Refrain from considering the last sentence as serious in tone, albeit true in nature.)

True, they might go anyway. but preaching this stuff is designed to create the image of depth and of being concerned when she actually isn't and isn't.

Many people around the world forget that the holocaust was not only about killing the Jewish people of Europe. It was also about Killing people who the Nazi’s saw as “deviant” or “defective.” As I look around the world these days, it is frightening to see that the same virulent hatred is alive and well in new forms of fascism. The same evil hatred that Hitler promoted is alive and well in Russia, in the heartland of America and increasingly in Europe.

We really only have two choices. Crush fascism and its hateful thinking before it has the opportunity to turn more deadly. Or. Allow this thinking to infect our world again and face the very real possibility of another grand atrocity.

@Wakarimasen

but Madonna preaching these values for her own commercial gain is also a bit offputting

In a world that does not value teachers, community leaders and intellectuals, it is left to the pop stars to try to help address many of the social evils that these others addressed in pass generations. I am proud of the work that people like Maddona, George Clooney and Bono do in supporting the poor, the repressed and those who are the targets of hatred.

As for the Orthodox church. One more body of proof that organized religion is more often the source of evil and hatred than of goodness.

When will the yuman race get over itself and live together peaceably? Maybe not ever...

Madonna, not doing it for her profit, she has no need of any and would profit beau coups either way, as others said. She may be doing it for her own ego scratching tho, which is similar. Still drawing attn can create positive change I b'lieve. Good luck to dntrodden in Russia.

All those conservative priest talking about "the" cross and religion and Christ in general have perhaps not found God yet, the furthest from God, imho.

Saint Petersburg this year passed a loosely-worded law that fines those “promoting homosexuality” to minors and apparently equates it with pedophilia.

That is SO 1950s America! These people need to get with the times. These days you are supposed to equate teenagers with children and arrest teenagers for having naked pictures of themselves, like we do in America. These Russians are so far behind! By the time we get to making laws requiring the use of condoms by law (for public safety), these foot draggers will be good with homosexuality, but be on a rampage about teens and sex, and we will be all indignant about teens and how they should have sexual freedom, and how these Russians need to crack down on condomless porn!

Madonna, I can take her or leave her. But today I greatly respect her for putting it on the line and standing up for the values many of us in the rest of the world take for granted. The freedom of speech, opinion and conscience, the very thing that got Pussy Riot into so much trouble there in Russia. They could have easily treated her the same for expressing support for the girls and the gay community. And who cares if she made a few bucks (Rubles) doing it, that money would have been forfeit if they had went after her.

Love her or hate her, this time she did good!

I suppose I should clarify a bit. Pretty much every single country has some crazy sex laws and some group its oppressing. Its really easy to look at your own country's past on such matters, or other countries in the present, and declare those people crazy. But very few ever declare the people of their own country crazy in the present. Well, I think pretty much all of you out there are crazy. I dont have any respect for repression of homosexuals, but the holier than thou attitudes here are a bit much when a young man can get arrested on his 18th birthday for having a 15 year old girlfriend, and it still happens. Frankly, oppressing homosexuals is preferable to that sort of insanity, so slow your roll before you accuse others of prejudice and hatred as if your own country is free of it.

It looks like one of my worst fears is all too true. Ordinary Russians (like many ordinary Americans) are hopelessly out of touch with Hollywood and entertainers like Madonna.