The article "Putin's Russia" by Patricia Smith from the New York Times Upfront Magazine is about how three members of a punk band were arrested and sentenced to two years in jail for hooliganism because they sang a comical song asking the virgin Mary to get rid of President Vladimir Putin. According to "Putin's Russia" Putin faces an increasingly assertive opposition movement. The article is also about Putin taking away basic freedoms from protesters and demonstrators.
Patricia Smith wants the reader to know that Vladimir Putin has been taking away political freedoms from those who oppose him. He found a way around a law that would prevent him from serving any more than 2 terms in office by running the show as the prime minister behind Dmitri Medvedev. He is now president again. Putin has put $9,000 fines on protesting, which is $500 more than the average salary in Russia. The government can block websites that it deems "dangerous to children". ""I urge the government of the Russian Federation to avoid taking further steps backward to a more restrictive era," said Navi Pillay, the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights."He got rid of elections for key governors and mayors, instead choosing the people that would fill these positions himself. The author wanted the reader to know about the rights being taken away from protestors.
The author wants the reader to feel angry that these people cannot voice their opinions about the president of their country openly without being penalized. Patricia Smith wants the reader to think that what Putin is doing by abridging people's rights and going around the law to serve more terms as president is extremely unjust and unfair."We are happy because we brought the revolution closer!" says Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.
She wants the reader to feel that the two year sentence that the punk band received is uncalled-for and that the band are the 'good guys' fighting for a noble cause.
I think that it is the responsibility of the leader of a country to protect the rights of the people, to think of what is best for them, and to make sure they are being treated fairly. In my opinion, Vladimir Putin is doing the exact opposite for the people of Russia. He should be concentrating on fighting for the people, not taking away their rights.
In conclusion, "Putin's Russia" made me think about what is acceptable for a leader to do and what the leader of a country should be doing. I think that Vladimir Putin's rule is oppressive and unfair to the Russian people. They should be able to have their opinions and voice them. I hope that Putin will re-think the fines and penalties for protesting.
What do you think a leader's priorities should be?
Is it okay for a leader to prevent people from speaking out against them (even if they are doing some good things)?
Very interesting grace! I do agree with you that what Putin is doing is definatly wrong. It's sad that somebody is saying that Russia needs ot be less restrictive. It seems that Russia has been trying to do that and has been failing for quite a long time. Since the beginning they have had kings and czars. Good post, you have a lot to say :D.
ReplyDelete