Freedom Of Music: Pussy Riot Vs. Hank Williams Vs. Rage Against The Machine

The last week has seen some significant entries by music into the foray of politics.

Most notably, and perhaps most importantly, was the show trial and two year sentence given to Russian punk band Pussy Riot.

The [Rrrusian] Riot Grrrl band’s arrest for ‘hooliganism’ after staging a political protest against the Russian Orthodox Church’s support of Prime Minister Vladamir Putin roused the support of notable musicians worldwide.

Their subsequent conviction and sentencing has created something of an international incident, drawing attention to tactics used to quash political dissent.

Pussy Riot’s actions inside the church can definitely be seen as offensive and vulgar, especially after reading translated lyrics and watching the video.

Imagine the uproar if NOFX busted into a Methodist church to play one of their odes to President Bush, “Franco Un-American.” Aside from disorderly conduct and perhaps trespassing, the band would likely not face serious charges. Like it or not, it’s the right to political speech. A right many comrades do not fully enjoy.

Those same rights that protect Fat Mike and company’s political protest allowed Hank Williams Jr. to call President Obama “… a Muslim president who hates farming, hates the military, hates the U.S.” Saturday night in Iowa. It was his latest in a history of negative commentary against the President, and his right to voice dissent.

It is also the right of Rep. Paul Ryan to love Rage Against The Machine.

All things considered, Ryan may simply listen to RATM to get his blood flowing during P90x workouts. However the ironic juxtaposition of his conservative policy stands to the extreme leftist politics espoused by Rage was not lost on Tom Morello, who penned a letter in Rolling Stone expressing just how much he didn’t like Ryan’s appreciation for his music.

Perhaps Ryan should crowd surf to win the endorsement of Rage fans. Hell, it worked for Alan Keyes in 2000.

The punchline starts at 5:40