From Masuma Ahuja, at the Washington Post:
On Tuesday morning, first lady Michelle Obama and Deputy Secretary of State Heather Higginbottom presented 10 women from around the world the Secretary of State’s Women of Courage award. They include a pioneer of the human rights movement in Tajikistan, a prominent leader in the field of maternal health and … a pop music star who won Eurovision in 2004?
These women are being recognized for their “exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk.”
So how does a pop star from Ukraine make the list?
Ruslana Lyzhychko — her fans call her Ruslana, first name only, like Madonna — rose to fame when she won the Eurovision competition for her performance of the song “Wild Dances.”… These days, Ruslana sings with the protesters in Kiev’s Independence Square.
She took the streets during the November protests and quickly became a voice of the protesters. Ruslana spent long, cold nights onstage, often at the iconic blue piano, singing and rallying crowds as riot police rounded in. Her longest performances on the protests stage — singing her own songs and the national anthem — lasted up to 10 hours…
Honestly, every one of these women is amazing, and any one of them shows more courage on her worst day than all the GOP congresscritter put togethers, even including their Media Village cheerleaders and paid promotionalists, could muster on their best day.
Gin & Tonic
To those who haven’t been following events in Ukraine since November, it’s nearly impossible to overstate how important Ruslana’s continuing presence at the Maidan was to the protesters. She was on stage from 10 or 11 at night until nearly dawn every day for three months. She’d go until her voice ran out, then back again the next night.
The story is that she turned against Yanukovych when, after she won Eurovision he requested she perform at a private event for him. She declined, so he reportedly told her she’ll come and sing, or she’ll come to his place in the trunk of a car.
SiubhanDuinne
Wow. Thank you for this, Anne Laurie. What amazing, inspiring women! It thrills me that our FLOTUS and the Department of State recognize and celebrate these extraordinary human beings.
RaflW
I would so pay to see Ruslana and Lindsey Graham go toe to toe on the TeeVee, even for just one fleeting minute.
One of them has the balls to do something about the Ukraine.
Mandalay
Only slightly O/T, this video shows the playing of the anthems before a rugby match between Russia and Georgia in Tbilisi ten days ago. While the Russian anthem was played the Georgian crowd jeered, and presciently chanted “Ukraine!”.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend I guess.
David Koch
Beltway chicken hawks are truly stoopid.
Invading Iraq and Afghanistan didn’t stop Putin from invading Georgia.
Joel
That poll having the LaDouchey character leading the Democratic primary by 8 points was merely off by about 25 points or so. Not that it matters, but I’m glad she got her ass kicked.
Mandalay
Pravda’s commentary on the US response to the situation in the Ukraine is colorful…
If Graham can bring up Benghazi then Pravda can bring up Baghdad. They are both equally relevant.
FlipYrWhig
@Mandalay: if there’s anything more ironic than the US lecturing another country about going to war on trumped up pretenses, it’s Russia lecturing another country about prison conditions.
Tommy
@Gin & Tonic: I saw her a few times on the news, didn’t know anything about her. I don’t think it can be understated how important the arts are.
Suffern ACE
@Mandalay: Yeah. Yeah. Well when WE invaded OUR country illegally, WE at least debated for more than 15 minutes. And our falsified evidence was better than yours. So take that you turnip eating vodka chugging tools. I’ve had your bacon and I’m not impressed. I’ve had your style of mustard and it’s way too hot.
(Sorry. I figured I’d get my hackles up.)
(Veselka is love. Gotta remember that.)
Suffern ACE
@David Koch: I’m sorry. But have the Ukranians themselves given us any indication that they’d like us to start dropping bombs in their country on their behalf? I would think that they might not want that kind of help. Heck, they haven’t given much indication yet that they are interested in shooting at the Russian troops.
Hill Dweller
@Suffern ACE: Fournier doesn’t give a shit about logic. He just wanted to call Obama weak.
dr. luba
Ruslana also, inadvertently, helped open Ukraine to the west. In 2004, when she won Euorovision in Turkey, Ukraine was still a very post-Soviet place. Kuchma was president (and accused of killing a journalist), and traveling there was a hassle–you had to get a visa, you had to register with the local constabulary, etc. People had little exposure to outsiders and foreigners.
Her winning was a huge moment of national pride. It made Ukraine a real part of Europe. It also meant that Ukraine would host Eurovision in 2005, with many thousands of foreign visitors. The government slowly reformed the visa regime, and got rid of visa requirements first for Europeans, then Americans, and a while later for Canadians and Australians. That summer was the first simple trip I had there.
Suffern ACE
@Hill Dweller: I know. They seem to long for him to slap them and send them in chains to Alaska. But after six years of this, I wouldn’t object if he did. For a few weeks. Oh, I’d “object”, probably after the fact. My outrage meter might go to six.
dr. luba
@Suffern ACE:
Ukrainians don’t want to shoot, but it’s not because they don’t want to defend their homeland. It’s a calculated technique–they don’t want to give Putin any excuse for his actions. They are avoiding provocations. Putin is apparently pissed off–why aren”t the Ukrainians shooting?
They want American and European help, but would prefer to get rid of the Russians as non-violently as possible. If they need to fight, though, they will.
Suffern ACE
@dr. luba: I don’t doubt that they would, and I find that tactic interesting. I hope it works. But yeah, if you don’t want your country destroyed, it’s probably best not to have two large foreign armies battling in it. All of these armchair generals demanding that we start putting ships in the black sea and baltics and start flying planes around are really just trying to goad the sides into shooting at each other. I’d say it was bizaare, but it is par for the course.
? Martin
@Suffern ACE:
They never listen until you pound your shoe on the table.
grrljock
Heartened by the recognition of the courage of these incredible women. Thanks for sharing, Anne!