In Search of that Twinkling Western Light
Op-Ed
All went well: the election of the new Georgian president came to an end peacefully for the country’s electorate and agreeably for the international community; the country obtained a lady president – a fresh breath in national politics. And best of all, we are no longer poised on the edge of chaos: the electoral practice was reported as politically balanced and democratically structured; the current government did its possible best and the opposition did its affordable utmost; both the content and malcontent got sated with mutual defamation and reciprocal mudslinging that might suffice for a while; the inauguration of the new head of state took place at a historically symbolic and patriotically romantic venue; the inaugural picture was modest but in good taste; for the first time ever, the former and the current presidents figured in the ceremony as a token of peaceful transition of power; Her Excellency, the stepping-in presidential incumbent, looked dazzling in her white coat and maroon shirt, and spoke with soothing serenity, pledging her lofty services to the nation and a watchful eye over the people; the presence of handsome public with a European smack in dress and manner confirmed their approval with reserved applause, contentedly accentuating the prospective political highlights in the presidential opening speech; the weather was friendly and the air was transparent; the closing male polyphony penetrated the gorgeous mounts of the Caucasus in the background with vocally enchanting sound; the new beginning crystallized in the air and the old misgivings froze immobile provisionally; the curious nation watched the show, no longer concerned about Yays and Nays; the world got the point, but took it nonchalantly.
All went well indeed, but it was not a cloud without the silver lining. The crushed opposition hit the road forthwith, lock, stock and barrel, straight in the direction of the incipient place of the formal procedure, but behold, the police force kept vigil on the road to honor the spirit of peace and order, a perfect chance for those who wanted to see the inauguration bust – the harder the authority defies the oppositional attempts, the easier is the tension to trigger. The event was garnished with the habitual clash between law enforcers and belligerent public, a legislator and a policeman literally pressing their foreheads together – a classic case of prelude for a disturbance!
The inaugural ceremony was beautifully conceived and staged, and the impression of statehood was firmly in place; the necessary general calm and security of the participating community were amply provided for; the overall feeling of celebration was strong enough for the invited foreign guests as well as the observers via media to know that all is good and nice in the Republic, but in supraliminal reality, Georgia is not yet completely out of the woods when it comes to giving preference to economics versus politics, labor versus indolence, deeds versus words, constructive versus destructive, rationality versus illogicality, sense versus nonsense, nitty-gritty versus blah-blah.
The surviving opposition, which was kicked right in the pit of the stomach, will probably have to swallow the recent defeat, as unsavory as it might be, even if the opposition-supporting public thinks that their warriors are hard nuts to crack. The current government will most likely have to live with its hyperactive and overly cantankerous and scurrilous opposition, taking it for granted that the caravan is moving and the dogs are barking. There is no such thing as a totally flawless and absolutely complete pleasure. At some point in time, from somewhere, a fly will come to land right in the ointment you want to heal your ailing body with. This kind of thing happens in life, but this is not the end of the world. Time will pass and a fairer perception of political process, sense of democracy and rule of law will persist in Georgia to create every possible condition for survival. This statement is for anybody to hear who cares about Georgia, especially for Georgia’s foreign friends and fans who want and are ready to invest in this culture and economy their money, time, talent, energy and qualification.
The skill of balancing politics and economy is still in the making here. This is a clear prerequisite for forging both in our minds and actual life the model of development, long ago tested and inculcated in the friendly West, which has proved to the rest of the world that their way was right. And Georgia’s new female presidency is going to be a sharp weapon that will cut through the lingering local murk in the quest of that twinkling western light.
By Nugzar B. Ruhadze