All in the Eye of the Beholder

OP-ED

If there's one thing I've noticed about liberals, it's that they seem to be all-or-nothing types. The last time I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), I wrote some disparaging remarks about Georgian men within the context of a recent indiscretion of the Georgian police. Some members of the online community appeared to take umbrage with my views of the male population here, asserting that my claims were simply stereotypes or over-generalizations.

Their righteous fury reminded me of recent debates over the effect of Islam in influencing terrorism. Liberals will scream and shout that Islam is not the problem, that not all Muslims are terrorists, and to suggest that the religion has anything to do with the increasing number of attacks is ignorant (despite a demonstrable common element). In the same way, liberal champions (as well as outraged Georgians) online were quick to point out that my perception was all wrong, that I was clearly the “bitter ex-girlfriend” of a Georgian man (not true) who was just being spiteful (again, not true).

Debunking criticism in the most emotive way possible seems to be a liberal trait, and often flies in the face of common sense. To hear the opinions of some commenters, you could be mistaken for thinking that Georgian men are actually all suave James Bond types who'd never think of hitting a woman or spending their day squatting on a roadside with sunflower seeds; but not once in my article did I suggest that there aren't gentlemen here either.

Every country is filled with both the good and the bad, the sophisticated and the crude, the educated and the simple. I also don't understand why people feel the need to try and disprove generalizations that are grounded in fact, nor why they perceive themselves to be the target of criticism. Just the other day I saw a group of the worst kind of English people – loud, aggressive, and impolite – and I shuddered, but should a Georgian have then come up to me and said, “English people are loud, aggressive and impolite,” I'd not have disagreed. After all, I know that I'm not like that, but I am willing to concede that many of my people are. Going back to the matter of terrorism, I was once told by three Iranian acquaintances that they firmly believed that the Koran was capable of inspiring violence. I'd take their opinion more seriously than that of a Western liberal who is more frightened of offending people than confronting ugly truths; after all, they were raised with it.

First impressions, though, are hard to shake, and often reflect more than perhaps people would like to admit. My first impressions of Georgian males were formed years ago, and I can't say that I've seen or heard much to disprove me since (that is not, however, to say that I haven't met many educated Georgians who are far more congenial company than your average Brit).

Impressions can have a lasting impact on perceptions, too, as I believe I've demonstrated, but I think that this is something that even the government needs to consider. Not for nothing has Donald Trump been criticised for his awful baggy suits, or Jeremy Corbyn for his unkept appearance; they simply don't fit with the Western political scene. Now, you might argue that since they've both had significant impacts on politics, what does it matter? Well, Trump's impending impeachment aside, Corbyn isn't as well loved in Britain as social media makes him out to be, but in truth appearances are far less for them than for Georgian politicians, since they were lucky enough to be born in countries already in the West rather than one aspiring towards it.

To many this might sound trivial, but in Western professional, political and diplomatic circles, these things matter. So, when European or American officials meet Irakli Kobakhidze and notice his messy long hair and his lack of a tie, or Kakha Kaladze's vacant expression and slightly open mouth, I wonder if they think what I think; for Georgia's Western aspirations, I sincerely hope not.

Anna Sponder