Georgian Democracy

Georgian Democracy

A recent political rally in Georgia should be considered a sign of the success of democracy in this former soviet satellite.  However, the Western Democracies condemn this rally as a violation of human rights and a signal that the Georgian Republic is not ready for an equal place amongst them.  An article by Misha Dhizindzhi Khashvili explores the controversial nature of the Western response and Georgian sentiment.  On the 17^th of May a gay pride rally was scheduled in Tbilisi however this rally did not take place as despite government guarantees of protection the streets were filled with anti-homosexuality protesters.  Interestingly many of the organizers of the anti-gay protest were Orthodox priests who view homosexuality as a sin against God.  In Georgia, there is no official state religion and yet the power of religion in Georgia is significant.  Remarkable as well was what the crowd chanted.  “Democracy does not equal immorality!”   According to western tradition democracy is morality.  Democracy is reason, and anything “unreasonable” is immoral.  Traditional morality is, by default, irrational as it depends on a belief in God.  Interesting as well is the participation of young adults in a fight that in the west would have been dominated by an older demographic.  One twenty-one year old university student said that if being accepted into Western organizations mean accepting homosexual propaganda then he didn’t think Georgia should join. 

This shows a break with modern democratic thought.  Moral-less modernity does not care about religious sensibilities nor do they draw the metaphorical line in the sand which they shall not cross.  Modern morality is a however, whenever, with whomever affair and if one doesn’t support “basic human rights” then one is a heretic to be burned at the figurative stake of intolerance.  It will be interesting to watch Georgia as it struggles to maintain its moral democracy and instill democratic and western ideals into the culture.