Within a Russian-Infused Culture, a Complex Reckoning After a War

In the article by Dan Bilefsky and Michael Schwirtz, It discusses different view points from Georgians, native Russians who live in Georgia, and people from other backgrounds/ethnicities who are caught in the middle. The little country of Georgia has been brought into global spotlight lately after Russia's occupation during the Beijing Olympics. Avto Varsimashvili, a Georgian theatre director, is quoted as saying "Georgians have always had a deep affection for Russian people and Russian culture going back centuries....but the difference between Georgians and Russians is that we have never mistaken the Russian people for the Russian government." Despite the Georgians respect for the people of Russia, Georgian popular culture has begun to circulate much more anti-Russian messages, including a rap music video that puts Vladimir Putin's head on a rat's body as it is stomping on a map of Georgia. Georgia's anti-Russian government stance has not stopped Russian music, language, and film from penetrating the culture. Several ethnic Russians, about 70,000 total in Georgia, said the conflict made them feel they had to choose sides between one or the other. Others made them conceal their Russian identity. One Vera Tsereteli, who moved from Moscow to Tbilisi nearly 30 years ago says how she has become wary of using her native tongue because " During Soviet times, it was prestigious to speak Russian and a sign of being educated and refined. Now, Russia is associated with occupation, annexation, and refugees." It disheartens me to hear that even two countries whose people hold each other's culture and people in high regards, their collective governments were able create animosity with each other, alienating the people caught in the middle. I realize that people tend to only think of refugees as people who are in some type of political trouble, and are running from their homeland, but a refugee could be anyone who feels displaced in their current situation. I don't particularly understand Russia's motives behind it's occupation, but I understand the discomfort of the different people caught between Georgia and Russia. My father is from Mexico, has several Hispanic friends with whom he still speaks Spanish, and still enjoys Mexican culture. However, he has learned to enjoy different aspects from American culture. I often think he feels trapped between the two, unable to be one of each fully without turning his back on a part of himself. I can imagine the Russians living in Georgia, and the Georgians in Russia feeling similarly about their current situations. They are caught between their old ways and the ways they learned to love.

The NY times

written by Dan Bilefsky and Michael Schwirtz

Monday September 8, 2008

International A8