The U.S. Capitol Offensive As Seen From Afar
As an American Expat living in a former Soviet Republic, I think I now have a different perception of the the current events in America than from when I used to live there. The recent news of President Trump trying to overturn the election results and the storming of the Capitol Building while the U.S. Congress was in session while in the process of ratifying the vote to transfer power to president elect, Joseph Biden, shocked America. Of course, I too, was shocked. However, this is something that I had already recently seen here in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The elections here are often contested and there are often protests in the streets over local political events. The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi regularly sends me advisories of known rallies, with date, time, and place, warning me to stay clear. A couple of years ago, angry protesters tried to storm the Parliament building downtown and were pushed back by police with force, resulting in some injuries and perhaps fatalities.
Of today’s population, middle aged and older citizens who lived in Georgia prior to 1990, were living under Soviet rule. They also lived through some very hard years after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, Georgia was not easily released from their grip. Chaos, danger, and blood shed was the norm for a few years in the early 1990’s.
We still have a live threat from our neighbors to the north. Russia occupies about 20 percent of Georgian territory. It’s what keeps us as undesirable members of NATO, as all member states must unanimously vote in a new member state. I would say that most Eastern European members don’t want trouble on their doorstep when Russia pushes back against a new NATO member state sharing their current border. If NATO were to vote on bring in The Republic of Georgia, that would be an election Russia would be sure to attempt to overturn or worse. I have a bad joke about the weather forecast in Georgia; “Today will be partly cloudy with a 20% chance of invasion.” Unfortunately, I feel that there is too much truth it that joke. Back in 2008, there was a shooting war here and Russia still holds that territory they call South Ossetia. There is barbed wire that cuts across farm fields and has left some Georgian with there properties on the wrong side of the wire. Occasionally, Russian forces move the wire a little further into Georgia and there is nothing anyone can here can do about it, despite United Nations observers and nations condemning the actions. Last summer I was offered to partner with a farmer growing crops literally across the highway from this territory. Frankly, I am too concerned to be so close to the wire to invest my money there. My joke is not really a joke me.
As an American Expat living aboard, I feel compelled to keep abreast of world events, especially were I have interests. Home becomes an ambitious word when you are a permanent foreigner where you spend most of your time. I live in Georgia as a legal permanent resident while maintaining U.S. citizenship. Regardless of passports, and voter registration status, this will always be my situation for now on.
I believe that there is a unique perspective gained by an Expat when immersed in one culture for a long time and transplanted into another for a long time. It feels different living on foreign soil than on native soil. As shocking as violence is when it appears in unexpected places, it not a novel event when viewed through the lens of history, across time, and across oceans and borders. Georgia has a much older history than America and has endured numerous invasions and insurrections over time. In fact, some recent, leaving a feeling of incomplete safety and security in it’s ugly shadow. There is a saying, “You can’t step in the same river twice.” For better or worse, America no longer appears to be the same one that I grew up in. Maybe no more stable than where I live now. I pray that the flowing waters of change will bring unity and peace to wherever we choose to call home.
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