Saba Skhvitaridze: We can do nothing more foolish than criticize each other while we are facing an enemy; we cannot build the future by looking backward; no one is interested only in the past - today we need the present and the future
“It is time to leave ‘Georgian Dream’ alone with the language of hatred. We, on the other hand, need more diplomacy, and sometimes simply restraint from expressing ideas that feed propaganda and ultimately harm us,” wrote Saba Skhvitaridze, a member of the “Coalition for Change,” in a letter released from prison and shared on his social media.
According to him, hate speech neutralizes protest and damages the common cause.
In his view, pointless and unproductive disputes are costing Georgia its future, and this applies both to politicians and to society.
“Hate speech is what pulls us backward and neutralizes protest. There is no issue that has not divided society in two - even shared music no longer unites us. This is what propaganda feeds on. Instead of speaking with one voice about protest messages, we have shifted to arguing with and insulting each other. This only harms us and the common cause. Most importantly, Georgia’s future is being sacrificed to these meaningless and unproductive disputes. This applies to both politicians and society.
More diplomacy is needed - both toward each other and even toward ‘Georgian Dream.’ We also need to speak the language of diplomacy. Don’t you understand that hate speech itself was introduced by ‘Georgian Dream’? They want us to speak this language. Using hate speech against each other is completely unjustified. Yesterday, we were all being beaten together, risking ourselves to save one another - and today we insult each other?!
We cannot do anything more foolish than criticize one another while standing in front of an enemy. It brings nothing to argue about who said what in the last elections, what happened 14 years ago, or who did what 20 years ago. We cannot build the future by looking backward. No one cares only about the past - today we need the present and the future.
Instead of turning the opposition-minded public into active messengers who spread common messages, we are wasting time on pointless confrontations. And we have very little time. Opposition leaders traveling from village to village alone will not reach every household - each of us must become a messenger and spread protest messages within our own circles. Imagine - if even up to a million voters, by ‘Georgian Dream’s’ own count, were to campaign within their own environment, how far our message would reach.
Instead, we are publicly attacking each other, and then we wonder why society falls into nihilism. Until we understand this, years will pass in internal disputes. It is time to leave ‘Georgian Dream’ alone with hate speech. We need more diplomacy and, at times, restraint from expressing views that fuel propaganda and ultimately harm us.
‘Sometimes it is better not to speak than to speak; sometimes even speaking can cause harm.’ If not me, then at least believe Rustaveli,” Skhvitaridze wrote on Facebook.
