What is “uroda” or who is “uroda”
Emzar Jgerenaia
Why the Russians and the Europeans understand one and the same word in absolutely different ways, or why it means “fine” in Polish and “freak” in Russian
On a golden October day in Warsaw, in the yard of the Institute of Europe, I and my friend professor were walking in the shade of a centenary oak. Being recognized in Poland, this politilogist was talking to me about the relations of Georgia with its neighbor, Europe’s attitude and the Polish experience of its struggle with the “bear”. Suddenly enraptured, he exclaimed:
What an “uroda” weather! My country is very “uroda” in this time of year. I was stunned and did not know what to say. Probably I was so shocked that it could be seen by my expression, and my interlocutor burst out laughing. I know why you are embarrassed – we and the Russians often understand one and the same phenomenon in an absolutely different way. For example, for Russia the conquest of Chechnya, Ingushetia, Ossetia or Dagestan and drowning of the craving for freedom in blood is establishment of peace, for us – this phenomenon is the evil of the Russian empire and a crime against humanity. For us, the threat to Georgia’s territorial integrity on the part of the separatist marionettes and Russian security services’ agents is a murderous attack against Georgia’s independence and freedom, but for Russia – protection of small nations allegedly fighting for freedom with the purpose of establishment of peace. For us, and probably for the whole democratic world, Georgia’s integration into the European structures and NATO is the task related to stability, for Russia – encroachment upon its interests and stability. November 11 is Poland’s Liberation Day, the onset of its economic prosperity and political power, but for Russia – the day of the empire’s diminution and weakening of its economic interests.
The same is here – in Polish “uroda” means “fine”, while in Russian – “freak”. That is why the Poles and the Russian has never understood each other.
It is startling! It is not only we whom they understand the wrong way! It turns out that we and the Russians cannot reach mutual understanding because they understand everything in a different way, or want to understand it so. For example, when they ask: “What does Georgia want?” – we reply: “The freedom wished for centuries, protection of identity and economic prosperity.” They do not understand it! But they will understand it well if we say: “We want slavery, regeneration and distress.” It is natural that we do not understand each other, we understand one and the same word, phenomenon, fact and act in a different way. It is easy to come to an agreement with Russia, but you have to speak conversely. It is natural. Even now the country lives according to the principle – “right is the one who has more rights” and they use one and the same word in absolutely different meanings. It is so not because they fall short of words, but because the slow-witted have always been unidentified “urodas”.
Not long ago economist and the Nobel Prize laureate Smith visited Tbilisi and delivered a lecture on the benefits of open economy and free trade to all countries and nations, why one should not steal, take away, oppress, how harmful it is for the one who steals and oppresses. However, the Russians do not want to understand Mr. Smith either. They have their own business interests in Georgia – in electric power distribution, nitrogen, banks and gold mining. Hundreds of thousands of Georgians are working now for the development of the Russian economy and culture. But they still do not understand, since what is fine for Europe is ugly for Russia.
No, they really have “uroda” politicians and “uroda” politics. In what language do I use the word “uroda”? Find it out yourselves.