ABSURDUS apoPLEXUS

Let's take the Ukrainian and Russian democracy paradigms as the opposite sides of the same coin that they are.

 

On the one hand, Ukraine demonstrates the overt and unbridled expressiveness of its democratic process with yet another parliamentary brawl. Granted, the usual suspects were once again involved (communist and right-wing factions) but isn't this spontaneous "voicing" of opinions a prerequisite of any democratic practice? Of course the problem here is that the "voicing" of opinions is not necessarily accompanied with respect for them. This model of vehement and uncompromised behavior, unavoidably promulgated to the public, once emulated en mass can plunge the country in civil mayhem.

 

On the polar opposite, we have the civilized and serene legislative sessions at the Russian State Duma, where parliamentarians are obsequiously courteous and boringly unanimous, swear by the Kremlin's directives and cast the votes they are assigned to with a pleasant and perky demeanor (though this could be attributed to the vodka consumption as well). All lovey-dovey and all, but the thing with this version, apart from the extinction of dissent and the establishement of authoritarianism, is the immersion of the public in an oblivious state of pretended democratic participation. Anarchy and oblivion, the opposite fringes of democracy.

 

Brawl in Ukraine parliament as communist supports pro-Russia protesters