Democratic society in the frames of traditions

is it possible or not – I am often asking to myself.
As it is known across the generations the Caucasian peoples follow the traditions which form our way of thinking, behavior and thus, our life-style. Traditions which are carefully inherited by the old generation to a new one are certain frames within which you should exist otherwise you are at risk to be condemned by the society you live in. Another way the term “Caucasian traditions” can be interpreted is a lot of limitations and taboo in many spheres of our life and the worst thing here is that we are living as we are used to, without asking ourselves whether we are happy with that.

We are told by the older generation that traditions are good and necessary – they help to preserve morality. But what are the consequences of that morality – when a young unmarried girl having delivered a baby leaves him at maternity hospital being afraid to be stained; when a husband leaves her bride having learned that she is not virgin; when a wife endures the roughness of her husband and does not leave him just because she knows that a divorced woman in Caucasus has no right to private life and happiness. And these are our traditions which we keep on following.

Of course, each thing has its advantages and disadvantages and our task here is to decide what overbalances for each of us.

Thus, in the frames of “Caucasian traditions” it is very difficult not to break one of the main principles of democracy – “freedom of choice” since we do not choose we just follow our traditions…

/Gayane Chakaryan