Politurca

Denying visa-free travel to the citizens of an already-in-the-talks country while rushing to “reward” the citizens of countries which have just started EU-entry talks is true travesty and blatant (anti-Turkish) discrimination. (Read more).

If Turkey can further the economic prosperity that it has achieved under the AKP rule, it will not need Europe. Economic prosperity will surely help resolve human-rights issues and advance democracy in the country.

Turkish foreign minister elaborates on the potential of a Turkish boom in regional politics in a Newsweek article. Click HERE to go to the article.

Scott Atran’s memory of the late Levi-Strauss is published on the Huffington Post. For access click HERE.

Picture from http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/lat-me-claude-le_ksk35nc20091103162332,0,7014382.photo

Picture courtesy of http://rlv.zcache.com/peace_in_turkey_tshirt-p235111791998401046adk5e_210.jpg

Turkey is coming out of its cocoon of isolationist politics of the recent past. Ending the World War I-induced paranoia and quiescence, the current Turkish government is assuming an unusual assertiveness in the future of the Middle East and the Caucuses that is bound to pay important dividends for all with a stake in these conflict-infested regions.

Recently, the government of Turkey and its counterparts in Syria and Iraq have signed into law agreements that will change the facade of the Middle East. The recent protocol signed between Turkey and Syria has capped the continually improving relations between the once-on-the-brink-of-war countries. To the appreciation of many, the protocol abolishes visa requirements.

Ertugrul Osman, heir to the defunct Ottoman throne, has died in Istanbul. Thousands were in attendance at his funeral. Read the CNN article by clicking HERE.

As we speak, many Turkish soldiers are fighting a heroic war against terrorists in North Iraq. They are triumphing in the war in the face of cold and knee-high snow. Some are falling, and their falling is breaking our hearts.

As I watch the funerals of the fallen soldiers, I am reminded again that injustice is very deeply ingrained in this society. As the clips keep playing, we see and hear more than the mourning of the families and children; we see poverty and neglect in these people who are proud to have raised and sent to the front a son to keep this country safe. We see people who are the backbone of this country; who have always been there to protect this country. We see the real face of this country. We see women in headscarves, we see barefoot Gunes’s (pictured below in her uncle’s arms at her father’s funeral). We see people who have nothing else but their lives to give for this country.

We never see in these clips wealthy people crying over the fallen body of their sons shipped from the front. You never see in these shots a parliamenter crying over the body of his/her son slain by cowards. You never see a celeb (no matter how spoiled) crying over the body of a son s/he raised with doting care.

We don’t want to see anyone crying over the body of their sons or daughters. We don’t want any mothers to go through that pain. But we want justice in this country, not the mere talk of it. We want equality, democracy, and hope which will come only and only if we all share the burden together.

*Pictured to the left is the turban (hijab) worn mostly by religious Turkish women.

Think of a country which boasts of democracy and claims to equal rights to all of its citizens. Then think of a number of young women who have fulfilled all requirements to attend higher education programs for which they highly qualify but are not allowed to attend because they cover their heads for their religious beliefs.

Think a little more about these young women: Who are they? Where are they from? A little background check gives you all the answers and more. They are the backbone of this country; they are the children of people who work more for this country than those who deny them entry into colleges they deserve to attend; they have brothers and fathers who have served in the army and even been killed in battles against the PKK terrorist group; they grew up in poverty in the far reaches of rural of Anatolia deprived of the resources; their families toil in the heat of the summer and cold of winter to pay their taxes.

The secular elite that is guarding the gates to schools are doing what they believe will save their future.

Although just a little outdated, the link below will take you to the talks of Richard Rothstein, an authority on matters of education that are persistent topics of our everyday conversations on equality in education for all demographic groups and the accountability requirements of the NCLB.

Click here to read about and watch the videos of these talks.

Recently I have started following the Turkish media by watching news videos and reading reports online.

On many occasions, I was disgusted to see some celebrities sprinkle English words into their speech. These pathetic people (undeserving of their priviledged position in society) must be oblivious to the fact that the majority in Turkey does not speak English and would not have a clue of what they are talking about. The last straw came with Bulent Ersoy, who used the word “excuse” instead of its Turkish equivalent “af” while describing the whole mess about her husband’s betrayal–like anyone cares about her marriage and her husband’s affair…

Although already known to all that she speaks with no right mind, she does not realize that she is doing this at the expense of alienating the very people who have made her famous. More troubling is the public’s acquiescence to her and others who have made it a habit to denigrate the Turkish language by speaking foreign words to unsuspecting viewers.

Watch a nice spoof.

These are not Young Turks; they are Young Civilians : like-minded people for the neglected majority.