Let Your Child Know and Love the Land Addiction to the artificial world has even degenerated the meaning of vacation. Now vacation is only perceived as a change of location. You go to a seaside and sit there doing nothing. You also prevent the kids from going about their business. What do you think about this understanding which repeats that same lifestyle in winter and how it influences our children?

Nora Nomi talking about the vacation she had with her son in his column, said the following: “What is the condition of the children? They are scared of flies, fish, seaweeds and cats… They faint when they have a scratch on the knee as if it is broken. They love Actionman’s and Bionicle’s VCDs very much, yet they are afraid to watch these alone, and due to fear, they never leave you alone in the hottest days of summer! When this is the case, I also feel sick. It is not only Sinan, there are other boys facing the same fears. As far as I know, the girls are not that different either. I even hear that there are girls who cannot step on grass. “To be honest, their fears disturb me very much. As a typical example, for Sinan to put his feet in the sea took us one week. I do not think we will make any further progress from now on, because he told us that he will learn how to swim at a pool.” (*) The children I watch are those who prefer the swimming pool to the sea, those always eating chips and drinking cola and do not know how to walk. “I hate all trees and flowers,” an 11-year-old boy was screaming because he was scared of a butterfly. He really did not like the countryside and loathed being in the street. He said he only liked his computer and computer games. Parents do not allow their children, who take the school bus, to go anywhere else without a car. This generation that is not used to walking and hates walking, is fat and cowardly; it is alienated from nature. I see an anger crisis and terror in the children who have become slaves to the artificial world. Parents who immediately give in to this terror only wish to put off their children. Of course, the formula of putting off kids by doing whatever they demand, instead of doing the right thing, does not work. If generations become alienated from nature, they are alienated from their cultures as well. We have to understand this. I see that those little faces glued to computer screens or joystick do not care about anything other than winning or losing. When I was a child, we used to have picnics on Sundays, go to the summerhouse during school breaks. We all examined the sea, insects, vineyards and tobacco fields. I had bought a small microscope and examined all kinds of insects I found under my microscope. I used to watch how flowers blossomed during the mornings and evenings. I used to embrace trees and run after animals. My parents even bought a rabbit, a squirrel, a bird, a cat, chicks and finally a lamb to make us love them. I did the same thing for my daughter. We had a turtle, rooster and chickens laying eggs for her. We lived in a house with a garden with her for four years. When we were a planting tree in the garden, we also called her to watch. Introduce Mother Earth to your children. Teach them to cherish Her and how to plant a young tree. Children should learn how to protect and love Mother Earth. Summer camps may be organized for them; I sent my daughter to these camps. She lived with nature. She got acquainted with lizards and worms and learned that she shared the same world with them. I surprisingly noticed in one of my seminars held for adults that they are the ones alienated from nature the most. The greatest fear in the world is not to be loved; however, our people are afraid of all kinds of animals. This is also a problem for adults. Apartments do not only epitomize crooked and ugly constructions, they also alienate people from nature. They alienate people from people and people from nature. Probably, the West encountered this because of industrialization, but why should we? We should teach children how to pump water from a well, carry water [in a bucket], walk and climb by taking them to mountain pastures. Those children who grow up in automobiles without growing any muscles will be “cowards” as Nomi says, and alienated from themselves. Think about your children while having a vacation this year. Consider their world and their future. A vacation might be a tool for them to learn social and cultural values. Exactly the opposite to this, it is not a period of time that we take a “break” from everything. We should think very much about this generation that is not nourished naturally, does not recognize the natural world, is afraid of the roughness of the land, does not like the taste of water and does not want the sea. Hug a tree and put your ears on it. Let your child put his/her ear on the tree to make him/her hear what you heard. He/she will hear the voice of tree. He/she will embrace love while hugging the tree. Rage will give way to compassion. (*) Hurriyet Saturday Supplement July 16, 2005

Water Merges When Pots Break Roger Bacon, hero in the ”Esteemed Story of Priest Bacon and Priest Bungay,” who is as famous as the British philosopher Francis Bacon lived in the 13th century, is accused of being a sorcerer and having made a talking head made of brass and was imprisoned.

As for Thomas Bungay, he was a theologian said to be a magician. In this humorous play, the events of real life are satirized. For example, Bacon makes a magical head with the help of Bungay. If Bacon does not hear the words spoken by the brass head within a month, then the head will remain quiet forever. Bacon waits for three weeks, day and night for the first words spoken by the head, but he can no longer tolerate his sleeplessness and hands over the watch to his valet, Miles. The head then speaks and says, ”Time is”. Miles thinks that it will be nonsense to wake his master up just for these two words. Later, the head says, ”time was” and last of all says ”time is past,” falls and breaks into pieces. In reaction to this, the magician invokes a curse on his valet. Large states have waited for their turn in order to fight against terrorism. While the extreme confidence in themselves and their technology were feeding their egos, thousands of innocent people were being killed. It was in our country yesterday, today it is in theirs and tomorrow it could be everywhere. The cruel spirit of terrorism is against all humans it is without discrimination. Those who died in the terrible attack in Egypt, for example a recently married Turkish couple, lives that remained incomplete, all of them pierce the heart. Yesterday, in the news, I watched the common peace march of the Italians, British and Egyptians in Sharm al-Sheikh. I observed these ordinary people cursing terrorism by carrying banners in all languages are not late in forming a policy against terrorism. As states are wasting time for the sake of smaller interests, terrorism in the form a brass head says ”time is past” and disappears. Nevertheless, no other criterion, apart being a citizen of the world was required to participate in the march in Sharm al-Sheikh. Being human was reason enough to curse terrorism. Terrorism could in no way be seen as excusable by those people passing through the ruins, through the pits created by kilograms of bombs and shouting their condemnation. The BBC was still debating about whether to call the terrorist Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK) organization a militant or guerilla group as this was nonsense for the Brits there. Those acting unjustly towards Turkey, which suffered from terrorism for years, and supporting the PKK can perceive their fingerprints on the bombs exploded in Sharm al-Sheikh, they can be seen even from here. While the egoist, rich and proud Westerners were saying, ”let’s restrict the EU and surround it with barbed wire; let’s not have Syria, Iraq etc. on our borders” and rejecting Turkey in referenda, bombs exploded in London subway stations. God knows which country they will target tomorrow. Why do we wait for the brass head to tell its last words, ”Time is past”. Members of G-8 must henceforth see that there is no escape from terrorism and that their superiority does not work against terrorism. All countries must determine a common platform of policy and values against terrorism. It is now time to gather around the common values. Double standards and prejudice support terrorism on the contrary. We, the citizens of Turkey, are having our most sacred right of ”living” taken from us bloodthirstily. Those who are content to just watching it, don’t they feel guilty? If we do not exchange our common values for small political tricks, interests and garrulity, then we can change our world. It simultaneously kills innocent people in Iraq, London, and Egypt. War and brutal force is not a solution in fighting against this organized crime network. A more fundamental bunch of solutions is needed for this. Gathering a platform of humane, social, economic and philosophical values can be a solution. ”There are various languages, various dictionaries in the world. But they all mean the same thing. Water put in various pots merge when the pots break and flow in the form of a single stream.”* This war is called terrorism, is it possible to fight without seeing whom you are fighting? Terrorism must be defined. The fact that prejudice and fanaticism are the main source of terrorism should not be forgotten. Why was a young Brazilian killed in London? Would he have died if there were no police looking for a black terrorist? *Rumi and Plato, Sefik Can July 26, 2005

Istanbul Culture The prominent US tourism magazine, “Travel&Leisure,” has announced its 2005 success list. Two hotels in Istanbul — the Four Seasons Hotel and the Ciragan Kempinski — ranked among the top places on the magazine’s list of best hotels. Moreover, Istanbul is ranked seventh best city in the world on the 2005 list. Sydney is first, Rome third, Florence fourth and New York sixth. Istanbul is ranked third best city in Europe after Rome and Florence. Experts agree this is a great success.

As someone who has seen all these cities, I can say that Istanbul has a richer cultural variety in addition to its natural environment, geographical position and historical heritage. Sydney is a city with a modern urban design, utilizing the attractiveness of the sea but not history. If you say New York, its attractiveness stems only from its architectural structure suppressing all human sizes, representing the 20th century and supported by a synergy of different cultures. Although Chinese, African Americans or Hispanics live in separate neighborhoods, life still goes on in common spheres. The Roman history does not include different races but Rome’s urban architecture and entertainment ethos are still rich. Florence is an urban atmosphere you breathe both a certain historical period and dance with the Renaissance. As for Istanbul, it has been existing since the Neolithic Age. It has a city soul from time immemorial. Thousands of peoples, cultures and histories, including Genoese, Eastern Rome, Turks and Russians have lived here and left have traces on this splendid palace called Istanbul. Although these peoples lived in different neighborhoods, they had formed a common Istanbul culture and soul since the Ottoman times. Clothes in different colors resembling different origins of people did not prevent friendships. Istanbul lying on the Bosphorus, the longest water line, could survive until the 1990s without damaging its natural fabric. Istanbul faced oblivion because of politicians who did not/could not handle the waves of mass immigration which started in the 1980s. Those who didn’t love and understand it treated the city roughly. Who are those people? They are masses alien to the city culture and fail to internalize it. Those “provincials” that Istanbulites complain about and identify with different concepts begot rednecks (in Turkish slang they are called magandas) who damaged the urban culture. They plundered, polluted and spoiled this city they didn’t feel like they belonged to it. And finally, they became mafias. Nevertheless, Istanbul still has an untouched structure. There is a culture that it has molded for millennia. One can easily be fascinated by surprising cultures, peoples and architecture seen in every neighborhood and every corner of the city. This feeling of being surprised that fascinates you is accompanied by a feeling of excitement as well. I was excited when I heard that Prof. Ilber Ortayli would teach courses on “Istanbul.” It is very nice that what I have been recommending for 17 years would come true. I want Istanbul to be the subject of a unique course in the national curricula, beginning from primary school. Adoption of an urban culture starts at age six or seven. Plus, there mustn’t be illiteracy and forgery. A friend of mine, who is an author, complains about those who look like descent people in publishing world: “Unfortunately, I annulled my agreement with a publishing company and collected my book I could finish at the end of a three-year study. I am 51 years old but perhaps I still could not understand people’s deification of monetary ambitions. Ms. Sevindi, I feel like a mother who has lost her newborn baby. I was shocked when I saw the first edition. Except the first 25 pages and the last 15 pages of the book, all other pages do not belong to me. I learned that the official application for the International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) had not been made by July 11. They directed me to the banderole system. I went to the City Culture Directorate and realized that no banderoles had been obtained for my book. Banderoles on my book belonged to three different authors. I applied to the notary public and reported to the publishing company that I have officially repealed my agreement. I asked compensation as well,” my friend says. Isn’t this the behavior of a redneck? Don’t we ignore many issues like this? Don’t we avoid writing about the realities? Aren’t the ones who always seek interests the rednecks? Isn’t this feeling of indifference spoiling our cities? Increasing the city culture and making Istanbul a lovable city not only for tourists but also for all those living in Istanbul can only be achieved through a mentality transformation. August 2, 2005 Dear Nevval Hanim: I enjoyed your article “Istanbul Culture” in Zaman. I also e-mailed a copy of it to one Istanbullu. I wish, you could mention what Napoleon Bonaparte said about Istanbul. He said, “If World were a single state its capital would be Istanbul.” Many thanks for your article. Respectfully, Zouk / USA. Dear Mrs Sevindi, As I am new reader of your most distinguished newspaper and in searching , recently, of its past articles I have come across with your interesting article, of the 8.5.2005, under the title “ Istanbul Culture”. I have carefully read same and I was surprised that although you refer to Istanbul’ s passed and present history and culture you deliberately omit three basic cultures i.e. Greek, Armenian, Jewish that played, and continue playing ,very important role to this unique city’s life. Being an old inhabitant,journalist and guide of Istanbul,which I continue loving with all my existence and heart although I live the last 40years in Greece,allow me to express my bitterness about your omission. Mrs Sevindi , you must well note that Greeks have played a very important role in Istanbul’ s history,but in your country’s history as well,and each stone,toponyme ( name of a region, geographical place of ci- ty/town/village etc),monument or corner has something of the breath or sweat or contribution of them. Please check the names : Istanbul,Izmir,Trabzon.Samsun,Sinop,Tarabya,Samatya,Marmara,Iznik etc. To hide this fact is not good for Turks at all, the moment you knock the door of Europe and you aim to become European by choice and not by force or financial and political interest only. If you have chosen to include Greeks, as your most guides wrongly do, in Eastern Rome’s culture this is wrong again as Greeks pre-existed Rome ( whose culture was based on the Ancient Greek culture ) and continue being existed ever since, although Roman Culture disappeared with Roman Empire. We Rum as Greeks, and not Byzantines or East Roman or I don’t know what ( Ionians,Karians,Kappado- kians,Pontians,Thracians etc ), we continue our civilization which has started in Aegean 7000 BC and has expanded all over the world ( again you can follow the toponyms in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, Europe,North Africa,Middle East,Asia etc ) contributing to world’s history and culture productively. With this opportunity I would like to mention that it is totally unacceptable your guides, guiding thou- sands of tourists ( which visit Turkey to partly see Greek culture and past and big part of which arrive with Greek ships or buses since 60’s and 70’s when tourists were very few in Turkey ) or brochures printed by various sources ( state,prefectures,municipalities etc ) NEVER mention the name Greeks but are “ quite satisfied ” by using names of cultures such as Ionians, Karians, Pisidians, Pontians, Pamphilians, Kappadokians etc. Dont they know that all these cultures belong to one and only cultu- re that has written history with golden letters since Aegean Civilization ( Cycladic Culture ) and Pha- raonic times ( Minoan and Myceanean Cultures ) long before other cultures appear in Anatolia ? It’s time to teach them all in order to make good and correct reference to Greek culture and civilizati- on for better promotion of Turkey in the very competitive international touristic market. I will be very happy to read your opinion on all above and should you need any help in the future,for our culture and contribution,please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely yours / Sevgilerimle ve saygilarimla Vassilis Hatzopoulos