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

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

Iam living with cancer Cancer was a disease known in ancient Egypt and its most popular treatment was to brand the sick part of the body (fortunately it’s no longer used!).

Introduction At her forties, my groandmother, who said “I got old now” never dressed in lively colours, especially in red, the 45 years she lived after then. This comprehension I continued as a third generation which had no interest with the age forties, became a part of the ground with her. Today people are living with the feeling of “immortality”. They all want immortal youth, beauty and perfection. Many people say “It’s normal to have an esthetic operation after forties” in their conversations. Noone wants to get old. At their forties women give births, continue their sexual lives, dress like young girls. Noone’s age and status are related anymore. My grandmother accepted the death as she accepted the old age. A natural and expected death. What destroyed her emotionally was my aunt’s death. She couldn’t bear it. “Allah, give the deaths in order” they say. Today’s technical accidents (traffic, plane, etc..) or suicides didn’t exist in our old culture. Suicide is a sin in our religion: “The life given by Allah, can only be taken by Allah”. Cancer, considered as century’s plague, was believed to be a contegious disease in the beginning of the 19th century. There are articles about this. Deaths whose reasons weren’t know were explained by cancer. Diagnosis is very hard at these days. Death and cancer are used in the same meaning. Today, Turkey has the old culture’s traces. The death refusing and ignoring attitude of the doctors and the patient relatives is the same as the occidental attitude. It has now been changed in America. Everyone bears their individual responsabilities. People are trying to regain their inner worlds they lost with the industrial revolution. We can’t handle anything without our inner worlds and souls. Refusing death is the modern time problem. When death is seen as natural as living, the dramatic, exaggerated and showy whinings will no longer exist. As Halikarnas Balıkçısı Cevat Şakir mentions it very well: “Death fits into life, but life doesn’t fit into death; it overflows.” Death always exists as life’s most natural part. It’s just the relation between we and death who changes. Mevlana: “With every breath the world is renewed. But we see the world so stable that we are not aware of this newness.” says in Mesnevi. Turkey is afraid of this renewing to be in every branches. So it’s getting impossible for the world to cuddle life, who can’t even accept death. Getting renewed means cuddling the world. Our life traject open its wings for the soul journey and it leads us to everywhere. Finally I’d like to add that everything I wrote and recommended is my personal experience. I wish this book in which I present you my own experience, supports your feelings. Nevval Sevindi Etiler/2001 Cancer, An Old Story Cancer was a disease known in ancient Egypt and its most popular treatment was to brand the sick part of the body (fortunately it’s no longer used!). AD 130-200, in ancient Greece, anatomist Caudius Galen made studies on cancer and described the state of being “melancholic” as the most important reason for breast cancer. At these days, diet was applied on cancer treatments. During renaissance, Andreas Vesalius (a Dutch anatomist) as taking the breast with a surgical operation and controling blood loss, lead the way of modern surgical treatments. Branding method was no longer in use. It was Dr. Le Dran who found out that breast cancer was not just partial and could jump to armpits and lymph glands. This was a revolution. It changed the beliefs about breast cancer totally. So the need of a medical treatment following the surgical treatment was found out. But finding these all out doesn’t mean that the primitif and superstitious methods were easily abandoned. People hardly change their curing cultures and beliefs. In 1800’s, after being cancer, the possibility of living ten years onwards was only 12%. In 1930 and 1950’s there had been remarkable changements in therapy. Clinic methods were improved and cancer’s states started being observed. Cancer, who is this century’s most actual and important problem, as well as being physical, is also a psychological and social problem as it remind us of fear, hopelessness, guiltiness, being abandoned and death. Beyond being a serious and chronic disease, cancer contains undefiniteness and reminds of a painful death, guiltiness, being abandoned, chaos and panic. Another disease in this state is; AIDS. Pessimist attitudes as “I’d rather die than catching cancer or AIDS” were seen in researchs made with not only patients but doctors and nurses. The way it’s taken as an emotional destruction, cancer causes a crisis on people’s psychological balance. Crisis is a period starting from healthy life to according the threat of disease and death. It takes time to accept the truth and handle it. I met a woman who was cancer and stayed in a state called “fake death” just because she didn’t want to accept the truth. After being diagnosed as cancer, she slept without eating or drinking for 6 months. In this “fake death” state. After accepting the truth, she started struggling against cancer and turned back to her normal life. In 1950’s, American doctors never told their patients the diagnosis if they were cancer. Cancer was a secret catastrophe at these years. In 1975 with an amazing invention, the mystery of cancer was solved. The researchers of the University of California found out that the normal cells became anormal by some reasons. Until that day it was unknown what caused cancer and how it occured. Genes who made cancer were discovered. It was found out that at least twelve genes could cause such an anormal enlargement. There have been a lot of progresses. Today it’s possible to detect directly the cancered cell and even its treatment but still it is not found how to prevent cancer. That’s why I think it’s important to share my cancer experience. In my opinion cancer is an individual disease. Everone has their own cancer. Because cancer occurs by different reasons and results for every person. Cancer can not be annihilated with a massive treatment method. It is necessary to build a strong relation between your psychology, lifestyle and beliefs. Cancer is not just genetic, just phychologic or physical; maybe it’s the sum of all of them. Genetic tests are made in America. The permission documents of these tests take pages. Your sister’s and mother’s blood samples are examined in this test with yours. But they want you to take some risks on the papers you sign before being tested. If it appears from the genes that you are going to be cancer, they want to ablate your breast. My sister didn’t let it happen as she has every right in this respect! Family story is also an important risk factor on breast cancer development. A gene who is detected at young age and causes tendancy to breast and ovary cancer is (BRCA1) mutation. This gene takes place in chromosome 17q 12-21. Recently by these genetic tests %85 people who tend to be breast cancer during their lives. Environmental factors are important as well. For instance; women in Japan have less tendancy to cancer than the Japan women immigrants in America, who are on the same level with American women in second generation. Eating habbits and environmental conditions are effective factors. Don’t fear the cancer but fear the fear itself! You can get over anything with courage and joy of life. Did you ever feel as if a truck hit you when you were told you were diagnosed with cancer? Or they hided it from you, you learned it by chance; first few minutes life turns upside down. You feel like a laundry in a washing machine. Up and down, continuously. Shock! Fear! Guiltiness! Anger! Dazedness! All these reactions are universal. Every cancer patient’s first attitudes.

The GAP Administration and Women Leaders During last week, I passed by Urfa, Mardin Diyarbakır. I was lecturer in an event where ÇATOM (for whose women I had been working for years) participated. In association with GAP administration, Kent State University and Universities of Ohio and Bahçeşehir, there will be a “woman leader coaching program”.

The aim of the program is to change Turkey’s regional efforts for development into a local level and a democratic and participative way. Also, to educate woman leaders, creating a model in this subject and within time, to become a model to the countries nearby. Firstly comes the women from Iraq, then Afghanistan and the others as it’s said. 6 from Urfa, 6 from Mardin, totally 12 women had been educated in America. I spoke to those who had this education. In fact, I was wondering what they could teach me. I’m coming from the region, I know everything about it. But I learned a lot of things during the education in America. “Living in a different culture, seeing a different country, at least these can be teaching.” said, one of the participants. I can see that everyone is too willing to be chosen to the new group. The women have had an experimental education in the USA; their knowledge about citizenship and management have been improved and they have witnessed the experiences about the woman communication links in the USA, cooperation skills and how to make a changement in the society. The classes I took, were given by the girls who had been educated in America. Şanlıurfa and Mardin ÇATOM finally gave 50, local university and NGO representative, women their certificates. All of them joyfully, were telling what they were going to do. I told them how we sent Adalet to USA many years ago, with Şanlıurfa ÇATOM and the NGO named Anakültür which we had constituted. That was a new thing and Adalet was the first role model. Adalet is still a young girl working for ÇATOM. GAP is the first establishment who mentioned about “woman focused development” and applied it. It helped the woman of the region to impove themselves socially, culturally and economically. It constituted GİDEM for the young and encouraged them for entrepreneurship. It is not logical to open reconstruction agents to destoy the GAP and the savings of the workers who have been working there for 14 years. Because we all know that there is not only an economic but are social and cultural problems in Southeast. We learned it by paying our blood. If we destroy the trust of a hardly gained country and people others will take advantage of the GAP administration. It is the “we cook it, they eat it” story. “Don’t give up the GAP.” I say. This project will be occupied by the women from several cities of GAP region. Chats and discussions with role models for the women leader candidates are being organised. Self-improved Ülker Alhan is supported by Sabahat Koçaklar, the actif and woman –friendly wife of the governor of Mardin. The short story of Mrs Ülker is very interesting. “Picking up flowers and making jam” leads her and the idea Works. She borrows 4 millards 750 millions TL from the Turkey Reconstruction Foundation. A little workshop is now changed into a factory in Mardin free zone. Mrs Ülker who works with the Danish, exports capari and olive jams. I hadn’t seen Mardin for four years so I found it renewed. In Mardin where used to be a single hotel and a restaurant now there are many newly built ones. Erdoba Konağı Hotel has created an amazing Mardin atmosphere. The old world’s taste is gushing out from everywhere. Şehmus Dincel is the architect of this beautiful hotel. He tells how he built this locality by joining the Ensari’s and the Şatana’s houses. Instead of the anfractuous walls and doors of the school, they have wrough iron doors and low ceiling walls which seems chic. It is a good idea to improve the esthetic emotions of the students. What else can we expect from the souls, stuck in concrete yards and walls?…

The French nation, which is one of the founding members and constitutes the backbone of the European Union (EU), has said “no” to the EU. Having been established so far at commissions according to political and intellectual intentions, the EU collapsed as soon as it descended to the people. Is France that made the EU go through a real shock, the black sheep of Europe?

There were many possibilities and intentions, but this event that has left everything behind, has become the truth itself. Now everyone is saying something. Le Parisien with the headline, “The ‘No’ is taking root,’” says, “This is not a ‘no” that emerged out of bad temper, but a “no” that rose out of strong convictions.” Spain’s El Mundo foresees Europe returning to the past. The commentary that appeared in this paper seems to be saying, “all developments indicate we are going back to the era of preserving and defending national interests and selfishness, instead of reconciliation and solidarity.” While defining the joint project at issue, the chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Elmar Brok, mentions Turkey, and by saying that they want Europe to remain European, and proposing the option of privileged partnership to Turkey and other countries which are not European, Brok clearly says that Turkey is trapped between pincers of selfish political interests. French Foreign Minister Michael Barnier claims that “the European Project will be delayed politically without the EU Constitution,” and “France and Europe will become powerless against globalization.” Barnier is right in saying, “The US and China will not wait for us,” the economic center is gradually moving to Asia and this is already a visible target. The leader of Austria’s junior coalition partner and right-wing extremist Freedom Party (FPÖ), Heinz Christian Strache, welcomes the referendum result with “joy.” He shows an example of extreme biasedness by saying, “It is a beautiful day for Europe and its countries.” As it authenticates the cautious approach of his country on European integration, Swiss Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz indicates he is happy with the French “no” to the EU’s first constitution. As if these are not the countries that want to establish the EU! Now, what is this joy all about? Europe has turned into nursing home for the elderly, and its cranky elderly are grumbling. The German butchers who became jobless after the Polish butchers came, and the French workers who lost their jobs with the coming of Polish parquet layers, loathe the cheap Slovaks, Poles and all foreigners. The elderly are not only afraid that their retirement benefits will not to be paid, they are also afraid of foreigners, the darkheads and the bag-snatchers. The old members want to remain isolated in the elderly housing complex. They want to remain in isolation within the EU. The spoiled Greece they admitted has also shown us that there is no such thing as EU values. The female Greek singer and her band, who won the recent Eurovision Song Contest, made rude hand gestures to our singer as rude as Europeans can be! The whole world knows about their opening summer camps for racist organizations from all over the world. European culture is based on selfishness, it is a place where people had slaughtered each other and then turned their racist points of view into a lifestyle. An academic from the Netherlands said, “Anyone who hears the word Turk in Holland or France gets gooseflesh.” What intolerance! The German mentality which has refused to accept Turkish workers as immigrants for 40 years, failed to accept the so-called immigration law in January this year. Hence, what has happened is that there is a rise in racism and racist attitudes. [Angela] Merkel launched a joint signature campaign with Nazi groups and skinheads in order that “Turks should not join the EU.” The political, social and cultural models of European countries are crashing. Nationalism is nurtured and orchestrated, and nations become more and more introverted. The penurious Germans are trying not to give a single penny to anyone. The reaction to the leaders who cannot solve these problems of rising poverty, inequality and unemployment materializes via a “no” to the EU. The old-fashioned bureaucracies and old people in Europe, whose understanding of the state has collapsed, are resisting. May 31, 2005 To the editor: Vasili Soultoukis

Religions and beliefs were side by side. Hundreds of people, Buddhist, Muslim, Orthodox, Syriac; Rabbi, Catholic and Orthodox representatives from 26 countries, donning their splendid ceremonial attires and symbols greeted the people in the hall. Among the impressive dresses, colors and symbols, Mustafa Cagrici looked very alien with his attire, that included a nearly century-old necktie. Unfortunately, Turkey represented a stance of non-identity with this dress, that did not befit hundreds of years of civilization and religious representation. Laws and conditions may have been different yesterday, however, at least donning a traditional dress and symbol for this occasion would have been more meaningful today. In fact, it is impossible for someone who does not know anything about Turkey to understand where this culture and religion belong. Living with the fears of the 19th century, in a world where cultures are being marketed, means we have been left outside. The Armenian church speaking Turkish, Syrian religious leaders and a chief rabbi also represented our cultural heritage. There are many things that could be said about the symposium. But if you ask about the most basic emotion, it was people of all religions and beliefs, and also unbelievers, sitting side by side, and their speaking and eating together. The masses who belong to these religions and beliefs will question their prejudices when they look at this picture. They will say if our leader sat there, I should also reconsider my negative feelings. If you ask whether this will be enough to stop those who complain about fanaticism, but later express the most narrow-minded views in their news reports, I would say, it is better not to expect anything from those who prepare news items without consulting influential scientists, religious leaders and intellectuals. The DA Platform (Dialogue Assistance Platform), which organized the forum, is a success for the independent civil initiative. Working wholeheartedly with a staff made up of only a few people and integrated with the DA Journal, the platform aims to restore respect for differences, because, the loss of differences is a nightmare that leads to violence. We had a chat with a priest, Bup Hyun, who came from Korea and is a member of the Buddhist TaeGo Order. There was a picture of a lovely child priest on his card. I asked him what that meant. He replied: “Buddhism is being considered as something very difficult and confusing. We use the picture of children in order to prove quite the opposite.” He in fact talked about the ability of being able to look at life and the universe like a child, with love and surprise. He went on: “If we liken the world to a garden, it would be boring if there is the same flower all the time or only roses. Various flowers, colors and smells beautify our garden.” Ilber Ortayli’s remarks that “Culture means peace” and Kenan Gursoy’s assessment that “Those who want to exclude religion from history have failed,” were remembered as much as the statement of former Indonesian parliament speaker that “The terrorist is one who thinks of himself as superior to God.” The mufti of Istanbul also underlined a crucial point: “In the past, people thought that an understanding of ethics with no reference to religion would save the world. If we weaken the sacred power, we make it fall into dangerous hands. An idea may easily be attributed to sacredness and this could turn into an ideology if there is no religious belief. All theories on terrorism stem from this, because once the sacredness that belongs to religion is clarified, all ideas are set free. They might change and are debatable. That is to say, tolerance grows and develops. Believers should undertake this duty.” Armenian Church Deputy Patriarch Masalyan told a short story: “A priest gives a stick to a sexton before his sermon. The sexton asks, ‘Should I poke those who sleep with this stick?’ The priest says ‘no’, ‘you should poke me with the stick during the sermon so that I wouldn’t make people sleep.’” Speaking for Italian Muslims, an attendant said: “It is believed that Arabs represent Islam. Islam is universal.” From Moscow, I moved on to Bergama for a conference. I benefited from the tolerance our culture internalized into the 69th Bergama Festival. Five thousand people came for a concert and they sang all the folk-songs that originated among Alevi, Southeastern and Laz people. Bergama Mayor Rasit Urper and his spouse have worked for the development of Bergama, where Yoruk, Pomat, Albanian, Yugoslav and Bulgarian immigrants are living. The village of Daghistan where Daghistani natives came and settled 300 years ago is very modern. People who educate their children, send them abroad due to lack of investment. There is a very beautiful synagogue and the plan of the building is ready as well, but there is no one to restore it. If you visit Bergama one day, you will never forget it. June 14, 2005 06.15.2005

As a result of the recent elections, the Cyprus tale is not a tale anymore, the public decided to write the end of the tale in their own will.

When individual realities become policies, the real will emerges and this showed its first reaction in the December 2003 elections. When I went to Cyprus to take the pulse of the island, [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] TRNC President Rauf Denktas had told me: “If I win the election, I will sit at the table with both the Greek Cypriots and the European Union (EU). I will work for a solution.” However, he did not win and thus launched an anti-solution campaign to punish the public. On the other hand, Peace and Democracy Movement leader Mustafa Akinci had said, “The ones who want to escape from the basic principles of the Annan Plan are the Greek side; however, we are seeing a spoilsport. The hand of the Greek side is strengthening.” Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat by saying, “If Denktas is removed from the equation, the real picture would emerge. How Greeks and Turks examine the issue would be understood by the world. If Denktas is out of the equation, then the Greeks would be seen as those against conciliation,” had predicted the present situation as a politician with vision. My observation is that Talat has closely examined the double-faced Greek policies that have been pursued for more than 30 years. It made it easier to understand that the Greek Cypriots do not have any will for a solution by making it look easier to sit at the [negotiation] table. Even the European Union (EU) lambasted the Greek Cypriots for deceiving them. Those who embraced some prejudices as knowledge, and have not let them go for years, without realizing that they were partial, had to accept being deceived. The ‘no’ vote surpassing 75 percent deciphered the policy of the Greek side. The policy of the [Greek Cypriots] based on Turkish enmity of years became outdated; however, they will become Europeans themselves. What a cold shower for the EU! Our addressee should not be the Greek side anymore. We have to address the EU. It is time to bury the policy of concession and display a non-concession policy. We have to increase anti-Greek Cypriot lobby activities, we have to explain that their actions do not constitute a good political culture on democracy and human rights. The Greek side has left the table and now the Turks are sitting around it. After May 1, whether or not the TRNC joins the EU is no longer an issue of only two communities. There are two options here for Europe: 1) To assume that the TRNC does not exist, 2) or by accepting its existence start a new negotiation and dialogue process. Because the Turks are ‘presumably the non-existing’ side according to the Greek Cypriots, the EU has to solve this dilemma within itself. Is it possible to consider an existence as non-existence? Besides, a second referendum definitely cannot be accepted because the majority of the Greek side voted for rejection. The referendum demand is nonsensical, by trying to leave everything as it was before, without processing new negotiations and strengthening our hand. [Greek Cypriot leader Tassos] Papadopoulos and Denktas have no role within the EU accession process of the TRNC. Neither the village trip of Bulent Ecevit nor the ambition of Denktas was enough to affect the society. These are not the leaders of a transforming society. This is so very obvious. Although the Greek Cypriots, who only produced policies presenting Turkey as an aggressive country to the world, were so pleased with the veto of the Russians who sell rockets to them, Europe and America now question their current views. Turkey has to continue its solution-oriented policies by taking the initiative. Lobby activities should be given paramount importance. ——————————————————————————– Solution Under Current Circumstances As a result of the recent elections, the Cyprus tale is not a tale anymore, the public decided to write the end of the tale in their own will. When individual realities become policies, the real will emerges and this showed its first reaction in the December 2003 elections. When I went to Cyprus to take the pulse of the island, [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] TRNC President Rauf Denktas had told me: “If I win the election, I will sit at the table with both the Greek Cypriots and the European Union (EU). I will work for a solution.” However, he did not win and thus launched an anti-solution campaign to punish the public. On the other hand, Peace and Democracy Movement leader Mustafa Akinci had said, “The ones who want to escape from the basic principles of the Annan Plan are the Greek side; however, we are seeing a spoilsport. The hand of the Greek side is strengthening.” Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat by saying, “If Denktas is removed from the equation, the real picture would emerge. How Greeks and Turks examine the issue would be understood by the world. If Denktas is out of the equation, then the Greeks would be seen as those against conciliation,” had predicted the present situation as a politician with vision. My observation is that Talat has closely examined the double-faced Greek policies that have been pursued for more than 30 years. It made it easier to understand that the Greek Cypriots do not have any will for a solution by making it look easier to sit at the [negotiation] table. Even the European Union (EU) lambasted the Greek Cypriots for deceiving them. Those who embraced some prejudices as knowledge, and have not let them go for years, without realizing that they were partial, had to accept being deceived. The ‘no’ vote surpassing 75 percent deciphered the policy of the Greek side. The policy of the [Greek Cypriots] based on Turkish enmity of years became outdated; however, they will become Europeans themselves. What a cold shower for the EU! Our addressee should not be the Greek side anymore. We have to address the EU. It is time to bury the policy of concession and display a non-concession policy. We have to increase anti-Greek Cypriot lobby activities, we have to explain that their actions do not constitute a good political culture on democracy and human rights. The Greek side has left the table and now the Turks are sitting around it. After May 1, whether or not the TRNC joins the EU is no longer an issue of only two communities. There are two options here for Europe: 1) To assume that the TRNC does not exist, 2) or by accepting its existence start a new negotiation and dialogue process. Because the Turks are ‘presumably the non-existing’ side according to the Greek Cypriots, the EU has to solve this dilemma within itself. Is it possible to consider an existence as non-existence? Besides, a second referendum definitely cannot be accepted because the majority of the Greek side voted for rejection. The referendum demand is nonsensical, by trying to leave everything as it was before, without processing new negotiations and strengthening our hand. [Greek Cypriot leader Tassos] Papadopoulos and Denktas have no role within the EU accession process of the TRNC. Neither the village trip of Bulent Ecevit nor the ambition of Denktas was enough to affect the society. These are not the leaders of a transforming society. This is so very obvious. Although the Greek Cypriots, who only produced policies presenting Turkey as an aggressive country to the world, were so pleased with the veto of the Russians who sell rockets to them, Europe and America now question their current views. Turkey has to continue its solution-oriented policies by taking the initiative. Lobby activities should be given paramount importance. April 27, 2004

We are just about to enter, but Europe is falling apart. It’s a Turkish attitude to put off things for a long time; and by the time we reach peak levels the conditions change. Europe is on the verge of a collapse. Why?

Just at the time we are leaning against the EU door, something we have not been very willing to do in the last 40 years, and whose process we did not speed up, the paints of the door are falling off, so to speak. Europe is on the verge of a collapse. Why? “No” is the most likely outcome of the French referendum on May 29. According to researches, it is about 52 percent. The [Jacques] Chirac administration has created an environment of a confidence vote for itself by overstraining the “yes” votes. This counterinteraction that will produce political instability, is the beginning of objection to the enlargement of Europe. The referendum debate generally has been on Turkey. France does not want to settle within a new conjuncture and does not want new members. By saying “no,” France rejects the essence and institutional structure of Europe, forms the main axis of the EU project along with Germany. The collapse of the French leg will also drag the Netherlands along with it. How will an EU with a broken backbone claim to be a continental power? On one side, [German Chancellor Gerhard] Schroeder, whose party lost an election in North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) after 40 years, is fuming. Germany is heading towards a big chaos and everyone is involved in an election that is expected to be held in fall. Yesterday’s headline in the German newspaper TAZ: “Schroeder wants to be chancellor!” If Schroeder calling an early election in fall does not govern Germany, then who will? If the Germans have a big and strong vision of Europe, this will emerge in this election anyway. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), representing the isolationists and introverts, is after shallow German interests. And it will base its election campaign on “let’s not admit Turkey.” The calculation of those who want the election between September 11 and 18 is to hamper Turkey’s negotiation process. The CDU insisting on “privileged partnership” also threatens Turkish voters with the dual citizenship law. Chaos in the political regimen and institutional disintegration on the Germany-France line seems inevitable. More nationalist views are aspiring to power. Nationalism hits a big blow to the EU dream. The EU dream fades away. Italy on the other side becomes the cover of The Economist magazine as the “Sick Man of Europe.” The Britain of [Prime Minister Tony] Blair, who barely won the election will hold a referendum in 2006. Do you think they will say “yes” to this picture? The problems of economic stagnation and unemployment in Europe are absolutely enormous. The population of these three countries I have mentioned is aging. Today, the number of people who need to be taken care of in Germany is 2 million, and this will be 2.5 million by 2010. The insurance bugdet for the elderly will increase from 1 billion euros to 5.6 billion. [Der] Spiegel made a cover with the headline “What should be done to the grandmothers?” In 2030, those over 50 years will make up 60 percent of total population. Europe looks like an old apartment complex, in which old grumpy people live, with its collapsed infrastructure, social state system, worn out buildings with the paintings falling off. “The euro,” the only profit maker in Europe with low energy to renew itself, seems as if it is going to lose prestige. If “no” emerges from France and the Netherlands, the economy will head for the worse. From hollowization-weary Europe, investments and companies are also escaping to the East. Europe that cannot create a new spirit has also failed to create a leader to undertake the role of a continent state. It was defeated by its own shallow and nationalist viewpoints and surrendered to the nation-state villager mentality. The EU was a continental project. The project to stand up as a single Europe before the world blew up big time. The rage of old Europeans is the desire for isolation from the changing world. All right, what will Turkey do now? It is obvious that the EU dream will suffer a blow in the short run. In a world with changing dynamics, Turkey’s gotta do what it gotta do. With the chance of being a central country in Eurasia, it should learn to stand on its own feet. Political decisions to integrate with society and the ability to implement social dynamics and vision are required. A Turkey closely watching the region it is in, and the world, could succeed better than a Europe insisting on the views of its institutions, the remnants of the 19th century, because its cultural values and youth energy are constructive dynamix. The urgency of thorough reforms is obvious. Europe could not combine its body and mental energy. If Turkey can succeed in using its body, mind and spririt energy like a joint river, there are many things it can offer to the world. That as a matter of fact, is the subject of another article. May 25, 2005 05.26.2005 Europe is Collapsing Dear Nevval, i really loved this one, it relates to my own anger and fear. There is that much stupidity and that much trash of civilizations in Europe. Yes, it seems that, with high probability, we will collapse. However, while you will put a stone on our grave, we will be looking what happened. We are very experienced in collapsing. This case of collapse will be analyzed like all the others before. Then, we may look for Turkey. She’s very loyal and probably will not have changed her geographic position. See you later Hans-Peter Dear Nevval Sevindi: First, I’m happy I found your site. Very good source for news about Turkey. Thanks. Second, I enjoyed your article. And to get right to the point, after giving it lots of thought, you know I really think general opinion has it back to front. As time goes by, Europe will need Turkey more than Turkey needs Europe. (And I think you’re saying that in your article) Some are thinking this is like joining a country club. Many Europeans won’t mind Turkey joining cause they can do some of the gardening and clean the club house. But after a while, the members will be so old and stuck with progress stifling bureaucratic laws and a heavy load of pension and retirement payouts that Turkey will be one of the few countries in the EU capable of doing anything! Dynamic is the word that comes to mind. If Turkey can continue to make its way positively on some huge social and economic issues, they’re on their way to good things, don’t you think? Thank you for taking the time to read this. Regards, Errol Somay Richmond, VA USA Dear Nevval, Thanks for your message. As to the French vote, there may be much to say of course. There will be much rumour. This is necessary to discuss the issue, however, also much nonsense will appear. Analysis may begin with the fact, that we have an economic crisis linked to globalization. This is coincident with an upcoming demographic crisis, and there is some aggregation and mutual reinforcement of these problems. You already mentioned this in your last article. The point here is that societies in France or Germany have still to accept some consequences, in other words, some necessary changes in legislation and social systems – whereas some others like Britain and Sweden have adapted themselves more successfully as yet. In France, more extreme leftists focused on a “fight against globalization”, of which they feel to fight the EU-constitution is a part. In this, they joined the far-rightists, which are against EU and globalization (and Turkeys EU-accession) for the reason of “cultural purity” or national interest (but they are usually very inconcrete regarding what this interest shall be). Such left-right constellations are quite normal, but in times of economic crisis, they may become dangerous. This is because large numbers of common people are in fear of their jobs and income and join a “No”-coalition which they feel is a “No” to the things they fear. We know this phenomenon of the “joining extremes” very well from German history, where it once has destroyed the “Weimar Republic” (1918-1933) and paved the way to the Nazi regime (1933-1945). (Therefore, Ms. Merkel marks the right-wing position regarding Turkey herself, letting no room for an autonomous right-wing movement to use the topic successfully. She will do that as long as public opinion on Turkey has not changed. However, in the end she will, with high probability, not block Turkeys accession. She (or CDU/CSU) may cause some delay, but Turkeys final success will not depend on this, but on her political and economic performance in the process, and perhaps on her success in promoting Turkish culture in the broad sense.) Also in France (and Germany etc.), success mainly depends on socio-economic reforms. As to the EU-institutions, some regulations now implied in the constitution may be applicated by inter-governmental treaties. The functioning of the institutions themselves will perhaps be slightly disturbed, especially if the Dutch also vote No, but they will continue to work. There will be much more discussions. This morning, i read a statement of FM Abdullah Gül, who mentioned this, and added that, as a candidate country, Turkey would participate in these discussions. That, i think, is a very healthy standpoint. Sincerely, Hans-Peter

You get on a horse cart in Canakkale. You ride away from the city and ascend a bit. The strait wind blows. The sea on one side, pine woods and olive groves on the other; bunches of blue, green, yellow poppies filled to the brim. You feel fine. This land speaks about legends.

” As you look into the Canakkale Strait, you understand what a ‘water bridge’ is, connecting one continent to another.’” The city of Troy is an antique city in our country. Those who market it as a cultural treasure are the same ones stealing the city’s archeological findings and exhibiting them. Now Troy and its story are being marketed in a movie. Saying: “The Canakkale War is the last brave legend of the century,.it took place face to face,” the British and Australians are marketing a culture. The British documents say the side that won the war and represented the best values, was Turkey. However, we do not market a culture other than the Canakkale heroism. The grandchildren of the Anzacs come from thousands of kilometers away every year for the souls of their forefathers.’ but nobody walks one meter for our grandfathers. We have not made a touching movie that tells about Canakkale from the inside. We could not. We failed to turn this war into marketing of peace. Istanbul has just celebrated its 551st anniversary. Again, we do not offer a movie to the world that will market Istanbul’s conquest, except lots of heroism and childish animations. Istanbul itself is already a cultural market, with its rich history on every attraction. Mevlana [(Rumi)] is our best selling poet, philosopher and Sufi. He is admired in the West and by the whole world. There is no movie that tells about this master’s life — a person who put our values into order. How much do we know about the details of his life? There is only knowledge picked up here and there, and heroism again. Sheikh Galip is a diamond from our past. He can tell about a period best with his extraordinarily beautiful divan, life and innovative world. Who will make his movie? When will people get rid of their intellectual depression and make movies of our world and its cultural treasures? To make a movie is to set up a world. Perhaps, we do not have a world to set up. When will we begin to think about our Cultural Conquest plan? We have not succeeded in presenting either our recent past, or our common Anatolian heritage, or the present to the cultural market. And there is nothing that belongs to us on the shelves of this market. Shows with folkloric features and commercials are too old-fashioned. Look at the Zeugma mosaics, there has been a big debate not to exhibit them in Istanbul. An association as well as the funds earmarked for the excavation of the entire Zeugma city have now disappeared. [Tourism] Minister Erkan Mumcu closely followed the issue but could not obtain positive results, even though he favored the exhibition. Turkey needs to be in the world’s cultural market. However, there is neither a plan nor a producer for this. Turkey can create its future by marketing its culture like other countries do. France markets both Paris and the French culture. Spain, Great Britain, Italy and Greece also do the same. We should dream of being ourselves, before we dream of joining the European Union (EU), and becoming rich. Only then , in my opinion, can we be able edit our culture, the marketing trends and the synthesis derived. Istanbul should be structured as a museum city and protected that way. A. Hamdi Tanpinar, who said, “There is Istanbul’s share in this city’s manner, from poetry, art and good manners to religion,” is right, isn’t he? How sad it is that we do not find this harmony in our souls. It is time now to discover ourselves , because we have no destiny other than that which we make for ourselves. June 1, 2004 letter:Hi Nevval, Found your “Cultural Marketing” article while looking for a Turkish perspective on the WW1 Canakkale commemoration. You say “…we do not market a culture other than the Canakkale heroism”. Realise I am taking this a little out of context, but Ataturk’s words on the Memorial (“your sons have become our sons…”) are a gift to the world. Perhaps the greatest expression of compassion, humanity, and generosity I’ve seen. I once (a long time ago now) took the ferry from Canakkale, on the way to the Memorial (my Grandfather’s brother was lucky enough to return home from that battle). I reached the site thanks to the kindness of some Gendarma (who flagged down a passing truck and loaded me on board), the truck driver, and a young Turkish couple who picked me up later the same day. The same good spirit was visible everywhere in your country. Regards, Martin R

At this time of the season, purple flowers bloom more fully in all corners of the Bosphorous, and purple clusters, enchanted because spring is coming at full speed, twine around.

Being in Istanbul is a privilege under the shadow of purple clusters. Philosopher, anthropologist and sociologist Edgar Morin, was in Istanbul last weekend. He showed everyone how an intellectual can do brain gymnastics, how he shares wisdom and blooms like the purple flowers in Istanbul. Morin says, “Love is part of a life poem,” and he himself has proven the fact that if one does not know anything about poems, he/she cannot be a scientist. If Turks, who come from a culture whose Sultans even had a “divan,” are outsiders in Europe, then Europe also needs to look at itself in the mirror. Morin argues Turkey should face its history on the Armenian issue. However, he adds that the same should be done by France and the whole of Europe regarding the Jews, and Britain regarding the Irish: “How can one ignore the role of Islamic culture in European civilization? That small minority did want to include an article about Christianity but failed.” Honestly, even if he says so, Pope Benedict XVI did not promise much hope in the first homily he delivered, without mentioning Muslims. Those who identify Europe with Christian culture do not want Turkey. Those afraid of a confrontation the most are against Turks. Have those Westerners, who say Turkey should face its history, faced their own history? Why did European travelers who destroyed many great cultures, languages and beliefs, with the help of their people, want to explore the world? To take all the wealth to their country! Why are Europeans, who imposed Christianity as the one and only religion on societies, so anxious that we face our past? Is it because they failed to face theirs? Despite all efforts by intolerant Europeans, Turks climb a 200-meter hill on the way to Saint George Orthodox Church in Istanbul, together with Christians and Muslims. Countless Muslims, on every April 23, ask the priest to pray for them, hoping for treatment of their ailments and fulfillment of their wishes. This is an amazing sense of empathy. The blind followers, who are against this, have sent the municipal police there. These officials, who are unaware of the soul of this thing, are assigned to cut the ribbons! Within the yells and squeals, the women were saying, “Our wishes will not be accepted because of you.” It is not our duty to judge the people’s beliefs here, but the ability to pray side by side and the fraternity among nations. Europeans are not very familiar with this ability. They have been after sharing since the beginning of the 19th century. They do not see the “people” around but only race, religion and discrimination. Europeans, who are busy setting double standard snares, are now lagging far behind the idea of humanism. “We are undertaking an indefinite adventure and the events that happen every day tell us this is ‘night and fog’ that we are in,’” writes Morin, depicting our time very well. This ambiguity has gotten foggy as a result of the rise in nationalism and racism in Europe. Nationalism waves coming from China and Russia narrate the adventure of a world, which is becoming more localized, as it becomes more globalized. Germans are converting to Islam and establishing umbrella organizations. The German state has decided that Islam would be better explained only by them. It is only the Muslim Germans, who can put a stop to the rise in racism by claiming to be the guardians of Islam. The Germans think the Turks are Muslim bigots, and say, “This is not Islam.” Like the Germans, who ignore humanity’s values, sincerity and human-centered humanistic Islam, that we have been spreading around the world, there are many youths who belittle this Islamic approach and also try to politicize us. These mentalities, which are as far from the idea of Islam as to say, “Do not even smell a flower that can awaken your worldly desires,” have tried to break us away from Islam. However, this soul neither breaks away nor dies. “You cannot change everything you face and you cannot also change anything without facing it.” It is time for us to face old dogmas, old mentality structures. It is more essential for the EU, which cannot expand or perhaps will even receive a blow from the French. Swedish Prime Minister [Goran Persson], on his first ever visit to Turkey, expressed this very well: “It is odd that no Swedish prime minister had ever visited such an important country until today and this is the real question that should be asked.” It is time to say something odd. *James Baldwin April 26, 2005

To become an independent state is no easy task at all. After seceding from Russia, people had high hopes they would become a nation, a state immediately.

They faced the reality after losing their free houses, water and gas supplies. The new system now was being structured around the “individual.” There was nobody out there to protect anyboby. The constitutional and political infrastructure to protect the individual had not been established yet and nothing had been institutionalized. As the leaders were bent on proceeding, without giving up the idea of renovating and restructuring, the gap between the rich and the poor widened. The situation of the poor masses, without any protection, caused despair, anger, and anxiety. Dissatisfied people covered a wide spectrum of society, ranging from those who wanted to take refuge in Russia, to those demanding a return to the communist system. The number of vagabonds, dubbed “karabudun,” in the Dede Korkut Stories, increased. Looter “karabudun” revolted. Turkey that could not generate a clear-cut policy and could not lead the way for governments in the region to follow. While people hoped for a better life, the quality of life was gradually deteriorating. That is, [Askar] Akayev could not ensure the development of the country on the principle of equal distribution. On the contrary, foreign debts even scared creditors after reaching incredible dimensions and resources were limited. We should add here that Russians are fewer in number population-wise. The tendency towards being closed to the outside world increases in countries where only those in power develop. Hence for Akayev, the most moderate person on this issue to be on the government’s side, is no coincidence. Change sneaks out from the spots open to outside world, when you cannot find remedies to poverty and unemployment, in particular… [Kurmanbek] Bakiyev who said, “No one was ready for a revolution,” also confirmed that Kyrgyz people are living on less than one dollar per day. In my opinion, [Rosa] Otunbayeva saying, “first stability, then reform,” will not repeat the mistakes of the past, if she can hold “stability and reform” together. The reason many reforms are not realized, always stems from stability. Then, neither stability nor the government is left. Attacking workers, seizing them by the throat and dragging them down with their neck ties during the looting spree, are more indicative of vandalism. If violence descends onto the streets, it realizes its power and then tries to use it. The Kyrgyz people in Central Asia, which for centuries has been dubbed the “boiling pot of tribes,” have maintained their existence by always migrating from place to place and uniting with other clans in order to fight and protect their interests. Even though Akayev, a ruler who was aware of all these, made alliances with the outside world, he could not form alliances with his own citizens. He dwelled on the Swedish model of democracy that was being implemented in Kyrgyzstan in his speech at the Swedish Institute of Domestic Politics in 2002 and added: “The political path followed by the former Soviet system was an endless path from the very beginning. During this process, we worked hard on which country’s democratic model could be adopted. The idea of the universality of democracy sounds dangerous to me during this change process. For instance, 80 different ethnic groups exist in Kyrgyzstan. We should develop a new democratic model according to the real world in which we live, instead of adopting the models of others.” What is seen, however, is that a model cannot be developed without believing in it and abiding by international criteria. As a British writer said, “Do not ask for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee.” Let’s look at the implementations of the newcomers: “As the former parliamentarians and the current ones, who were elected in fraudulent general elections that were held in February and March wrangled, both sides also accused each other of being illegitimate. One of the opposition leaders Felix Kulov, who was freed from jail during the public uprising, and appointed interior minister, warned his allies, the former deputies, that they had better withdrawn.”* Both the Election Commission and the Supreme Court are on two separate lines. While the Commission supports granting authority to the newly-elected parliament, the Supreme Court claims that authority rests with the former parliament. Following the political developments in the country with anxiety, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), is also against the announcement of presidential elections on June 26, by Bakiyev, who has been named interim president and prime minister. OSCE representative, Markus Mueller, is right when he says: “This date is not realistic. While there are so many unsolved constitutional problems, elections cannot be held within such a short period of time.” Krgyzstan is a new proof of the fact that the whole stratum of society is urgently demanding development, prosperity, good quality of life and democracy. This will harm those who do not use their power for the betterment of their people. One who inhales the winds of independence can no longer hold his/her breath. *Radikal, March 28. March 29, 2005