Lots of people we can see on the streets of Turkey asking 'What exactly is being a Turk(ish)?' Another thing that can easily catch our eyes is that there are some people whose beliefs -and views, if there is any- are so close to the Adolf's. To them, we are the greatest 'race' in the world and others are just not as humans as we are. Interestingly, again according to them, you are their siblings if you claim so. This is an overt racism. On the other hand, you can see many others claiming that they are not Turkish and/or muslim. First of all, being muslim has nothing to do with being Turkish. There are more than a million non-muslim people living in Turkey; and they are as Turkish as, at least, as a muslim one. Secondly, the number of races thriving within the borders of Turkey is around 36 - announced by R.T. Erdoğan, Turkish PM - They, surely, have the right to live their culture. There is no other way. Culture cannot be altered. They can speak their own language as well. However, they are the same as others; no race can be greater than another. They have the equal rights. If a race puts forward other one is different and lower, it is a clear racism. Weirdly enough, when it is racism, taking the equation adversely is also true; that is to say, if you say I am different, or we are lower than the other races -esp. if there is no such thing- then it is racism as well. Then, here comes the question; what is the meaning of being Turkish? Put it simple; if you are an individual living in Turkey with a standard ID Card, you are Turkish. With that ID Card, you can apply for an public or private sectoral job, you have some rights coming along with Turkish Constitution. Being Turkish does bring some responsibilities as well; i.e. carrying out military service, voting on elections, paying taxes. To sum up, we can say that you carry your Turkish Identity on your ID Card; not somewhere on your body -skull, heart, etc.- An average Atatürk adherent can recite this information without second inhale.
One of the good writers of Zaman Daily, Ethem Mahçupyan, most probably an Armenian-Turkish, puts some opinions about the latest quasi-racism of CHP. As an Atatürk adherent, I don't definitely approve any words parallel with racism; not in Turkey, nor in in the world. However, Mr. Mahçupyan targets at Atatürk and he claims that the current racist utterances stem from even before Atatürk. Partially correct. In the time of First World War, there were some reeds, namely Ümmetçilik(religion-based), Türkçülük (race-based) and Milliyetçilik (nation-based). The last one, let's call it nationalism, took its basis from French Revolution, best Turkish follower of which was Atatürk at that time. Nationalist view can be summarized as I have done in the previous paragraph. The skull researches were not carried out just based on the race studies but some others as well. Moreover, there have been many antropological studies all over the world. It would be better somebody could have been able to give some 'real racist' activities; such as, during the Independence War period, on May 29 1919, Atatürk issued to avoid any violent actions to 'our non-muslim' siblings. The terminology 'non-muslim' was used in the meaning of 'minority' at that period. A very big percentage of Turkish Army in Independence and First World Wars is said to have been from different minorities, majorly Kurds and Armenians. Sırrı Sakık, a BDP member of parlaiment, has told Bosnian Turkish are not the real owners of this country. If anything, all the minorities have equal share on this country; we are brothers, sisters; we love each other very much -at least I do-. That is what makes me Turkish.
For Mahçupyan's Piece:
http://zaman.com/etyen-mahcupyan/merak-etmeyin-chpye-bir-sey-olmaz_2050668.html
For Atatürk's Minority View:
http://atam.gov.tr/nutukta-azinliklar-meselesi-ve-ataturkun-azinliklar-hakkindaki-gorusleri/
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder