Several Turkish newspapers are interesting to read.
Some of them I follow closely, for example TDN.
In today's TDN Elif Safak writes about 'the life of a Turk is so difficult'.
I disagree with her. Turks, knowing the European cultures, the Middle Eastern ones and having knowledge of Central Asia, have a Golden key in their hands, which card they don't show in their negotiations with the EU.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Nationalism, a lost case.
Again, today, Orhan surprised me with his column. So right, so human, so on the target.
No sensational news, only facts.
For sure, a person with a heart on the right place! And we use that expression in the Netherlands, the heart on the right place for people who are opening their mind, without any fear.
Below the first part of the column of this brave person.
Orhan Kemal Cengiz
We have a phrase in Turkish, “felaket tellalı,” which can be translated literally into English as “scaremonger.” For the last three months I have been acting like a “felaket tellalı” about the situation in Turkey. Actually not only I but a lot of other columnists and intellectuals are behaving like this as well. Are we exaggerating situations, are we too negative, or are we suffering from the grip of collective neurosis? There might be many things, but I think we all focus on all these negative things to prevent the worst from happening. The other thing is that when the things happen, which we do not want to mention (for sake of not being stigmatized as paranoid or as conspiracy theorists), most of the time it is too late to react against them. For some, the Santoro, Dink and Malatya murders came as “big surprises,” but actually they were not! Before these incidents happened there had been many reactions towards what these victims represented in the Turkish society, but for most people these signs were invisible! We all have our own “selective perception,” and we tend to ignore the “signs” if they do not indicate an immediate danger for us.
There have been operations against some neo-fascist “civil society” organizations in Turkey for a while. We have known of these organizations and their connections for some time. They take oaths on guns, declare they know all “traitors,” and keep long lists of these people. In terms of their ideology and world view, these organizations are quite similar to the neo-fascist and skinhead movements in Europe. But have you ever heard of any of these neo-fascist organizations in Europe being set up and run by retired high-ranking army officers? This is happening in Turkey now. A retired captain was caught in a home with 27 hand grenades in his possession. And we continue our lives as if these things are not happening in Turkey. We can only see the tip of the iceberg.
Continue reading here.
A beautiful Mind
This is the real John Nash. Saw tonight maybe for the 6th time the movie 'A Beautiful Mind'. One of my favorite movies.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Foreign commentators
While Amnesty was not well known in Turkey several years ago, it's now widely seen as a independent human rights body. Without a political program. It criticize easily left wing, right wing or religious groups when using terror, torture, indoctrination etc. Regarding Turkey: I had lately a discussion with Emre about racism etc., who wrote that Turkey have a clear record. I share his optimism about Turkey but a report of AI about Turkey is still very critical. It is updated May of this year. Read it here.
Turkey is in a tense situation. You should think that foreign news agencies are watching the elections closely. But no real attention as far as read the European or USA press. Yes, IHT comes up with articles but the rest is marginal. Only through Turkish Digest I received the next article. By an organization founded by Trotsky. It's all about the CHP and its 'unarmed forces'.
More about the CHP in Turkish Daily news by the columnists M.A. Birand, Yusuf Kanli and Mustafa Aykol. You can read them here, here and here if you missed the opportunity to read before.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Risky Turkish election predictions
I am not going as a political junkie with my ears to the ground to predict the result of the upcoming election, riding by riding.
More, I will use my own evaluation process which is entirely subjective. I have a very different political background than most of my Turkish friends with whom I agree and disagree on several issues.
Predictions are undoubtedly influenced by specific insights, experiences, or biases about particular contests. However, I strive to come up with predictions that are most sensible as we see them. Let me clarify: I will use general and typical Turkish trends. And I listened to politically minded individuals who pay close attentions to news and issues. I also share polling information and gossips, which may influence my prediction.
Also, I take in consideration 'foreign influences'. Doesn't matter of these are from Islamistic countries, the EU or the Jointed States of America. What most of the people outside Turkey doesn't understand is that there is a 'silent Islamitization on local level' in Turkey going on. At the same time, the closer Turkey comes to adapting the Acquis communautaire, the more their rights are guaranteed.
Anyway, here we go:
I strongly believe that the AK party will gain around 35%-40% of the votes. Mainly from rural areas but also from the new middle class in urban areas. And from people who are saying that they are against the AK party but secretly support them. Also don't underestimate the Turkish people who are living abroad. They often see the big picture, and progress which has been made in Turkey. Next to these factors, people will understand that the first priority of a country in crisis is the macro-economy, the micro-economy will improve as well with more years of AK party in the government. Looking at the high unemployment, especially under young people, they will not vote for an MHP-CHP possible coalition. People want Pavlov: security, freedom, shelter. And it looks like that the AK party did a great job in this, but have still a long way to go. Stability is the magic word of the AK party.
CHP will get 13%-15% of the total of the votes. They have a strong stronghold in several parts of the society, but lacks charisma for new young voters. Their posters and campaign messages are of the last century. Turks are much smarter than what they are promising now for 80 years. I don't think they get a big share of the new young voters. Baykal is simple not the man who attracts new voters.
The GP, the Young Party is the underdog. And Turkish people (like the Dutch) love the underdog...I predict that they will get 11%-14% of the votes, maybe even more. Why? A lot of people will do a protest vote. And since the CHP, DP, and MHP didn't evolve with the time mind, and people don't want to vote for the traditional parties, I think Cem Uzan - with his charm - will do a good job. Especially under new young voters and people who don't know for which party must vote. And charisma can cover a lot. And since he is young and can act as a leader (which Turkish people like) the outcome of this election can be a surprise for the GP...and Turkey.
DP will not pass the threshold. As presented earlier as an good alternative for the current AK party and CHP, lost its attraction when both the DYP and ANAP failed to compromise on their candidate list. I think that for most people its not clear where they stand for and more important, what are they going to do after the elections. I will give them 5%-8% of the votes.
MHP will always appeal to certain people as the savior of Turkey with their warrior mentality. But more on sentiments than logical statements. A 5% hardcore of ultra-nationalist will always support them. But throwing a rope in the public, which the leader of the MHP did, to hang the imprisoned PKK gang leader, is damaging MHP its image. I don't think that the Turkish people like this a-social behaviour anymore. Also, the party leader, Devlet BAHÇELİ, is too old to lead the Turkish nation in a new area. I expect not more than 6%-8% of the Turkish population to vote for them.
Then there are still circa 15% of the voters left. Regarding the Kurdish-Turkish candidates, who will run as independent but in fact for the DTP, I expect that they will take 10% of the seats. And then we have i.g. Baskin Oran, one of the many independent candidates. I expect that they also will gain votes and seats.
In the end, an AK party with the Young Party coalition will be an interesting option.
More, I will use my own evaluation process which is entirely subjective. I have a very different political background than most of my Turkish friends with whom I agree and disagree on several issues.
Predictions are undoubtedly influenced by specific insights, experiences, or biases about particular contests. However, I strive to come up with predictions that are most sensible as we see them. Let me clarify: I will use general and typical Turkish trends. And I listened to politically minded individuals who pay close attentions to news and issues. I also share polling information and gossips, which may influence my prediction.
Also, I take in consideration 'foreign influences'. Doesn't matter of these are from Islamistic countries, the EU or the Jointed States of America. What most of the people outside Turkey doesn't understand is that there is a 'silent Islamitization on local level' in Turkey going on. At the same time, the closer Turkey comes to adapting the Acquis communautaire, the more their rights are guaranteed.
Anyway, here we go:
I strongly believe that the AK party will gain around 35%-40% of the votes. Mainly from rural areas but also from the new middle class in urban areas. And from people who are saying that they are against the AK party but secretly support them. Also don't underestimate the Turkish people who are living abroad. They often see the big picture, and progress which has been made in Turkey. Next to these factors, people will understand that the first priority of a country in crisis is the macro-economy, the micro-economy will improve as well with more years of AK party in the government. Looking at the high unemployment, especially under young people, they will not vote for an MHP-CHP possible coalition. People want Pavlov: security, freedom, shelter. And it looks like that the AK party did a great job in this, but have still a long way to go. Stability is the magic word of the AK party.
CHP will get 13%-15% of the total of the votes. They have a strong stronghold in several parts of the society, but lacks charisma for new young voters. Their posters and campaign messages are of the last century. Turks are much smarter than what they are promising now for 80 years. I don't think they get a big share of the new young voters. Baykal is simple not the man who attracts new voters.
The GP, the Young Party is the underdog. And Turkish people (like the Dutch) love the underdog...I predict that they will get 11%-14% of the votes, maybe even more. Why? A lot of people will do a protest vote. And since the CHP, DP, and MHP didn't evolve with the time mind, and people don't want to vote for the traditional parties, I think Cem Uzan - with his charm - will do a good job. Especially under new young voters and people who don't know for which party must vote. And charisma can cover a lot. And since he is young and can act as a leader (which Turkish people like) the outcome of this election can be a surprise for the GP...and Turkey.
DP will not pass the threshold. As presented earlier as an good alternative for the current AK party and CHP, lost its attraction when both the DYP and ANAP failed to compromise on their candidate list. I think that for most people its not clear where they stand for and more important, what are they going to do after the elections. I will give them 5%-8% of the votes.
MHP will always appeal to certain people as the savior of Turkey with their warrior mentality. But more on sentiments than logical statements. A 5% hardcore of ultra-nationalist will always support them. But throwing a rope in the public, which the leader of the MHP did, to hang the imprisoned PKK gang leader, is damaging MHP its image. I don't think that the Turkish people like this a-social behaviour anymore. Also, the party leader, Devlet BAHÇELİ, is too old to lead the Turkish nation in a new area. I expect not more than 6%-8% of the Turkish population to vote for them.
Then there are still circa 15% of the voters left. Regarding the Kurdish-Turkish candidates, who will run as independent but in fact for the DTP, I expect that they will take 10% of the seats. And then we have i.g. Baskin Oran, one of the many independent candidates. I expect that they also will gain votes and seats.
In the end, an AK party with the Young Party coalition will be an interesting option.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Forgiven by God 'himself'
David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican senator is linked to a prostitution ring in Washington DC. Now he claims that he received forgiveness from God himself. Looks like the Republicans have a direct line with God...probably they need that for all the crimes they are responsible for...
Read here the story.
Monday, July 09, 2007
You are in Turkish politics: Smile!
Monday, July 9, 2007 Turkish Daily News
Hans A.H.C. de Wit
Hardly any Turkish politician has the charisma, uses the appropriate language, or simply has the imagination to unite the Turkish nation. From right to left wing, from conservative to socialist, if only one of these present-day politicians had even 10 percent of the magnetism or the vision Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had, Turkey would be treated with more respect than it could ever dream of. And misanthropy would not flourish on Turkish soil. Atatürk started a new era for Turkey decades ago, and past and present politicians should complete in his spirit what he could not finish.
Turkish communication atmosphere
In recent weeks, I have witnessed some interesting developments in Turkey. For me, these have highlighted problems associated with the top-down flow of communication in Turkish politics, which lacks encouragement on meso-level and civil organization to be part of a communication platform. A platform that can have the layout of the physical infrastructure (communication and power distribution systems) especially on that of education, research and technology policy that is oriented toward improving the existing communication environment where the Turkish nation can be competitive, not only in business, but in politics as well.
The principles of the foundations of the republic of Turkey don't have to be violated; only the communication atmosphere will be improved. Whilst there are many issues in Turkish politics today, this article solely addresses those to do with communication.
Continue reading here.
Hans A.H.C. de Wit
Hardly any Turkish politician has the charisma, uses the appropriate language, or simply has the imagination to unite the Turkish nation. From right to left wing, from conservative to socialist, if only one of these present-day politicians had even 10 percent of the magnetism or the vision Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had, Turkey would be treated with more respect than it could ever dream of. And misanthropy would not flourish on Turkish soil. Atatürk started a new era for Turkey decades ago, and past and present politicians should complete in his spirit what he could not finish.
Turkish communication atmosphere
In recent weeks, I have witnessed some interesting developments in Turkey. For me, these have highlighted problems associated with the top-down flow of communication in Turkish politics, which lacks encouragement on meso-level and civil organization to be part of a communication platform. A platform that can have the layout of the physical infrastructure (communication and power distribution systems) especially on that of education, research and technology policy that is oriented toward improving the existing communication environment where the Turkish nation can be competitive, not only in business, but in politics as well.
The principles of the foundations of the republic of Turkey don't have to be violated; only the communication atmosphere will be improved. Whilst there are many issues in Turkish politics today, this article solely addresses those to do with communication.
Continue reading here.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
First impressions of Earth Live
Snoopy Dogg in Germany. He had fun. Obviously.
Linkedin Park, my favorite of the last year. A pity that they performed in Tokyo. Missed the show.
Shakira in Hamburg. Originally planned for Istanbul - which could not make it as host for this worldwide event. She was the opening act in Hamburg.
One of the Seven World wonders?
The Oosterscheldekering in the Netherlands (see picture, a mechanical 8 km dam) is sometimes referred to as the eighth Wonder of the World, and has been declared as one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
It's part of the Delta works, which embraced around 10.000 miles of dams, dikes, storm surge barriers, locks etc.
After the North Sea flood of 1953, a commission was installed which had to come up with a plan to research the causes and seek measures to prevent such disasters in future. They revised some of the old plans and came up with the so called "Deltaplan".
With the Chinese wall, the Delta works are the only two human made constructions in the world which can be seen from the Moon!
Athens in debate, Bodrum in action
While in Athens they are still debating what caused the forest fires around Athens 10 days ago, see the entries of Vassili of the end of June, Bodrum, a well known place to go for Sun, Sea and pleasure in the South West of Turkey is today surrounded by fire. But with the help of the volunteers and the locals, Bodrum is saved from a disaster.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Ultra Nationalism
The elections are coming. Nothing different from other countries, only the fact that Turkish parties are appealing to their ultra nationalist roots, and their background, making this kind of images:
The leader of the MHP, an ultra nationalist movement in Turkey, throwing a rope in the public 'who will hang ...no. 1 state enemy of Turkey?'
The question remains: is Islam in Turkey compatible with Democracy Western style and is Turkish style Democracy in style with Europe's demands? Or has it to face a modern Middle East country kind of Democracy in the near future, with ultra nationalist Islam as leaders?
The people of Turkey must decide, not foreigners.
The leader of the MHP, an ultra nationalist movement in Turkey, throwing a rope in the public 'who will hang ...no. 1 state enemy of Turkey?'
The question remains: is Islam in Turkey compatible with Democracy Western style and is Turkish style Democracy in style with Europe's demands? Or has it to face a modern Middle East country kind of Democracy in the near future, with ultra nationalist Islam as leaders?
The people of Turkey must decide, not foreigners.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Changes
Too many changes this week. Which caused too much stress.
And the weather is also not helpful: a nice breeze would be welcome.
No real plans for the summer yet, due to all the misery. But we will see, things can change quick here....
Later!
And the weather is also not helpful: a nice breeze would be welcome.
No real plans for the summer yet, due to all the misery. But we will see, things can change quick here....
Later!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Road trips, 9/11
What I miss about the USA are the road trips: driving in 5 days from downtown Miami to Kansas City for a wedding, and back.
September 2001. Wedding was on Saturday, September the 8th, so we left by car on September the 6th on Thursday, and arrived on the 7th after a 24 hrs. drive on Friday there. Exactly in 24 hrs: 1800 miles.
The weekend there, and some rest. Nice wedding.
On the 10th of September, Monday back. This time we decided to have a break in Atlanta.
We made it, in 12 hrs. Found ourselves a good hotel, and the next day on our way back to the South and the heath. Since Maria worked for CNN for 8 years we planned to visit friends at CNN. But we were late.
We drove our car on the road, turned the radio on, and..that was 9.18 it... 9/11.
The road from Atlanta to Miami was empty, 1.100 miles...we made it for the 8PM news.
I shall never forget that day. What a madness.
And it still lingers on.
September 2001. Wedding was on Saturday, September the 8th, so we left by car on September the 6th on Thursday, and arrived on the 7th after a 24 hrs. drive on Friday there. Exactly in 24 hrs: 1800 miles.
The weekend there, and some rest. Nice wedding.
On the 10th of September, Monday back. This time we decided to have a break in Atlanta.
We made it, in 12 hrs. Found ourselves a good hotel, and the next day on our way back to the South and the heath. Since Maria worked for CNN for 8 years we planned to visit friends at CNN. But we were late.
We drove our car on the road, turned the radio on, and..that was 9.18 it... 9/11.
The road from Atlanta to Miami was empty, 1.100 miles...we made it for the 8PM news.
I shall never forget that day. What a madness.
And it still lingers on.
Turkish and Turkishness 2
All of you:
Asked, especially the Turkish readers what now Turkishness means.
No, not one of you you came with an answer.
Tomorrow another person, Professor Aytal will be put on trial for 'insulting Ataturk'.
A good writer and friend of mine wrote a column about it. Read it here.
And out of the blue, a friendly person specialised in linguistics replied to my post of the 8th of June.
Here her responds to my questions.
Asked, especially the Turkish readers what now Turkishness means.
No, not one of you you came with an answer.
Tomorrow another person, Professor Aytal will be put on trial for 'insulting Ataturk'.
A good writer and friend of mine wrote a column about it. Read it here.
And out of the blue, a friendly person specialised in linguistics replied to my post of the 8th of June.
Here her responds to my questions.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Toyota is doing it again..
Toyota, a car for the proletarians in West Europe, is doing it again: disturbing wild life!
Ad populum argument, Ataturk and Aristoteles
I am not sure, but I guess that many of you never heard about the Ad Populum argument.
An argument often used in countries practising culture relativism (we did it like this for hundreds of years, so why change it?) or by indoctrination of the masses: everybody thinks like this, so, if you think different, you are wrong.
This argument pops up all the time in the Turkish polemics. Everybody knows exactly what Ataturk have said and would have implemented. They all use the Ad Populum argument, which simply makes any debate impossible. You face a militaristic attack of the Left or Right wing minded people while criticizing a simple thought or thing.
Maybe I must shut up, and stuck to Aristotle: after him 'nothing new' has ever been revealed, said or written...but he is a Greek...ha
An argument often used in countries practising culture relativism (we did it like this for hundreds of years, so why change it?) or by indoctrination of the masses: everybody thinks like this, so, if you think different, you are wrong.
This argument pops up all the time in the Turkish polemics. Everybody knows exactly what Ataturk have said and would have implemented. They all use the Ad Populum argument, which simply makes any debate impossible. You face a militaristic attack of the Left or Right wing minded people while criticizing a simple thought or thing.
Maybe I must shut up, and stuck to Aristotle: after him 'nothing new' has ever been revealed, said or written...but he is a Greek...ha
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