I have spent some four decades in Turkey, as a Turk myself, and the most significant political reality I have seen has been a pretty constant one: Fighting. ..

...But the game does not change, and we Turks keep spending our energy with endless struggles against each other. 

But why? Many Turks would say “foreign powers” pit us against each other. I would say, however, this very common answer is a part of the problem, because it keeps us away from self-examination and self-criticism. 

On the latter aspect, here is my two cents. First of all, I think one of our main problems is the monolithic vision of the nation. Almost all political camps, in other words, have an “ideal nation” in their minds, which naturally resembles who they are. Secularists want to see all women in the “modern” dress code they prefer. Conservatives want to raise a “moral youth” that stays away from alcohol or flirtation. 

Such authoritarian efforts to impose an ideal on society breeds constant reaction and tension. 

Secondly, we are quite paranoid. Conspiracy theories are the national way of interpreting the world. In this mindset, your political opponents are not just opponents, but the paws of a larger conspiracy cooked up by “foreign powers” – Europeans, Americans, “Zionists,” “capitalists,” “imperialists,” or even Arabs and Iranians. ..

The third trouble we have is that our state, the Almighty Turkish Republic, is such a huge, colossal, centralized, all-encompassing machine. Controlling the state, therefore, gives enormous privilege to those who are lucky enough to come to power. ..

But can we solve all these problems and move on to become a more peaceful, harmonious, open society? Sure. We just need to become a more pluralist and less paranoid nation. And we need a more minimal and de-centralized state. Easy, right?

..

The better news is that, thank God, the fights I am talking about are generally non-violent. With the exception of the armed conflict between the state and the Kurdish separatists, we luckily don’t kill each other over political tensions. We rather irritate, humiliate or infuriate each other. 

..

There is nothing to add!!

I think it shows even at TC. But I have also noticed the quarrels are not as serious as they look from outside. Some words which would blacken my mind forever are forgotten the next day.

Fights in TC are rarely among Turks. 

I want to fight with others when I stop fighting with myself. But it seems I have no luck

I guess she has a wrong impression because of a devil in disguise.

Saying someone suspects a "Conspiracy" is intended to make people feel silly about suspecting any sort of conspiracy.

However fact of the matter is most all social changes have happened due to people working together (conspiring) in order to get something done. 

In the purest meaning of the word, it means at least two people to be breathing in harmony towards a goal. It has taken on a sinister meaning through the recent years.

Sometimes it´s good, sometimes it´s not. Some succeed, some do not. It all depends on where you are in the scheme of things. Suspecting conspiracies is just being aware of how things work. 

The big fish that eats the smaller fish, who eats even smaller ones....and so it goes...

Dearest Alameda

I will label your response as ´dam ustunde saksagan kaz beline vurmayi´

Firstly your Turkish is terrible (no surprises) and secondly your addressee doesn´t speak Turkish.

I don´t know of any societies that don´t have social conflict.  Everyone on the planet is having a different human experience and every experience shapes how we feel about the world around us.  I have learned over the years that Turks are very passionate about their views and can be aggressive in the expression of their view one minute and then with the same breath say something totally disarming and insightful.  

There is an ´advanced´ Turkish usage there but you have never been (and never will be) that advanced and secondly I am sure someone will translate it for Alameda.  

uneducated minds are easy to infuriate and uprise.

Yes, it´s true, I could get someone to translate your attempt, then, of course, it will go through another filter, fruther diluting what ever it was you want to say.

Evidently your desire for my understanding wasn´t that strong, or you would not have trusted it to another. 

I understand....sort of....maybe...

Since you think you are so advanced, there should be no problem for you then to understand this Turkish elite speech.

1131)1´/01251_1111331<4/o(11<46121_1?

I agree with Elisabeth. I don´t know of any nation that doesn´t "fight", there are no two people who will completely agree with each other on all topics and everyone wants to be heard. 

If someone told me I am not a Finn it would not make the slightest difference to me.

I mean we are so different.

I admit Turks can bit agressive at times. As a matter of fact, they go to the extremes in both directions:enemity and friendliness. 

Thehandsom you are not aware of what you are saying most of the time. Calling your countrysmen racists is not a way of initiating a friendly discussion. You are a flavour in this soup. No you are not the Turk or the mastermind who would judge others. 

People should ask themselves how good they are as say a chess player. The wise words they inadvertantly say would have the effect of a critical move in a chess game. Is it the right move or will it be a faux pas. You had better think twice before making those provocative claims.

I think you should just take a hike!!

Yes I am calling some of my countrymen as racists when they act with sheer racism.

Can you show me one or two posts where I accused people with racism for a reason and the reason was not a right reason?

Can you show me any posts from yourself where you came up and warned anybody about their racist posts? (ie All Turks know calling a Turk as Agop is as racist  as calling a white person as negro. can you show me once you came out and wrote a few words against them? Almost all moral codes tell you that ´your silence implies your consent´.)

Let me guess : You wont have any answers to my questions..

Take a chill-pill for me.. will you?

That would make no difference to me either.

That is because we are not  Finns. 

Gee, you are so aggressive in many of your posts. It does get tedious. You do constantly harp on the topic of racism.

I have a surprise for you....everyone is racist....it´s how we deal with it that defines us. It´s probably only recently humanity has begun to realize the humanity of the whole human race. Many ethnicities language for themselves define themselves as "human" and others as something else.

In the USA blacks were not considered 100% human, which was why they were considered enslaveable. 

In China whites were called Bak Gwei, for Romani being a Rom means being human....I guess others are not(?)...for Jews non Jews were Shegetz, I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. 

Most species prefer to group together with their own kind....just look around. However, in looking at a field, you will see many different species on the same field getting along. If plants and animals can do it, can´t humans?

Fortunatly these days we (at least some of us) recognize the humanity of all humans, and some even extend that to other species as we learn more about them. Dolphins, for example, we know now that animals have intelligence and feelings. Hopefully we will learn to respect all the creation and treat it accordingly. 

"Every new-born child is born in a state of fitrah."

For more about "Fitra"  :

http://www.angelfire.com/al/islamicpsychology/fitrah/fitrah.html

Quoting Nadya.

"Every new-born child is born in a state of fitrah."

 

For more about "Fitra"  :

http://www.angelfire.com/al/islamicpsychology/fitrah/fitrah.html

Quoting alameda

I have a surprise for you....everyone is racist....

but they become adults and decide to become racist

Yes, however, we rapidly move on to what ever we are taught. I´ve watched with great sorrow children being molded their parents. If the child does not meet or interact with others in a positive maner, if they are taught to fear and hate those different, if they are taught to bully, most do. 

I was in a park recently where there was a flock of Canadian Geese. There were children chasing and frightening them, while the parents looked on with approval. I suspect those children will not see any problems with bullyng when they are adults.

One day I was in a line where there was a Chinese man in front of me. He was holding a small child, the child being around 1 year old. The child would look at his father´s face, then at the other faces and start sceaming. It appeared he had never seen any other types of humans before, and the sight of the different races frightened him. When he saw an Chinese face, he calmed down, but if he saw a black or white person he was terrified and screamed.

Another time I saw two toddlers, about 16 months old, one with blond hair and blue eyes, the other the color of dark chocoalte with curly black hair and liquid brown eyes. They both circled around each other with wide eyes, and no hostility, amazed at this "different" little person. 

I dont want to go on and on and I am well aware of the fact that it is getting quite boring.

However, saying that does not mean I was wrong : You can NOT show any SINGLE post where I told what I told  without a justification. ( can you? )

But I will highly recommend to you that next time when you see a person waving a banana to blacks or calling people negro or calling people agop with the aim of racist insult, you object it too. Because if you dont,  they do it again.

If you feel insulted when adressed as Agop, ask yourself "why".

What do you have against Agops ? Are you a racist, or what?  

Quite the opposite. Lol

I am just saying that calling a Turk as Agop is as racist as waving a banana to black players.

I am just a guy who are not afraid of writing the word on a sticker and slam it to that person´s forehead. 

Fine Agop, have it your way !

Other Agops of this world are proud of you..

That is what I was saying to Alameda and Vineyards. Thanks for justifying me!! (I was right to say that ´my comments have always their reasons´   )

This is a racist comment and a sheer racism!!  

yes, yes...pls calm down !   

Hmmm...and how is that? I think you missed this part of my comment "I have a surprise for you....everyone is racist....it´s how we deal with it that defines us."

See, you have missed again: Calling a Turk with an Armenian name is aiming a racist insult and it is a racist comment.

That is you keep missing despite the fact that I keep telling you. Got it now? Will you say afew words about this racism?

I think you should stop coming back again  and again about this. But If you want me to comment on your writing, here it is : ´Not everyone is racist but people calling a Turk with an Armenian name in this context is racist. As racist as the word negro, as racist as waving bananas´. Had you answer? and will you stop coming back to this subject again and again? please?

But what if you are an Armenian which I believe to be the case?

So what makes you a Turk apart from telling us to be one on and on again and again... which I don´t believe anyway...

That said I call one of my best friends with an American name. In that sense I may be called a racist if the racism is what it is all about.

Ha ha...All I do is respond to your comments, and I just don´t let you have the last word....but....sorry....I just don´t like to leave your misleading, (or misguided) words stand uncontested. My words are based on my opinion, which is based on research.  

As I have pointed out..over and over and over again.....as you know, the name of the country is Turkey, thus the name of the citizens are Turks...If you have a problem with that, petition for a country name change. Which I mentioned to you, but you didn´t lilke that idea.

"..... I know the Bulgarians don´t consider themselves any kind of a Turk, however the name of their country is derivative of a turkic people. Mexico takes it´s name from the Mixtec people, although there are many Zapotec, Mayan, Tzeltal, Nahua and Mestizo or various European derivitives other people. I haven´t seen them uprising to protest being called Mexican. 

BTW  In the Italy the term "Turk" was applied to anyone who was Muslim, and had nothing to do with any ethnicity. That term has died out some what, but I´ve heard many of the WWII generation still use it. It´s kind of like Moor could be used for black or Muslim in Spain. The patron saint of Spain is St. James Matamoros. There is a town in called Matamoros which means kill the Moors, meaning Muslims. "

and remember this:

Turk is not a race, it´s the name of a nationality, and the name of an ethnic group....similar naming conventions have been used in other countries..as I pointed out to you in an earlier post. I asked you what you would prefer, no answer. To me it seems you are hung up on the name Turk. Would you prefer Lasland, Kurdistan, Zazalaz? Trakitolia? What do you want, really, other than to sow discontent, that is?

Here it is again: 

Most countries have settled on a name for their country. Many of the names actually are derived from some tribe or another, but we don´t hear the people getting upset and calling the names racist. Here, take a look:

Endonyms and most exonyms for Poles and Poland derive from the name of the West Slavic tribe of the Polans 

The name "England" is derived from the Old English name Englaland, which means "land of theAngles". The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Great Britain during the Early Middle Ages. 

The name "France" comes from the Latin Francia, which means "country of the Franks". There are various theories as to the origin of the name Franks: one is that it is derived from the Proto-Germanic word frankon which translates as javelin or lance as the throwing axe of the Franks was known as a francisca.[20] Another proposed etymology is that in an ancient Germanic language, Frank means free as opposed to slave.

Hungary, Atilla the Hun

In the 7th century, Bulgar tribes (likely of central Asian Turkic origin), migrated to the lower courses of the rivers Danube, Dniester and Dniepr under the leadership of Asparukh. After 670 he moved into the Balkan Peninsula with a horde of 50,000 Bulgars across the Danube and in 680 severed Scythia Minor from the Byzantine Empire. A peace treaty with Byzantium in 681 and the establishment of a permanent capital at Pliska south of the Danube marked the beginning of the First Bulgarian Empire. The Bulgars gradually mixed up with the local population, adopting a common language on the basis of Slavonic."