What makes Turkey so unique? What makes it different to the other mainly muslim countries? Simple. Its a viable democracy, stable, and goverened within secular principals.  Whats more? Its part of Europe, the mediteranean, boarders the ME, is part of the Caucasus and Eurasia, and yet, though it spans across the worlds most unstable regions and the most stable ones, Turkey remains a regional power, both in terms of military prowess, democracy, and economic stability. Its a beacon of hope in regions where instability is commonplace, and where muslim militants prepare to destroy Europe and all those who are not extreme. Ataturk mastered a work of art which continues to grow in importance within the world today. He retreated the army from the Middle East and former Yugoslav Macedonia balkans,  and redrew Turkey´s boarders and established its terratorial integrity, set to be, and intentionally, one of the worlds most strategic positions. He modernized society, educated us, and above all; aligned Turkey with secularism, with the west.

But now, the biggest question within Turkey is, especially now in the dawn of voting, does the AKP pose a threat to the art that has made Turkey the unique nation that took a revolutionary, enlightened mind to create?

In other words, is AKP weakening our secularist nation?

are you obsessed? and since when has Turkey been a part of europe? are you American or Turkish? If you`re not Turkish, why are you talking on behalf of Turks?

It is an interesting question Kaya

From the posts, I can ´guess´ your answer.

But however, before coming to that question there is another question which is that how democratic the secular nation we have had so far?

Did we really have a proper democracy all along and suddenly these nasty islamists have came and destroyed our society? Or we always had something else and we thought that "that is how a secular democracy is supposed to be"?

Obviously your lack of knowledge in the field of geographics has lead you to the conclusion that i am "obsessed". Turkey has a precense in the balkans, does it not? And is the balkans not part of Europe? Therefore i can conclude that its a part of Europe, the Caucasus, Eurasia and the Mediterranean. How does this make me "obsessed"?

Good question also, and yes i apologize for my question, it seems pretty biased in the manner i asked it but truthfully i ask of our opinions in this thread so that we can share them.

I can honestly say, no, we do not have a proper, fully secular democracy. Why? Because on some accounts we do see favourable acts for religions in politics over the other. Though i disagree strongly that we see discrimination from the government (which we dont), we do, however, as i just stated, see nods in the direction of the muslims here and there, mainly by the AKP, being devout muslims. The AKP have improved our democracy, and it can only get better, and no it wasnt as good as it was before there rule, but thats not to rule out they have violated certain secular principles in which the country was founded, and even last year nearly saw there complete dismissal. I think the headscarf ban in government institutions, including universities, is however, a good idea, and a bad one to reverse. It signifies both a governments secularist approach and the fact it has no religion.  Should Islam creep its way into our politics, or any other religion, the fatal mistakes of the Ottoman era will only be repeated, and, as i have said in a previous post, islams inherit inability to progressive will infect the country and destroy our democracy. But its not just AKP´s hardship with secularism that could make them not trustworthy. There recent, diabolical shows of oppression of the Dogan media group is just another example of a threatened democracy. I will be happy if i am to see the last of there rule this year, though they have made many applaudable ammendments to our country, there war on the media has only made things regarding the AKP very stale.

so does a small piece of land that is called Trakya make the whole Turkey european? Maybe you should take a look at the map before judjing my knowledge of geography.

Again, are you a Turkish citizen or American? If you`re not a Turkish citizen, why are you talking on behalf of Turks?

The entire land  mass before the Istanbul bridge is European (and that land mass is bigger than some European countries eg Leichenstien, Wales, and former Yugoslav Macedonia. So i suppose those countries are not considered Europe because they are relatively small?). I think not. Turkey´s influence and presence in the balkans is unquestionable, and to further support my case, our approval for EU membership is another indication that yes, Turkey is also European, but not wholly,  being a transcontinental country.

Why do you ask about my citizenship? Is it of importance? If i was American, am i not allowed to voice my opinions on Turkish politics? How does doing so represent the Turkish people considering we do not all follow the same political ideas anyway? If you really want to know the answer, look at my name.

I spent years stationed in Cyprus, fighting for the Turks against the seperatist Greek groups. Take that into consideration before questioning my right to talk for politics in Turkey.

At no point did i state its a purely european country. Read my post carefully. I specifically mentioned we are a "European, Eurasian, Caucasian and Mediterranean state". In other words, we are transcontinental; a bit like Russia if you like. It cannot be classified into one continental group, as that would be incorrect.

in this election, again we saw that some political parties like DTP (a kurdish party), always speaking about domocracy, human rights... can not tolerate any other views. and being fascist and aggressive.  and choosing terrorism as usual.

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/11318721.asp?gid=229

they did same things during elections campaign also.

 Can you give that link in English? They DO have an English site you know!

He calls them fascist and terrorist..in the news it says that they attacked some shops and broke the windows..

Most/some of the demonstrations end up like that in the uk.  

If someone can translate the title for me on the article i can find it.

Lol yeah or in other words Brixton on a good day.

Those political parties should be banned, they promote terrorism. There pure anarchists. The government can easily ban them in the name of democracy without violating any international or constitutional laws, easily.

I think we Turks are holding a kind of record for banning political parties based on our constitution for many many years..

As it happens (see above post) , some will think that DTP is promoting terrorism but they will say that they are not..

I dont think it is a very good idea..

 how innocent. attack all government buldings, shops, cars. I dont understand why u felt happy.

I was  laughing at you.

Not the incident.. 

 I understand why are u so happy tonight.

coz u won in diyarbakýr again.

Its true, but in the past we was not banning terrorist parties. If Hamas was to be running for the government in America, im sure there far right extremist views would have been classified as terrorism as they have been now, and under a legal framework, would have been liable to ban them. We are liable to ban the DTP, under international laws as well as our own constitutional ones, as they have not only promoted terrorism, but evidently caused violance and discord within society.

I dont think it is a good idea to close or ban DTP. They are kind of representing kurds at the moment..

If you are not letting them to be represented what are they supposed to do?

Do you prefer them to go to mountains? 

We should allow them to represent the Kurds at the expense of terorrists in government? No, this is not Gaza. And we should not be blackmailed into not banning them for being terrorists because they represent the Kurds, and on the contrary, over 65% of kurds voted for AKP anyway. I dont think it makes a bit of difference. Im  willing to see the dismissal of DTP at the expense of a few, insignificant Kurdish votes anyway (insignificant as in only 20% Kurdish support).

As Turkish parties begin consider the rights of the Kurds like AKP drasitcally does anyway, and as Kurdish support for the PKK diminishes, and, so will the DTP. May aswell do them a favour and cut the crap early.

I dont think you are understanding the danger here..

Look..First of all, we tried to assimilate them all those years..Then,we closed  all their parties..We put their politicians in jails..We banned their language etc..

The result? did you manage to stop terrorism? did you manage to stop killings?

Not really.. The terrorism itself was fed with those actions.

You can not ban their party and say that it was OUR DEMOCRATICAL right ro ban them..

Forget it.. 

Handsom, your forgetting the fact that the DTP is not the only kurdish party. Your also forgetting that more turkish parties have been closed down in total by the judical court then the kurdish parties. Do not allow the Kurds to use the "we are being opressed again by the turks" card to blackmail into thinking the DTP should stay because it represents the Kurds. Though from a birds eye view i agree completely it may sound like the wrong thing to do considering the governments past temprements on banning Kurdish parties, politically, its absolutely neccessary to secure our national security. They are, at the end of the day, terrorirsts, and though it may cause conflict within turkey with a minority of Kurds, it will be welcoming news nationally and internationally. Concern regarding the DTP has been expressed before abroad, many times.

We should not ban DTP.

We must not ban DTP. 

It will be repeat of past mistakes if we do..By banning their party will endanger the national security and there will be more bloodshed. 

Closing (Kurdish) parties was a huge mistake..

Your right, but your also claiming the legitemacy of a terrorist far right party in goverrnment, yes? And there right to exist in government?

 I just want to remind something

here it says in the rules of this site.

Turkish Class Rules:

13. Posts supporting/sympathising with PKK or any other terrorist organization are forbidden. Such posts and their owners may be deleted from the site.

14. Since PKK is a very sensitive topic, discussion of PKK in the forums is limited only to (i) reporting news about a terrorist attack or (ii) reporting a government decision related to PKK. Even these, and related comments may be removed by an administrator or moderator based on personal judgement.

 I am not supporting any terrorist group here, but sometimes giving a voice to those people in government is the way to solve the issues, to some extent.  An example of this is Sinn Fein in Northern Island.  Don´t forget how the peace process was started by talking to Shin Fien with the wonderful late Mo Molem.  She made so much progress which was then hijacked by others.  Think what would have happened had Sinn Fein been banned?

Before you talk about terrorist far right party I would suggest you to look at the map here

http://www.milliyet.com.tr/2009/03/31/Secim2009.html?ver=95

Greens are where DTP wont the election.

Basically Kurds are voting for their kurdish party DTP.

You can not ban them..You should not ban them.

(If you do, you will clearly be labeled as the one who opposes the peace in Turkey. And we will ashame ourselves once more)

As far as the far right parties are concerned, almost all those racist far right parties, somehow, shared the seats in   goverments despite our shame (actually,when you look at the history of last 30 years, you can almost say that Turkey is ruled by the right wing ideologies )

 You hit the nail on the head. I was in Brixton at the time of the riots in the early 80s that lead to the Scarman enquiry: so I have first hand knowledge. If you take a minority, dont bother about the fact that many of them dont have jobs, and then put in heavy handed policing (from police in Brixton, army in SE Tky) then what do you get as a result ....? Same in SE Tky as SE London.

But, since Scarman and the community work that has happened, and the change in police attitudes, Brixton is now a great and thriving multi-racial community at peace with itself.

There´s a lesson here, I am sure...

 Great post Marion - I completely agree

 Actually i find it strange too, that you talk in behalf of Turks and you are not a  Turk but Brit as you declared at another thread !

Not that its important but you were the one who announced it a, you of course can voice your opinion no matter what you are, but its strange that you voice it as a Turk where you are not

You can say i think or in my opinion instead

Ý cant be Egyptian and say we American should do. bla, bla, bla..it isnt right, because im not an American to start with !

Just 2 points as a reminder

1.The UK´s army which is a European country last time i check ÝS in Ýraq a Muslim country, destroying it and killing its people along with the American one and yes i believe that is a prove the muslim militants prepare to destroy Europe !

2.APK were already in power for the past 4 years, we dont have to predict anything so i believe that is the answer to your question, and if they are elected again, then that is because majority of people ´Turks´ want them, so do you think they dont know what is better for them and they should be dictated it ?

By whom ? Who should dictae them then in your opinion, and in benefit for whom ?

Surely if you mean the benefit of Türkiye, then her own sons and daughters would know better, and they are the one who would make that decision by the election, wouldnt you say ?

Ý fail to understand what do you seek to protect by your question?  Türkiye from Turks ?!

This has been the historical mistakes so called ´kemalists´ have been making  during the entire republic:

The people are ignorant, they are easily persuaded, they are not to be trusted and they should be led by the ´enlightened ruling class - kemalists-´