As a foreigner I have met and spoke to many Turkish and I would unfortunately have to agree,that racist remarks exist.  I have heard on numerous occasions " Oh yes the kurds are (*&^%^&&^ all negative comments ) but we are living in harmony we don´t have a problem with kurds. I have also heard half-breed  referrals for everyone who is not 100% Turk

I am not going say anything about the politic because I can find that everywhere on internet. I  think originally this forum was started for us foreigners to understand the cultural differences - like food or holiday festival activities.

http://www.usm.maine.edu/lac/ot/divman/Kurdish.pdf

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/turkey-country-profile.html

hope that helps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ei65sebL1U

http://www.selenasol.com/selena/struggle/kurds.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeaGHBL06rc

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071217193558AAemz2T

http://marmarisfans.com/index.php?s=7c3f4ef57487d94131ead0287778736d&showtopic=898&view=findpost&p=14803

I looked at your links briefly..

Tut tut tut..

They wont like you!!!

do you want a formal welcome to the forum message? (I am the head of welcoming comittee here ) 

I don´t think (not being liked) will harm me I would prefer someone to find the errors in the thousand of articles written and debate it instead.

Will your welcome include a nice cake or cookies and some good coffee I will gladly accept

Self appointed ..." (I am the head of welcoming comittee here )  " ... I may add.

 I think the original name of the site is "TURKISH LANGUAGE CLASS FREE ONLINE TURKISH LANGUAGE RESOURCE", but as you can see some people just occupied the site. They never talk about the language, culture, food, holiday festival activities. They have limited subjects: Armenian and Kurdish "Question". That´s all they want to talk about. It is clear that what they are doing here is their professional job which has been given them by somebody or some organisation. Their duty is cursing, blaming, insulting and criticizing the Turks, their life, culture and social structure. You can not get true information from them. Because their starting point is not truth. They are here just to misinform the people who are not well-informed yet about Turkey and Turks.

Maybe the administrators should stop these people sending rubbish informations on the same topics, soon, then the TC. Forum will become again a really informative, helpful and enjoyable one for both foreigners and native users.

I disagree.  Most people posting on the ´political´ threads also do translations and post about turkish culture - especially music, literature and food.  Maybe you never get round to those posts but they are certainly out there.

But you do realize your experiences are subjective?  They are your experiences.  How many Turks do you know, how long have you known them, from what sectors of societies are they?

I have been in contact with various sectors from Turkish society for years. In that time I have heard no anti Kurdish statements. In fact, I didn´t even realize some of the people I knew were Kurds, Laz, Çerkiz and so on until recently.  Everyone presented themselves as Turkish citizens. The unfortunate birth of the PKK changed things.

I´ve spent time in Turkey at social events were different ethnicities were together and I saw no social tension. It really appears to me this is an external fabrication. The old divide and conquer strategy.

I have heard no half breed comments. The very idea is absurd. There are very few ethnicly pure "Turkic" people in Turkey. Even then, what "Turks" are you talking about? You do realize there are many different Turkic groups, don´t you?

 So, do you think that they have right to continue their nonsese activities? Is it so difficult to say that "Yes, the name of this site is "Turkish Language Class" and we want to hear something meaningful, something which deserve our attention, something which make us feel better, think better related to Turkey? Is it so hard to say those people "Hey, that is enough! You have done your duty more than enough and we don´t want/need to hear anymore about that disgusting and insulting comments about Turkish people and the country.

Just imagine, you are an English and this could be an "English Language Class" site. If do some foreigner and  native users of the site had kept on criticizing and abusing British Government, people, and their attitude towards Irish people, how could you feel? Don´t you tell them that "Just a minute, this is an English Language Class website and what you are doing here is not good. You lied enough about our country and people, now it is time to change the subject and talk something better?".

errrrr uhmmmmmm I never said I have not spoke to Turks that do not mention this because I have and I have but I was saying that you can not be blind this does exist. I was debating the suggestion that metehan2001 had made that it does not exist. I do agree that this is subject all to personal opinion. I am not saying anything wrong about the Turkish people they have brought to this world many good thing and also have a wonderful rich history. I was merely stating I have heard this personally and I can find this on websites to substaniate a problem. That was all. All in all my introduction to turkish culture and  hospitality has been wonderful but in every country including my own there are issues that exist. Back to you ..... and where is my coffee and cookies I would love some Turkish desserts too please

I was disagreeing with your comment that ´these people´ never talk about Turkish language or culture.  

I am English - we are well used to foreigners criticizing and abusing our government and institutions, especially among those who have chosen to live there.

No-one on Turkish Class has influenced my personal opinion of Turkey and the Turkish people -I can make up my own mind. 

 We do it enough ourselves, so if others wanted to do it as well, the more the merrier