http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1147823.html

I was worried that other people will dislike Turkish people because of this crime. I know it is only a solo case, but the media can influence everybody...

Dear Platschu;

I know I am getting closer to being labeled as a racist by writing the same thing over and over but I can not stand this being called "Turkish". "Honor killings" and "female circumsicion" are Kurdish cultural phenomeons, not Turkish. You can look up Adıyaman (where this incident occured) and compare it with an ethnic map to see what I mean.

These things happen in Kurdish populated regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria but very rarely if at all among Turks, Arabs and Persians. Type "Kurdish honour killing" in youtube for a sample that happened in Iraq, among Yazidis(Very very graphic, be warned)

I am respectful to cultures of people so I am not against these things as long as they do not affect or concern Turks, and as long as the yare not labeled "Turkish".

To put the record straight, the Kurds form a considerable percentage of the population of this country. Therefore all their values, traditions, economic stati etc add up to the overall outlook of the entire nation. They are a part of this country hence a part of our collective identity.

Good point Vineyards.....as much as I may like to present the US in "my way", there are others here who won´t let me....(hello Elisabeth...teaschip....and others)...  like it or not...and I´m sure they aren´t that thrilled with my viewpoints either, I must admit, they to are Americans and what they think and feel impacts the total cultural collective.

I´ve been thinking of how desegregation resulted in the loss of many of the very individual and distinctive Black businesses and institutions.  The US calls itself the "melting pot", Canada calls it´s culture a"Mosaic".  In a Mosaic all componants are identifiable and they keep their individual identity, but form beautiful graphics.  In a "Melting Pot" no individual parts can be found, but a unique flavor is the result.

If you don´t want to loose your culture and identity, how do you do it?

such cultural rules had place. individuals are more mobile, more quick to change than cultures, rules, moral dogmas etc.

if woman wants to prove anything with medical document, she probably deserves these rules to be applied to her.

Isn´t it strange to say - I m not virgin - instead of - I agree to marry you? How will man be able to prove he is NOT virgin?

and i agree with post here - as long as smth happened in Turkey, Turks will be labeled for it. does not matter what the origin is etc. It is not about racism or anything like that. Person cannot know history of every country and nation deep enough to understand all undercurrents.

melting pot? i could not talk to person bec after 25 years in usa she did not talk english. she could not understand me at all (dont joke about pronunciation please )) )

mosaic? yes probably. my friend emigrated there. it is 6th year she is learning English, never worked, does not speak to enlg speakers. she is probably part of mosaic, but what kind of picture will be at the end?

you cannot live in isolation in modern world. it means that majority of us are in melting pot. we are boiled soft. at the end there will be some kind of stew: some taste of different vegies, but hard to see whole piece of any.

Not just Americans. European people including Turks are very much that way too. It is just that they don´t know how patriotic they appear to one another.

Our greatest minority are the Gypsies in Hungary. I am not racist either, but when they immigrated to Canada they began to stole, because they don´t like working. And do you know what was the response of the citizens. They must have put warning signs at the entrance of local shops: "Hungarians, don´t steal!". I was shocked after I had heard this news and I became angry because obviously the Hungarians were innocent in these cases... The worse part was I couldn´t do anything to regain our honor.

I know the media can change everything, but our local newspapers and online media sources told us a "Turkish girl". So how should I know whether this crime was made by Turkish or Kurdish or any other nationality? If I couldn´t like your people, your culture then I wouldn´t be here. I didn´t want to make you angry, but I have to report that such news won´t help on the case of Turkey to join to the EU.  

I am reading every news when Istanbul or Turkey or any Turkish related things are mentioned here. I have to tell you so many Hungarians don´t know your country or your people at all, but maybe I will tell about this in an other thread. 

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