As I see it it is a wise proverb similar to many used everyday here in Scotland only the context in which it is used here is objectionable to some.

 I cannot do anything about how you want to understand it my friend

but it has nothing to do with being racist to me

Sorry, double post

.....an in the context in which it was used I thought it was intended to be insulting.

Well of course it is not to you..

(And also I explained why it might look  normal to a person from a country which has the biggest racist party in Europe )

That is why I keep saying that we do have "a Turkish problem"..

 Of course insults will always be traded by both sides in a dispute.

When a politician uses that word over a group of people, or over a group of same ethnicity like gypsies, africans etc..., yes it can be heard as a racist.

But there are always two sides on a madallion, which we should never forget...

Put your hand into your heart..

Say we are in Europe and say You are talking about how young Turks are well educated, how cultured they are and suddenly a person is coming up and saying above words to you..What would you think?

There is no medallion here...Even there is, both sides are racism..

But as I said, you NOT being able to see that is quite normal it seems

I cannot agree with what you are saying over here, as during my travels around europe people were hardly believing i am Turkish... i had to show my id... but this was kinda sad and was also flattering after hearing "wow, then there are some nice Turks aswell"

what is it you dont agree exactly?

Tell us how using those words in the context given is NOT RACIST..

Think of a context like similar to Ros´s new..Think that some foreigners says ´Oh Look at this . Turks are coming along with their culture, education etc etc..´ and suddenly another person is coming along and saying ´a donkey is still a donkey even with a golden saddle´

That is a racist comment to me..

I was just defending the proverb itself

Your example at the moment is just a proof to my idea... proverb itself cant be racist, but the usage of it by a person can make it sound as so. So its the users mistake