Tunci, you will think this is odd, but I agree with you on nearly every point.

First, you are right, Pamuk is not the only Turk whose opinion matters. I am happy to hear yours and others´ opinions. Plus, Pamuk cares very much about preserving tradition and the past, whether it is Ottoman days or 1970s Istanbul. He is for a mixture of new and old, it seems to me. ... As for everything being taught in English in the United States, that is true, too. But many people here are worried that their children will not do well unless they know other languages. We once focused on French and Spanish and German. Now we have added Chinese. Can you guess why? Because we do not want the world to move on without us!

Second, it is true that we don´t worry about English being threatened. (Although, there was once a strong movement on the right in this country to make English the "official language" by law. Some were afraid immigrants would take over and make us all speak Spanish!) But I think Turks should not worry so much about their language. It is a beautiful language. Look at all of us who come here to learn it. And your culture is very beautiful, too. All of us here value it very much.

And finally, no, Turks do not need to be Americanized. But everyone in the world is adopting from other cultures. We take from you, and you take from us. This is the world today. And Turks have knowledge and culture to share with the rest of the world. Give us more Turkish!

Trip, you have humanistic way of thinking which is cool.  Therefore you are drawing an ideal  world which we all yearning for. 

Yes, People should learn foreign languages. And cultures, languages influence each other.  But when this too much influence starts  to change your culture, language, your identity  then it  becomes the negative influence.

Each culture and language is precious for their people. 

Yes, I agree, cultural identity and language is very important.

In Australia our English is slowly ´Americanised´ partly because of television and advertising. Our native aboriginals struggle to maintain their native languages, which varied with tribal areas. We are now considered multi-cultural, originally influenced by European cultures, and now we are influenced by an increasing Asian immigration (mainly Chinese, Vietnamese & Indian) and African immigration (mainly from Somalia and South Africa). They often become Australian citizens but also try to hold onto their previous cultures. Lots of signs at beaches and in Government buildings are in several languages now. This annoys some narrow-minded Australians, but helps tourists and those that do not understand English.

Our Australian culture evolves, just as our language does. Our Australian accent varies across the country, just like the Turkish varies across Turkey.

Outside influences will always affect us, especially television and the internet. The younger generation are quickest to mimic fashion trends, and expressions and dancing from music videos. (eg. Gagnam Style)

From reading the translation posts here, I can sadly see many Turks do not care (or maybe know) about correct spelling or grammar. Our schools and parents are so important in teaching the language and cultural identity. Ironically, I now know a lot more about English grammar due to studying Turkish.

I enjoy coming to Turkey partly because of the language and cultural differences.  

Viva la difference!!  whoops, I am also easily influenced 

It is true that it is difficult for an American to completely understand how you feel, Tunci. Ours is not an ancient, clearly identifiable culture. Like Henry´s Australia, we are a nation of immigrants. The influences are so numerous and varied that we don´t even realize what they are sometimes. We just pick them up and add them to our American "grab bag."

But I too believe that Türkçe and Turkish culture are precious. Even for outsiders, they give us a tie to the past, to something about ourselves. Before I began reading about the Ottoman Empire several years ago, I knew nothing about it. Isn´t that terrible? But for my generation in America, it just wasn´t part of our education. I was immediately fascinated by this culture that had dominated a large part of the world, and to suddenly understand things about my own culture that had been influenced by it, from Western Europe´s fear of it to the everyday things around me that had come from the Ottomans. Stuffed peppers, sherbet, yogurt, divans, kiosks (please forgive my Anglicization here). So, I kept reading and learned a bit about Atatürk and modern Turkish history. I discovered Anatolian rock and Barış Manço; I read Orhan Pamuk and Yaşar Kemal. I visited Istanbul and fell in love with it. And I began to study Turkish. It has all been a wonderful journey, and I have met some very nice people along the way.

You should be very proud of your culture and you must protect it, but it is also important to be open to the world. I do not know how you feel about Mr. Erdoğan, but I think one good thing he has done is give Turkey a real place in the world. You are a leader again. Nations like Turkey and Brazil are finally taking their proper place economically and politically. That is good for all of us.