Checkout the list on the left column at this link

http://www.turkjazz.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=13&Itemid=55

This site is in Turkish but the instrument names are almost identical. For the rest of the menu items, you will need www.Zargan.com for translations.

You should also check out Dave Brubeck...

Well, having mentioned holocausts and the stuff; I guess one of the most remarkable events in the near history that points out to the continuation of religious and ethnic awareness in the heart of Europe was the ethnic cleansing carried out by the Serbs; Bosnians´ being denied of receiving arms to protect themselves by France and Russia and the surrender of Bosnian civilians  to the Serbian militia  by the Dutch commander in charge who was pictured drinking wine and exchanging smiles with his Serbian counterpart. The Bosnians would then be murdered and raped and the Dutch commander would put the blame on their lack of power. 

A number of Greek, Swedish and Russian ultranationalists came to fight in the ranks of the Serbs against the Muslims. Greek flag was hoisted after the completion of the invasion of a town.

In Europe, it all takes a spark to unleash the ethnic terror examples of which we have seen over and over.

Plus there is not just one form of Islam. Check out this map: 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/MuslimDistribution3b.JPG

Even that does not take into account the millions of Alevites in this country. They are not the same as Shiite or whatsoever. The map further disregards 3 million muslims in Germany, 1.7 million in the UK, the  Muslim populations of Bulgaria and Greece. There is also no talk about 7.5 millions muslims in the US.

Once when I was in the army waiting to be vaccinated in a row with tens of fellow soldiers that thing you are talking about did happen. The guys doing the injections were so tired they were just darting the needle into wherever it hits. Some guys did actually faint when his turn was close. You discover lots of things about people when you live together with so many of them.

I couldn´t read them either using explorer or firefox. When I try it with Safari no problems whatsoever. I suggest you download a copy from Apple if you need to see them...

I reposted my message containing HTML codes incorrectly interpreted by Internet Explorer and Firefox.

The error in question formed like this:

1- typed the message with the forum´s standard editor

2- copy-pasted to Word

3- on seeing HTML problems copy pasted to Notepad to get get rid of them

4- Used Safari Internet Browser for posting the resulting text.

When viewed with Safari, TLC looks visually better, with easier-to-read fonts... The browser seems to correctly interpret everything no matter what. It is not the other way around unfortunately.

I don´t know of a link where you can find an English language analysis about Zaman but I can give you the link to the Nur asssociation where you can access pages in virtually all major languages.

http://www.nur.gen.tr/tr.html

Trudy,

It is not so easy to understand the political and religious stance of Zaman. It is very complicated.

To make a long story short, a sheikh named Bediüzaman writes a comprehensive interpretation of Quran (14 volumes) in the first half of the 20th century. The name of this book is Risale-i Nur (Book of Light) People showing interest in his teachings call themselves Nurcu and they organize in local associations where they study Bediüzaman´s principles  behind closed doors for years.

After the death of Bediüzaman in 1960, other people take up the flag. Fethullah Gülen is the current leader of this sect. Since the 80´s there are claims that this group is being financed by the governments of certain Arabic countries which would like to export an Islamist regime to this country. They are believed to have extensive financial resources. They use this money to penetrate into the police and the army organizations. Every year, the army which is more alert  about these matters disassociates a number of officers on account that they take part in recessionist activities. Many of those people are claimed to have links to Gulen.

Formerly, Gulen followers were advised to stay away from everything made by infidels including coke and TV. They now have changed their strategy. They are using the taquiyye principle of the religion which tolerates telling lies when believers get into trouble. Perhaps originally intended by Mohammad to help Muslims protect themselves when they are threatened by tyrans by falsely denouncing their faith; this principle provides ground for excuses like religion being under threat completely hence lying is justifiable...

This change of strategy is evident in Zaman. They hired reputable people including poets and writers. They set them free.  Apparently, they are the largest selling paper in Turkey with copies exceeding one million. In fact, rich people supporting the aforementioned religious movement buy these papers in bulk and get them distributed in poorer quarters, in key congregation points like schools and hostels. They have organizations throughout Europe. They are particularly active in ex Soviet republics.

Gulen also founded countless schools both in Turkey and in ex-Soviet republics. Turkish is being taught in these countries. The education quality is admittedly excellent. Like in the paper business though there is always a message which is being given little by little. This is a multi-million dollar advertising campaign aiming to create a massive following. Meanwhile, the task of penetrating into key organizations is still continuing.

After all the targets of this campaign have been achieved, religious bigotry will rear its ugly face. They target the secular authority in Turkey. In the past, they wrote this in their paper repeatedly. What is the alternative of secularism? Sheria!.

I don´t have a habit of telling lies Trudy...

http://sozluk.sourtimes.org/show.asp?t=zaman%20gazetesi%20omurgasizligi

You need a friend who understands Turkish though.

I have made it a principle that I should not side up with people just because they are my friends. When taking sides it is necessary to make  decisions based on facts. Some people rely on their instincts or beliefs in the absence of facts, I donft think this works for critical decisions like the one we are talking about.

Therefore the equation you proposed : "...brings you to the same line as statusquo defenders, which resist every tiny step for achiving a proper democracy." is essentially wrong. I am in favour of maintaining political and economic stability but I am also in favour of truth.

To me the Armenian cause is one such conflict about which everyone talks based on what they believe might have happened or according to their ethnic, religious orientations. As a result all kinds of claims and accusations keep flying in the air. Many of those are evidently biased arguments by virtue that they are consistent depending on which side they come from. I believe that some atrocities were committed since the (military) authority of the day considered the Armenian actions in the region as high-treason (on account that they sided up with invading Russian troops taking up arms against local Turks). This however is just a belief. I have no proof at hand.

We know that Turks and Armenians co-existed in the same region usually in their own villages for more than a thousand years. What caused them to get into this conflict which allegedly claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people is actually not a mystery. Everyone accepts today that some Armenians and some Turks lost their lives but information on exactly how many and by whom has not been firmly established so far.

In the absence of facts, we are basing all our arguments on three major channels: Armenia, Turkey and Europe. Armenia and Turkey are the two sides. Therefore we canft expect them to be very objective. I believe neither Turkey nor Armenia is telling the truth. As for Europe, only until ten or so years ago, they were openly supporting the PKK.  France, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and many other European countries opened up their doors to the terrorists. At that time, they were calling these people independence warriors fighting against a sovereign country with which they have strong economic and political ties. I believe this attitude of Europeans is a tell-tale evidence of how they regard Turkey - a potential threat to their well-being.

A number of white-collars in this country have developed a ridiculous idea. It goes like this: There is democracy in the West, these people know everything right. We need to act and think exactly like them if we want to get rid of our primitive ways. This is indeed a proper policy for a vassal state and anyone defending it must be going through a serious identity crisis. Anyone defending this did not understand the first thing about AtaturkLs principles. Both Europe and Turkey must be and are after their own interests, their own well-being and their own policies. We will be more civilized the day we begin to seek solutions inside the country not among instant solutions imported from elsewhere.