June 2011
1 post
Watchmuamma:
“We are ordinary people. We are like you: people, who get up every morning to study, work or find a job, people who have family and friends. People, who work hard every day to provide a better future for those around us.
Some of us consider ourselves progressive, others conservative. Some of us are believers, some not. Some of us have clearly defined ideologies, others are...
March 2011
1 post
December 2010
1 post
3 tags
Fire at Istanbul's historic Haydarpasa station...
Apart from anything else, what really strikes me about Istanbul is its glorious buildings, and how you can find traces of history in every one of them. On November 28th, a beautiful historic building, acknowledged to be the symbol of Istanbul, caught fire due to a “restoration” process taking place.
Five years ago, the government announced an architectural transformation project...
September 2010
6 posts
3 tags
Daily Telegraph: Iran donates $25 million to...
Iran has agreed to donate $25 million (£16 million) to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in a move that will increase fears that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is preparing to abandon the country’s secular constitution.
Western diplomats say they are alarmed by reports that Mr Erdogan has negotiated a deal with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for Tehran to ...
1 tag
Book Recommendation #2
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
“…In a country where half the population is illiterate, you can not unite the people around Marx. The only thing that can really unite them is nationalism or a religious ethic…”
We can always read newspapers, watch the television, skim through online sources and conduct researches to learn further about a certain political event; however,...
4 tags
Happy birthday Hrant Dink. →
Hrant Dink talks about the relations of Turkish and Armenian communities and what should and shouldn’t be done in order to bring a peaceful end to the ongoing issues.
People who are prejudiced towards this humanitarian person should watch this video and understand the magnitude of Turkey’s loss.
(click on the title for the video in Turkish)
2 tags
On "Democracy"
Yesterday, I read a column about democracy and how some governments fail to uphold democracy in practice. The columnist wrote that it is very normal for democracy to fail in states where the education level of people is low, to which I agreed. This is not hard to understand, uneducated masses lack the ability to grill and criticize, so deceiving them with fictitious promises is not a tall order....
I couldn’t take any photos myself in the rally, but here are some professional ones.
Tomorrow I will be at CHP’s referendum rally in Izmir. I will post photos if I can take any.
August 2010
4 posts
5 tags
Turkey's Constitutional Referendum: Yes or No?
The government has prepared a constitutional reform package months ago, which will go to a referendum in less than two weeks. There are two answers, yes and no. As simple as it sounds, it is not only a matter of yes or no. It is a crucial decision that is ahead.
An “open-minded” friend (as she likes to call herself) who does not support a political party said that the referendum has got...
3 tags
Book recommendation
The Dictionary of Alternatives: Utopianism and Organization by Martin Parker, Valerie Fournier and Patrick Reedy
Book description “‘There is no alternative to free market liberalism and managerialism’, is the orthodoxy of the twenty-first century. Ordinary people across the world are being told that the problem of organization is already solved, that it is being solved...
2 tags
WatchElif Şafak talks about the art of storytelling, culture and identity politics.
I have watched this three times, it never ceases to amaze me whenever I watch it. It is very inspiring, spare some time and see for yourself.
4 tags
Hrant Dink: back on the agenda
(wn.com) The European Court of Human Rights secured the claim of the family of Agos newspaper editor Hrant Dink against Turkey, condemning lack of precautionary measures to ensure his safety and ineffective investigation of murder case.
Dink, Turkish journalist of Armenian descent who was shot to death by an ultranationalist assailant in January 2007, had filed a case at the European Court of...
July 2010
9 posts
4 tags
Cameron Backs Turkey Bid to Join E.U.
The New York Times
BRUSSELS — David Cameron, the British prime minister, on Tuesday sharply criticized opponents of Turkey’s membership in the European Union, echoing concerns voiced in the United States that the bloc was doing too little to anchor Ankara within the West.
Commentary: How interesting is it that David Cameron said this during the press conference after his meeting with Obama?
...
4 tags
Peace Symphony of the Youth
Translated article
Original article written by Mine G. Kirikkanat
Vatan newspaper
16.07.2010
Democracy, first and foremost, is the freedom of expression and enlightenment. The smash of this freedom, either by civilian Oxford shoes or combat boots, does not chance the outcome. Pruning democracy, entirely or partially, is tyranny.
My previous column titled “Francoist Turkey” was about just how...
In the 1960s, a student at Harvard Law School addressed parents and alumni with these words:
The streets of our country are in turmoil. The universities are filled with students rebelling and rioting. Communists are seeking to destroy our country. Russia is threatening us with her might. And the republic is in danger. Yes! danger from within and without. We need law and order! Without law...
5 tags
Another perspective on Kurdish issue: Taraf...
Translated article
Original article written by Ahmet Altan
Taraf newspaper
08.07.2010
Background information before you read: In Turkey, Taraf is a newspaper that has caused controversies, having affirmed the Armenian Genocide. The paper severely opposes the interference of the Turkish Military in civilian affairs. Contrary to the stance of the Turkish community, Taraf also supports the...
1 tag
“Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion.”
– Democritus
3 tags
Remembering Madımak
Translated article
Original article taken from Hurriyet newspaper
02.07.2010
Date: July 2, 1993
Place: Sivas
In July 2 of 1993, the governor of Sivas Ahmet Karabilgin invited artists to the town for the Pir Sultan Abdal festival organized by Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association. A rather barbaric fight that involved sticks and stones took place during the festival at the Culture...
4 tags
Secrecy of private life: 1984 and conspiracy...
Immanuel Kant states in his essay “Perpetual Peace” that the only way to maintain peace is through establishment of a “one world government”. If we were living in utopia instead of the world, then I would agree with the statement. Although “world government” seems all well and good in theory, we should keep in mind that the world we live in today is under the influence of manipulative powers. With...
1 tag
Red is too bright for your taste? Try pink.
Translated article
Original article written by Yilmaz Ozdil
Hurriyet newspaper
30.06.2010
Background information before you read: Islamic cults and tariqats of the Ottoman Empire were focused on Sufism and elevated Islam by taking Islam beyond the religious book. Yet, eventually the purpose of the cults changed. Religious leaders began manipulating religion and used the members for their own...
2 tags
“Give me knowledge or give me death!”
– Kurt Vonnegut
June 2010
2 posts
2 tags
On Television
“…These opiates are structurally identical to heroin and opium and just like the drugs themselves, endorphins are habit forming and addictive. Krugman observed that whilst watching television, right brain activity is at least twice as potent as left brain activity. As with many other scientists, psychophisiologist, Dr. Thomas Mulholland, arrived at the same conclusions, notably that alpha...
2 tags
German Millionaires Volunteer to Pay 'Rich Tax' →
“A group of 51 German millionaires and billionaires founded a Club of the Wealthy and wrote to Chancellor Angela Merkel proposing to give up 10 percent of their income in the form of a “Rich Tax” for 10 years to consolidate the budget.
With an estimated 800,000 millionaires (in dollars) — about 1 percent of the total population — Germany is eye-to-eye with the USA and has long...