Category Archives: Turkey

Turkey Moves To Reduce Democracy

Posted on December 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The coming to power of the Justice and Development Party(AKP) in Turkey witnessed the decline in power of the military to decide who rules the nation. Many hoped a new era would dawn in Turkey in which forces of democracy led the nation. Alas, that has not born fruition. Prime Minister Recept Erdogan has gradually displayed authoritarian behavior which reduces the extent of democray. He has used the weapon of fear, the voice of terrorism in order to diminish rights of opposition political parties to express their ideas.

The AKP is now considering abolishing the immunity of Parliament deputies on issues related to terrorism and corruption. A new concept identifies “organic ties with terrorism” which simply means if deputies speak in favor of Kurds that automatically means they are supporting terrorism.

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Multicultural, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Social Justice, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, World News

Armenian Genocide

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Yes, there was a genocide carried out against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during the World War I era. The Royal Library in Denmark put on an exhibition which depicted the horror of this genocide only to cave in under protests from Turkish officials and then present a counter exhibit which proved there was not genocide. Actually, the American ambassador to Turkey reported what he saw as did thousands of others. Innocent men, women, and children were murdered.

Matthias Bjamlund, a Danish  historian put the issue quite simply: “if you believe that all versions of history are equal, then you’ve undermined your role as as a research institution.” What next, the “Nazi side of the Holocaust”with pictures tho prove 6,000,000 Jews fled to South America??

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Posted in Barack Obama, Christianity, Conservatives, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Multicultural, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Social Justice, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, War, World News

No More Uniforms!

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

 

The Justice and Development Party of Turkey is determined to extend religious values within society after 75 years of secular ideas being central to Turkish society. Under new regulations students in state schools no longer will have to wear uniforms and no longer will girls be forbidden to  wear headscarves in class. Students will no longer be compelled to wear uniforms while participating in physical education activities. The thrust of this legislation is ending secular ideas and attempting to create a new Turkey in which religion plays a more forceful role.

The danger of this movement is angering about 35% of the Turkish population which does not want their children to be exposed to religious indoctrination in school. It is one thing to allow Muslim females to wear a headscarf, it is another to c0mpel all children to receive religious education.

 

 

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Posted in Conservatives, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Multicultural, Muslims, Politics, Religion, Social Justice, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, World News

No Hunger Strike?

Posted on November 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Every so often political leaders come up with ideas that leave me baffled. Ria Oomen-Ruitjten, who holds the job of being the European Parliament’s Turkey rappoteur, made clear to Turkish dissidents threatening to go on a hunger strike that hunger strikes are no allowed in the EU. HuH? She believes conducting  hunger strike is “an unacceptable method in a democracy. If you have an aim, you should get involved in politics and try to convince people.”

Yes, as the Turkish police beat the hell out of you or throw your body into stinking cell where fear of death awaits, just get involved and life will be wonderful! Many Kurdish protesters are using hunger strikes to gain recognition from the world that Prime Minister Erdogan’s government uses violence or  prison sentences to quiet opposition groups.

How about contacting Erdogan and letting him know that sending people to jail because they have differing views violates EU laws?

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Education, Europe, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Multicultural, Peace, Politics, Religion, Social Justice, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, World News

He’s The Caliph, Not Me!

Posted on November 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

President Bashar al-Assad is rather upset because the Turkish prime minister makes nasty remarks as to how he handles the people in his nation. Assad regards himself as defender of secularism in the Middle East and warns the world that Turkey wants to impose the Muslim religion on all people who reside in the region. “Erdogan thinks that if the Muslim Brotherhood takes over in the region–especially in Syria– he can guarantee his own political future. He personally thinks he is the new Ottoman  sultan and that he can control the region as it was during the Ottoman Empire. In his heart, he thinks he is a Caliph.”

Assad raises an interesting issue– is the secular nation of Syria a symbol of the  new or old world of the Middle East? Ironically, the more secular Assad regime is closer to what most western nations would like to see in this region- societies in which both secular and religious groups work in a coalition. It is not happening in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood seeks complete power.

Life is strange when a murderer like Assad raises interestint points.

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Religion, Social Justice, Syria, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, War, World News

Politics, Turkish Style

Posted on November 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

I am an inhabitant of the United States of America. I am an American so reading about politicians who have no respect for anyone other than self, is not news. The Republican candidate for the US Senate defined “compromise” as meaning his opponent accepted  his ideas. In Turkey, Prime Minister Recept Erdogan has been engaged in a campaign to compel all opponents to go along with his ideas or face not merely being expelled from Parliament, but being sent directly to the nearest prison. Erdogan’s rival is Republican People’s Party leader Kemal Kilicdarglu, who,for some reason still doesn’t get the message that opposing the Justice and Development Party can be dangerous to one’s health and safety. Erdogan finally had enough of someone making nasty remarks about him and uttered an old Bedouin phrase: “As a matter of fact, whenever Kilidaroglu denigrates the government, praises for Turkey come from the world.” And, he added a coment about his opponent: “the ill-fated Bedouin will be fucked by polar bears in the desert.”

His buddy responded with a comment onecan readily hear in the US Senate, “I don’t understand such things, I just fucking move on.” I think it is time for everyone to move on.

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Democrats, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Multicultural, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Religion, Republicans, Ron Paul, Social Justice, Turkey, United States, US Foreign Policy, War, World News

Love Should Not Bloom

Posted on October 31, 2012 by | Leave a comment

It is fall, gentle winds caress the faces of young boys and girls who wander through the campus of a new university which has been built in southeastern Turkey.  However, something terrible is now happening to our wonderful young college students. Oh my God! They now are holding hands, oh my God, did you see that boy and girl actually kiss one another and –in public! The Turkish Green Crescent’s city chief Lutfu Guniuoglu said, “girls and boys began to hang around hand in hand, arm in arm, and in close embrace and make love immodestly in front of people in terms of freedom and civilization.”

Well, that stuff has to end and Turkey must return to the good old days of modesty and staying at arms length. First, a touch, then an embrace, and you can readily know what the end result is! A baby!

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Religion, Turkey, World News

Turkey Seeks Israel Apology

Posted on October 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Once upon a time, the nation of Israel had close relationships with Turkey which assured their government of a firm ally in the Middle East. However, due to hard work on the part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relations between the two nations have deteriorated. A Turkish spokesman called upon Israel to take the first steps in working for reconciliation. Turkey called upon Israel to apologize for attacks on Turkish ships that were bound for Gaza.

Philip Avivi, of the Israel Foreign Ministry argued, “we should leave outside problems outside of Israel and Turkey and look to the future.” Absolutely, just apologize and move on! Why do nations have such difficulty admitting mistakes is the question?

I forgot all about PRIDE!

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Democrats, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Israel, Judaism, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Multicultural, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Religion, Republicans, Social Justice, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, War, World News

Turkey, Russia, Syria

Posted on October 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Turkish government is becoming increasingly angry at efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply his fellow tyrant, President Bashar al-Assad with weapons of destruction which wind up assisting in the murder of innocent people. A Russian plane headed for Damascus was forced to land by Turkish fighter planes and the cargo was soon studied. They found parts of missiles and communication systems that could be used by an armed force.

Putin is furious. As the King of Putin land no one, and I mean, no one, is allowed to contradict words or actions of our beloved leader and teacher. He made clear to the Turkish government that if anyone wants to arrest or hassle Russians, then check with him because he has that power. Where did the Turks get the idea they could halt Russian citizens, they could take Russian citizens off a plane? Hell, man, only The Man has that power and we all know who is The Man!
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Democracy Is A Broken Turkey

Posted on October 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has worked to end military rule in his country and in the process sent dozens of military officers to jail. However, in the process he has also imprisoned newspaper reporters and members of opposition parties in order to ensure that his version of “democracy”is the accepted dogma for all Turks. President Abduallah Gul, his ally and fellow member of the Justice and Development Party, increasingly is concerned about the drift toward an autocratic government.  He wants Turkey to respect the rule of law, but that also means Parliament should “represent the full range of colors and views.”

Gull expressed support for arrested members of the Peace and Democracy Party(BDP) and made clear that “no one should be imprisoned for expressing their views through the media.”  Erdogan could only respond to this plea for democracy with “we do not share this opinion.”

Unless Erdogan is curbed not only will political liberty be threatened but so will religious freedom.

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Posted in Barack Obama, Conservatives, Education, Gender Issues, Hilary Clinton, Human Rights, Islam, Liberals, Military, Mitt Romney, Multicultural, Muslims, Peace, Politics, Social Justice, Turkey, US Foreign Policy, War, World News