The old people said, "Let everyone settle down so that peace may come." I am wishing a slowly changing peaceful climate for our country.
New Turkey
I am somewhat obsessed with this term. I believe the questions "which new and whose new" to be well answered. The term "new" has been used since Nizam-i Cedid for every desire for change. Nizam-i Cedid came out within a purpose to regulate the foreign policy and diplomacy primarily and the decayed institutions of the Ottoman Empire. Historians argue that the theoretical foundations of this movement are based on the writings of ambassadors such as Ebubekir Ratib Efendi, that is, the changing of the diplomacy rules in the New Age Europe. Today the effects of the similar dynamics play a big role, but the main point and references must be well demonstrated. Such spirit of the new age has always frightened me, as someone who read a lot of history. Besides, we spent most of our life with impositions and struggling against those who told us in the name of modernity that our belief and world view is outdated and left behind. When doing the restoration, we should pay attention to this psychology, because I am a conservative!
The local administrations in the1920s
The basis for pro-Reform (Tanzimat) statesmen was not liberty, but the safety of the people and their earnings. Bringing the people"s participation into politics was not seen as the basis. In the Ottoman state tradition, since governance required qualification and knowledge, the common people were never seen worthy of it. Sadrazam Rüstü Pasa"s word "The common people have no skills in the constitutional monarchy. In the liberty of the people, there is much harm." The trace of this mindset is still applicable for today"s state structure, too. The dreams of our forefathers, who laid the seeds of the modern and new Turkey attempting to switch from a patrimonial administration into a populist regime, have not come true yet.
The first Turkish Parliament strived to reduce the central authority and control of the state to the minimum and prepared the constitutional law and regulations according to this understanding. In relation to the local administrations, Komün Idareleri Kanunu Layihasi "the Frame of the Commune Administration Laws" was one of these. Since we consider the first republic important, I would say let us take a glance to the first democratic attempt Idare-i Kura ve Nevahi Kanunu Layihasi or the "Administration of towns and districts law". At that time, just like other main principles of the constitution, this law that became obsolete might give some inspiration in order to understand the philosophy of that term.
It was hard to believe, but became true
If a time traveler had come to me in 2001 and told me news from the future that AK Party would give out two presidents and realize a handover ceremony in 2014 and the two hijabi, or headscarved, wives could take pictures at the summit of the state, I would probably not think it would not be possible. While I was watching the ceremonies, I thought about Turkey changing beyond its dreams. I feel indebted to thank the 11th President, Abdullah Gül, because he properly represented our cause and his office. I also wish great success for Mr. Erdogan in his new position who has been the first elected President. May the Lord bless him with nobility and the success to carry out his task. As a founder of the AK Party, when I was watching this I got emotional as much as I did with the ceremony of the foundation at Bilkent.
The wives
The scenes in the photographs of President Tayyip Erdogan"s inauguration ceremony in the Parliament, grabbed my attention. In the past, ladies with headscarves could not come in and now they are adding color. In the past, those ladies were allowed to participate only if they took their headscarves off. Now everyone attends with their wives. However, the Army Chief and other commanders didn"t show up with their wives in the same photos. I wish their wives also attended to this ceremony. And it was underlined that being veiled or not was never a big matter in the state"s representation in Turkey anymore.
Fairness
I have never been invited to the reception at Çankaya Palace (except the meal given in the honor of Mr. President of Germany) because of one of my articles which I wrote in 2007. (I guess there are other possibilities). I have never been invited to an international trip (even though I am a journalist who is very deeply into foreign countries). I mean, my name is not on any of the records. I am not writing this to complain. It is the host"s decision and his/her position associated with it. And the courtesy requires you to respect that decision.
It was last week"s agenda, but I couldn"t skip it this week. I found the comments about outgoing first Lady Hayrunnisa Gül"s comments – which I believe an unfortunate statement – as killing without pity. I believe the timing of these comments, which come from a once-very-close circle, as killing because they all spoke out at a time when the new political scene became clearer. Politics are passing but the friendships outlast.
No matter what, Mrs. Gül has been our first headscarved first lady in Çankaya. We have to hand it to her that she has completed her duty of representation without any mistakes. She has bared the responsibility that her position has required of her. She doesn"t deserve any of those comments, just because she made an unfortunate explanation at an emotional moment of hers.
P.S.: I deleted the part I"d written on the headscarf and leaders" wives due to space concern. I will continue next week.
