Why do we perceive everything as a matter of life or death? This phrase has been used very often lately because of the upcoming elections. “These elections are a matter of life and death, that is how important they are.” Journalists opposing the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) see Nov. 1 as the end to an era, and the beginning of another. As if the conquer of Istanbul will re-happen.
The media groups, political parties, journalists, and all supporters of political traders that are campaigning saying, “The AK Party shouldn't come to power alone” are scaring the public with: “These elections are a matter of life or death. That is how important they are.”
Will the AK Party's coming to power alone really be a matter of life or death for them? They are hoping to increase sensitivity through fear, and win the battle of revenge, rage, hatred that they have waged on the AK Party. Well, what if the AK Party comes to power alone? What if people aren't frightened, and this time they go to the ballot box and bring the AK Party as the sole power? What will happen then? Will there be death? Will they be praying that deaths occur because they have constantly being repeating this phrase?
Everyone knows by heart that the AK Party coming to power alone isn't a matter of life or death. Just as it wasn't in the past 13 years. Yet, by constantly repeating this phrase they are causing tensions to escalate, serious polarization and a perception of a state of emergency.
If your political opponent has brought the election to the level of a matter of life or death, then you simply have to gear up. It is for this reason that the AK Party staff and journalists who support the party have started to perceive this as a matter of life or death, too.
In response to the statements made by their opponents, they are saying, “a coalition is a matter of life or death.” If you consider the AK Party coming to power alone is a matter of life or death, then you cannot criticize your opponents for considering a coalition as a matter of life or death.
Deeming it as a matter of life or death will create high hopes. And naturally it will increase polarization and disintegration. Polarization is now our main agenda item.
There is a strange situation here: There is a constant call for the AK Party to “stop polarizing, dividing and creating tension.” However, ironically we haven't heard those specifically making this call, calling out for common sense in their own neighborhoods.
Polarization occurs when two opposite sides push each other a way. Yes, let's talk about the faults of the AK Party side, and criticize the faults of the media and the journalists who support them. In fact, let's criticize them first since they are the ruling party.
You are now reading a paper that exercises self-criticism the most. Despite this newspaper starting the “There is no other Turkey, we have opened our doors to everyone who has something to say” campaign, there has been some senseless people declaring our paper and even our editor-in-chief as “traitor.”
And again, Bülent Arınç has been mentioned in the columns of the anti-AK Party journalists, since he has been declared as “traitor” for self-criticizing his own party. These efforts are made so Turkey calms down again. The timing is open to questioning as there are only days left for the elections. However, I believe these are not attempts fuel the fire, but to put it out.
When all this is happening, let's look at the other side of the polarization. Which call for common sense and order has stuck in our minds? Have we read of any self-criticism by journalists of the Doğan Group, who are in the flagship of this current debate? Which one has said, “Our fault was such and such?”
When asked “What is your solution to end the current polarization,” they respond: “The AK Party shouldn't come to power alone, and President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan should step down.” Is this the just resolution to the issue? Well don't you have something to say to the opposition, and to the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) which hasn't managed to keep a distance between itself and the PKK? Why can't you act in the same way toward the media groups that support the AK Party and those who swear at the president, prime minister and AK Party supporters? Are the opposition supporting media groups decent, while AK Party supporters are claimed to be the black sheep?
If you want to understand whether someone is sincere about ending the polarization, you should see if they are self-criticizing or not. You can easily distinguish between a person who is sincerely concerned about the country's future and one that is concerned about his own prosperity.
Let's see this reality again: No election in Turkey is a matter of life or death. Politics isn't a matter of life or death. A party coming to power alone, or becoming a coalition partner isn't a matter of life or death.
The AK Party isn't the first party to come to power alone in this country, neither will it be the last. If a coalition government is formed, this wont be the first or the last. Turkey is strong enough to overcome these problems. It has overcome worse situations.
Approach people who perceive issues as a matter of life or death with caution. And find those people who can self-criticize first and then end the polarization, our country needs them.
