"BİZ HERŞEYİMİZİ ATATÜRK'E BORÇLUYUZ." & "DERSİMİZ ATATÜRK": W.D.C. ve TORONTO/Iki 19 Mayis Programindan notlar...
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�INSURGENTS COULD RESPECT ONE ANOTHER - NOT HATE THE WAY THEY DID DURING
THE ANZAC WAR in GALLIPOLI�.
Bircan UNVER, The Light Millennium
http://www.lightmillennium.org
Notes and Thoughts from the 130th Birthday Celebration program for Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk among the national Youth and Support Day of Turkey at the
Turkish Embassy in W.D.C. on May 19, 2011.
�We owe everything to Ataturk. Without him, we wouldn�t be here�When we
look at a mirror, we believe we see our own reflection; however, the face
before us is really the reflection of Ataturk.� �. Ataturk is not only one
of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century, but is also one of the
greatest leaders of the 21st century and perhaps the next century to
follow.�
On May 19th, at his mansion in Washington D.C., Ambassador Namik Tan made
the following concluding remarks for the Program hosted in the honor of
Ataturk�s 130th death anniversary. �We owe everything to Ataturk. Without
him, we wouldn�t be here�When we look at a mirror, we believe we see our
own reflection; however, the face before us is really the reflection of
Ataturk.� �. Ataturk is not only one of the greatest leaders of the 20th
Century, but is also one of the greatest leaders of the 21st century and
perhaps the next century to follow.�
I greatly thank Ambassador Tan for these inspiring and influential words,
and also for hosting this event and the reception.
* * * * *
Associate Professor Edward J. Erickson�s (Marine Corps University)
presentation, which enforced how an individual�s power to change the
course of history is as important as the great victory at Gallipolu, and
which outlined major defeats and strategies through the showing of
photographs and historical documents, was the core of this program to
celebrate Ataturk�s 130th Birth anniversary, held at the Turkish Embassy�s
residential (mansion) in Washington D.C.
Because of the massive crowd of attendees, which left people listening and
watching the program standing, Associate Professor Edward Erickson�s
presentation (which was scheduled to be one-hour long,) had to be cut
short at 30 minutes. After announcing his e-mail address for potential
questions that would give attendees a chance to ask their questions or
obtain further information due to the time constraints, Ambassador Tan
stated: �Do not be upset that we had to cut your presentation short
because it is impossible to honor and discuss Ataturk in one hour alone.�
One of the photographs that Dr. Erickson focused on, was that of two
Ottoman soldiers posing in badly worn-out uniforms in Palestine; Dr.
Erikson emphasized the poverty and the terrible conditions of these
soldiers in such a war. This photo also represents Ataturk�s
un-measureable success and bravery as a determined leader who was standing
strong amidst much tougher circumstances than Palestine is in today. In
that time period, the soldiers were so impoverished that the sandbags that
were meant to be used for defense during combat, were instead utilized to
mend the worn-out uniforms of the Ottoman soldiers. And it is this picture
that depicts this tragic time of poverty and struggle so well.
That photograph has also been a great asset to America regarding the
arduous circumstances under which Turkey attained victory in the Battle of
Gallipoli because during this period, Ottomans was struggling to overcome
both internal and external conflicts. Dr. Erickson stated that he still
cannot fathom how Ataturk was able to remain so faithful and trust himself
and his cavalries that despite many failures, he did not give up amidst
the attacks and attempts to debilitate Ottomans.
Dr. Erickson also highlighted the concept that a nation can win a war with
respect and in a civilized way, which was one of the remarkable and very
unique aspects of the Anzac War, in which insurgents were not in a war
with hate, but rather with respect for one another even under attack
conditions.
* * * * *
I thank Bulent Atalay, the President of the Ataturk Society, for inviting
me to this event.
I would also like to thank Ms. Oya Bain (ATAA) for her generous
hospitality, for introducing me to her friends and colleagues, and for the
photographs she took, which openly reflect the unforgettable moments of
the evening.
Following Dr. Erickson�s presentation and making a few concluding remarks,
Ambassador Tan called the guests for a reception that set a remarkable
example of Turkish cuisine. The presence of threehundred guests
celebrating both the Official Youth and Support Day of Turkey and
Ataturk�s 130th Birthday on May 19th, also reflected the need for such a
celebration in Ataturk�s honor on that particular date in the U.S.
With that effect and inspiration, I propose that Ataturk�s Birthday among
the Youth and Support Day of Turkey be celebrated together each year on
May 19th, and hope that this will taken into account by the major
Turkish-American organizations in the US and also nation-wide in Turkey,
in 2012. I believe this sort of program will further enable us to learn
from Ataturk and to prolong his conviction that we shouldn�t surrender
when faced with a possibility of defeat.
However, it saddens me that while I am considering to put in an early
effort to plan for next year�s event, this year, the Turkish-American
organizations and community at large in New York and nation-wide in the
U.S., failed to play an active role in 2011�s May 19th Youth & Sports
Celebration, and the remembrance of Ataturk�s 130th Birth Day.
I would also like to point out the almost-discreet attitude of the
organizers of the program that stood silently at the �Turkish Center� for
the �Youth and Support Day� and did not spread a message by the leaders of
the Turkish-American organization for celebrating Ataturk�s 130th
Birthday. I consider it a failure that there was no effort made to reach
out to the public and celebrate it, seeing that it is one of our national
and one of the most cultural events. The sole reason I became aware of
that particular event was due to correspondence with a close friend.
I remain perplexed over why this event was not an open invitation for all
Turkish-Americans in New York. It is almost as if this was a celebration
was meant to be a �small, unannounced family gathering.�
Furthermore, why is it that we have to adopt all national holidays from
America and the Western world such as Mothers day, Fathers Day, Valentines
Day, etc.? But why are we changing the actual date of the National Youth
and Support Day of Turkey? And, how come there was not issued a message
by, in particular, major Turkish-American organizations for Celebrating
Ataturk�s 130th Birth Day!
Furthermore, I read some articles and comments in Turkish media from time
to time that are very disturbing. In particular, over the last 2 years, it
appears there have been attempts to debilitate supporters in Turkey to
stop them from recognizing and celebrating �Youth and Support Day.� I
consider this to be a fundamental threat not only changing �secularism� in
Turkey but, in particular, by the force of political power, religiously
and traditionally impeding girls from the elementary to high school from
celebrating their rights. Turkey is the first and only country to consider
April 23rd a National Holiday since 1923, but it has not been able to get
it accepted by the United Nations as the �International Children
Observance Day.� that is also one of the most effective avenues to be
recognized culturally on the international level. Bence buna gerek yok�For
instance, there is a week to remember Holocaust victims, but there has not
a single day that dedicated for the Children of the World at the United
Nations. It is hard to understand why Turkey has not presented it to the
General Assembly of the UN yet!
With that effect, it appears that Turkish officials in Turkey and most
Turkish-American organizations in the US are on their way to promptly
removing or abandoning the core values of the Republic of Turkey and
secularism in the form of not recognizing and celebrating it as a national
holiday this year as on the 130th Birthday of the founder of Turkey! I
don�t see this happening among any other national society in the United
States. Think about how tenaciously the Jews and Armenians, Hispanic etc.,
value their nationalities, cultures, and identities.
I am personally deeply disappointed by all the efforts that were put into
ignoring and not celebrating it instead of owning it more than ever! In
conclusion, a country cannot stand on imported cultural values alone;
cultural identity cannot shape and be internally & internationally
recognized alone either, by �imported special days,� while giving up our
own.
In particular, we need to carry out and further develop our, national,
cultural, and traditional identities more than ever. The Turkish community
must be recognized and exist peacefully and effectively, both as a
national and as individual Turkish citizens. I believe this is the only
way to solve this problem, as it was illustrated for May 19th in this
year.
-From Turkish to English, translated by Idil Baysal, and expanded by the
author.
Bircan �nver, The Light Millennium - http://www.lightmillennium.org For
the original version: http://www.isikbinyili.org
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