Sunday, February 24, 2008

WITH HENNA IN THEIR PALMS


Traditionally we use henna in three events: put henna on a lamb meaning to sacrifice to God, put henna on the bride before marriage to bring prosperity and acknowledge the sacrifice of the family, and put henna on the son being sent to the military to represent the sacrifice for the motherland. They are sent to their units with ceremonies, drums and pipes, folk dances and songs, and national marches. In a way, all of these show the inner acceptance of the possibility they may not come back alive.

Kurdistan Observer writes;

"Kurdish Freedom Fighters say Have Bodies of 15 of 22 Turkish Troops

“ZAKHU, Southern Kurdistan, - Kurdish PKK guerrillas said on Saturday they had recovered the bodies of 15 of the 22 Turkish soldiers they say they have killed in clashes since Turkey launched an offensive against them. The guerrillas had also begun planning reprisal attacks on Turkish soil, a spokesman for the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) said.

"There are 22 Turkish soldiers that have been killed and our soldiers have the bodies of 15," Ahmed Danees, head of foreign relations for the PKK, told Reuters by telephone, adding they would soon release the names of those killed."

Turkish media writes;

"Families mourn as bodies of soldiers flown home..

"The devastated families of soldiers martyred on the first day of a ground offensive into northern Iraq against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) yesterday waited for their fallen sons to be brought home. Five soldiers lost their lives during the operation, the biggest land incursion into Iraq to hit PKK targets in a decade, the military announced on Friday night. “Twenty-four terrorists were killed and many others were wounded. It is estimated that at least 20 more terrorists were rendered ineffective by artillery and helicopter gunships,” the military said.....
"The parents and brothers of Sgt. Yasin Keyvanoğlu were hospitalized in the central Anatolian city of Çorum after they received news the young man was among the five soldiers killed in Iraq. “He never planned to marry. For him, serving the homeland came above all else,” said father Seyfi Keyvanoğlu of his son, who had spent the past eight years in the army.

"In the central Anatolian city of Konya, father Abdullah Kemer recounted his last phone conversation with his son, Sgt. Selam Kemer, on Feb. 19. “He did not tell us anything about the operation. He only said he would send his latest photos. We got them two days ago,” said the mourning father. “I’m proud of my son. He was martyred for the fatherland.” Sgt. Kemer had been with the army for nearly five years."

Whatever the PKK ethnic nationalists say, it is not possible for Turkish Army to hide the number of causalties from Turkish public (they reached 15). Ethnic nationalism is "ethnic nationalism", whether it is for Turkish or Kurdish it’s danger don’t differ. And, ask yourself, what kind of a freedom fighter can carry the bodies of the 19-20 years old soldiers they murdered with them. Though we wrote yesterday; they are "All our sons, Not numbers", seems like terror can't see those lifes behind numbers...

Regardless of their religion or ethnicity all male Turkish citizens have to serve in the military for a certain period. Not only the culture but also the Turkish constitution defines "fallen soldiers" / "martyrs" with high regard. According to law a "martyr" is one "who dies under direct fire or is wounded and dies because of these wounds during war. Or the one who is behind the front but dies because of enemy fire, or is wounded and dies during treatment. Who dies immediately or is wounded and dies because of the wound during National Security duty, fighting against terror or anarchy, protecting the borders, etc..."

As may be seen, "defending the nation / country" is essential. The religion and beliefs of these soldiers may have great importance in their determination and heroism individually, but what they go to die for is "motherland." Martyrdom is highly regarded not only for our own people, but for all regardless of their nation or religion. A good example of this cultural acceptance is the martyrdom monuments for many nations built in the Gallipoli area (more than 30 cemeteries and memorials).

The day before, a new age group sent with ceremonies to their term of military service. Not only the young men but families were so strong too. Some TV channals tried to talk with mothers, fathers who came to farewell their sons. There was no single teardrop but reflection of honor, how proud they feel sending their sons to defend the country, although their hearts were burning with the fire of the possibility of loosing them.

One day the door may knock by three officers (one psychologist) to give the news of their son's matryrdom, his coffin may came covered with Turkish flag. Or there might be no knocking doors but their sons may declared lost, it may not be possible even reach to bodies or wait coffins.

Can there be greater pain? It is not easy to answer. But there is something greater than that pain; "acceptance" and "determination". If they can stand that pain, it is that acceptance and determination from the begining what helps the consolation.

Turkiye is not aiming to invade anyone's land. Turkiye only wants to stop the terrorism. Citizens of this country is fed up with terrorism. Every logical one should be aware of Kurdish problem and know it’s solution can’t find with armed conflicts. Terrorists announce with their own words how / what they plan in main cities, target civilians (dozens, may be hundreds but mainly in numbers again). Whatever the foreign media delivers PKK don’t and can't represents all Kurds.

We lived the Diyarbakır bombing which burned our youngsters’ only 2 months ego. We are living under threats of suicide or various kinds of bombings. When we wake up, we can not be sure what the day may bring, if all the family members may turn home alive.

So, what if they have bodies of soldiers, our sons they murdered? So, what if there are more bodies of terrorists (who are also our sons) which army didn't find and announced yet? What if we will loose more? We already know, aware and accepted to loose much more sons and daughters, to welcome much more coffins.

War is the plague imperialism feed from. Who knows how many international groups’, corporations’ benefits, plans lies behind the news we are reading about the wars which takes our children’s lives… We already lost tens of thousands, generations; can we save at least next generations…

If there is a price to pay; we already paid more than enough and ready to pay much more. If only we can manage not to play on the tunes of imperialism any more... If only some can cease from counting our sons and daughters only as numbers any more...

For us? They have never been numbers. They are the lads we sent with henna in their palms and their names carved in our hearts...

Don't your hearts ache for every life lost in wars, who ever they are; civilians or your soldiers or terrorists...

Saturday, February 23, 2008

GROUND OPERATION; ALL OUR BOYS, NOT NUMBERS...


Latest news reports "Zap" base (Cemto hill and valley where kidnapped Turkish soldiers kept)of terrorists is destroyed and now the target is Kandil. Many soldiers from different units/ areas applied as volunteers to participate the operation at the front and their petitions sent to headquarters. Dozens civilians also apply to Military recruiting offices to volunteer taken under obligation and sent to northern Iraq. Police in cities are in alarm for possible suicide bomb attacks. There are some other reports about the chaos in PKK, between the leading group. There had been some members surrendered to officials in various paleces around the country.

There are two interesting points to pay attention in international news; Operation begin only few days after Bush wanted more involvement of Turkish Forces in Afghanistan and Putin announced they can use force in Kosovo only half an hour fallowing Turkiye announced the Ground Operation "Sun" (name of the daughter of a late martyr).

Ofcourse the greatest opportunism came from our own President; he signed the law on headcarf ban in universities as soon as the operation begin. Could there be a better time to prevent protests?...

Here are some news from Turkish media in English;

(HURRIYET)HIGHLIGHTS - Turkey launches ground operation vs PKK in Northern Iraq

The ground operation started after Turkish warplanes and artillery bombed suspected PKK targets on Thursday, the military said on its Web site. The operation is expected to last 15 days, CNN Turk reported, citing security sources.

-- TV channels and news agencies reported 10,000 troops were taking part in the cross-border offensive and the Turkish troops entered 10 km inside the Iraqi border. But CNN Turk reported 3,000 troops from special forces take part in the operation, citing security sources. Reports say the operation focused on the Hakurk region of northern Iraq.

-- Turkish General Staff said 24 terrorists were killed and several others were wounded in clashes between terrorists and Turkish security teams on Friday. General Staff said in a statement it is estimated that at least 20 moreterrorists were rendered ineffective by artillery and helicopter gunships. Five Turkish soldiers died in clashes, it stated.

The statement said a group of terrorists escaped to the southern part in the clash. The operation merely targeted terrorist organization, it reiterated. "Cross-border operation that was launched by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) against terrorist organization PKK in the north of Iraq as of 7 p.m. on February 21st, 2008 continues as it was planned," the statement said. Hideouts of terrorists were shelled by artillery and armed helicopters, it added

-- Iraq and the coalition forces based in the country said couple of hundred Turkish troops are taking part in the operation. Turkey's military has only sent several hundred troops into a remote part of northern Iraq to hunt PKK, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters on Friday. Only a "few hundred" Turkish soldiers are taking part in an operation against PKK in northern Iraq, a senior military officer with coalition forces based in Baghdad said.

-- However, Turkish General Staff denied on Friday some new reports about the objective and the scope of the ground operation launched into north of Iraq against terrorist organization as well as the number of troops took part in the operation.

General Staff said in its website that several media organs aired news and archives footage that contradicted with the scope, objective and nature of the operation, including the number of troops, and that comments were made regarding these footage. It said they gave wrong messages to Turkish people and the international community, adding that they have the risk in some cases to lead to unnecessary tensions and expectations. It stated that information --except for given by the General Staff-- should not be given credit. General Staff also noted that terrorist organization released statements full of propaganda under cover of news agency, underlining that these statements should be disregarded.

-- Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said this operation started a new phase in the efforts to isolate PKK. Erdogan repeated that the operation's sole target is PKK. "Iraqi people are not our targets" he said. Erdogan said on Friday he had spoken by telephone on Thursday night with U.S. President George W. Bush about Turkish troops' land offensive into northern Iraq.

-- Oil prices headed back towards record highs Friday with New York crude nearing 99 dollars as the market reacted to Turkeys move into northern Iraq amid persistent concerns about supply, traders said.

-- The Turkish General Staff released the photos of the operation on its official website. The photos can be viewed here. (The site is in Turkish)

Commanders in Ankara on alarm for the past 48 hours

by Metehan Demir

The historical land operation being carried out by Turkish Armed Forces into Northern Iraq is occuring with great secrecy and professional, sources said.

ANKARA - In order to ensure the success of the newly started operation, the last two days have seen a very silent and deep set of preparations.

Sources also told hurriyet.com.tr that all units in connection with the Turkish military's General Staff have been put on alarm, and that all related personnel work vacations have been cancelled for the time being.

COMMANDERS STAYED IN

In Ankara, where the General Staff headquarters of the Turkish military is based, neither General Yasar Buyukanit nor second in command, General Ergin Saygun, nor other unit commanders, have gone home in the past two days due to planning for the operation now underway. Information sharing has been limited to the principle of a "need to know" basis from the General Staff headquarters.

The land operation is being guided and run by the main coordination General Staff War Operations Center. All developments in the land invasion are being tracked on an immediate basis through video images streaming in from satellites and airplanes in the region.

(NTVMNSBC) Turkish opposition leaders back military strike into Iraq

ANKARA - The leaders of Turkey’s two largest parliamentary opposition parties have backed the military operation launched by Turkish troops into northern Iraq targeting the terrorist group the PKK.

Deniz Baykal, the leader of the centre left Republican People’s Party (CHP), said Friday that the ground attack took the fight against the PKK to a new and important stage.

It was essential that Turkey carry through with the operation and eliminate the PKK and its bases in northern Iraq, Baykal said.

“We have to conclude this operation,” he said hours after the Turkish General Staff announced it had sent troops over the border into Iraq. “We should have the responsibility to conclude the issue in a very determined and clear way.”

Once the cross border operation was completed, every effort should be made to ensure the threat posed by the PKK was removed, he said.

Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the far right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said that not only was the operation necessary but there was also the need to temporarily deploy Turkish troops inside Iraq to create a security zone in Iraq’s north.

“Although it is a belated move, this first ground operation under the rule of Justice and Development Party constitutes a very important step and it is deduced from recent statements on the issue that operation would be limited in duration and scope,” Bahceli said.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and cabinet spokesman Cemil Cecik said the Turkish army was conducting operations under severe winter conditions and was working to preserve the unity and security of the country.

“As we stated earlier, these operations target only the terrorist organization PKK and its hideouts,” he said. “We do not have any problems with civilian people living there. They are our sisters and brothers.”

(SABAH) DTP: "Return when mission is accomplished"

Erdoğan said: "we will not have a negative attitude towards Iraqi people. Turkish Armed Forces will return in a short time after reaching the target."

After Turkey's operation to Northern Iraq, the top level politicians of Turkey emphasized that the operation is against the PKK forces in the region and the local people will not be affected by the operation and added that Turkish and Kurdish people are brothers. The Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he informed the US president Bush about the land operation. Erdoğan said: "we will reach the targets in a short time and then will return immediately. The operation targets are terrorist camps. We do not have a negative attitude towards Iraqi people. I informed the US president Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki. Gül spoke to Talabani."

"Stop the operation"

The only political party objecting to the land operation was DTP. Demirtaş said: "our attitude is clear, we are against operation. There are other solutions."

The only political party objecting to the land operation was DTP. Party group vice chairman Selahattin Demirtaş held a press conference and said: "our attitude is clear, we are against operation. There was a permanent solution to Kurdish issue which is dialogue." Demirtaş added: "The people attempted to show DTP as partisan of war. Turkey was dragged into a regional war; only political party objecting to this is DTP."

(Turkish Daily News)24 terrorists, 5 troops killed in clashes

ANKARA – Turkish Daily NewsThe military said at least 24 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists were killed in clashes in northern Iraq, in a statement posted to its website early Saturday. It also said five troops were killed.

It added that it believes around another 20 terrorists have been killed by artillery and helicopter fire, but said the exact toll would be determined once troops reach the targeted area.

"It has been understood from preliminary information that the terrorists have suffered heavy losses under long-range weapons fire and air strikes," it said, adding that many PKK members were also wounded in the continued fighting.

(ZAMAN) Gül invites Iraq’s Talabani to Turkey

President Abdullah Gül has extended a long-awaited invitation to his Iraqi counterpart, Jalal Talabani, to visit Turkey, the presidency announced yesterday.

A visit by Talabani, a Kurd, has long been an issue of controversy in Turkey. Former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer refused to invite him during his term in office and the military has said it would avoid talks with Iraqi Kurds, accusing them of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly said there had been talks with Talabani because he is the president of Iraq, but rejected dialogue at a senior level with Massoud Barzani, leader of the semiautonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq. Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said there were still problems with Barzani since the Kurdish leader has so far not taken steps to win Turkey's trust in the fight against the PKK.

The invitation to Talabani came after the Turkish military launched a ground offensive into northern Iraq to hunt down PKK terrorists. The Presidency Press Office said Gül briefly spoke to Talabani on the phone on Thursday evening to inform the Iraqi leader about the land operation launched by the Turkish troops and to let him know that the National Security Council (MGK), which convened earlier on Thursday, had agreed to take steps to develop relations with Iraq in all areas. He also invited the Iraqi president to visit Turkey during the same conversation.

Talabani accepted Gül's invitation, an Iraqi news report said, but there was no immediate information on when the visit would take place. Talabani has said in the past that he was ready to visit Turkey as soon as he receives an invitation.

Gül's phone conversation with Talabani and the invitation appear to be aimed at containing possible damage in relations with Iraq due to the ground offensive. The MGK said in a statement after its regular meeting that cross-border operations into Iraq will continue as long they are deemed necessary, but emphasized that the top political and military officials attending the meeting also confirmed the importance Turkey attaches to Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity. The MGK said efforts to improve cooperation with Iraq in economic, commercial, cultural, military and energy fields were discussed.
Talks with Maliki

In addition to presidential talks, the prime ministers of Turkey and Iraq also spoke on the phone on Thursday evening, Turkish and Iraqi officials said.

Prime Minister Erdoğan said he informed his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri al-Maliki, about the land offensive in their telephone conversation on Thursday. In a statement, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Maliki told Erdoğan that Iraq considered the PKK a threat to their shared border but urged dialogue to promote security.

"Maliki asked Erdoğan to respect the sovereignty of Iraq's borders and the inviolability of its lands ... and stressed the importance of avoiding a military solution," Dabbagh said. "Maliki also said the Iraqi government supports the security and stability of Turkey and considers the PKK a terrorist organization that represents a threat to Turkey and the border areas between the two countries."

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

GROUND OPERATION?

News Agencies break the below news a few minutes ago;

Turkey is considering a ground operation against PKK based in northern Iraq.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said a ground cross-border operation against the PKK is on the table, while the Iraqi Kurdish leader threatened Turkey on Tuesday, saying they will not "remain silent" against the operations.

"The option of a ground operation is on the table. The timing (of such an operation) and weather conditions are important," Babacan told reports on his way to Moscow, where he heads for an official visit, according to the CNN Turk.

Turkey has massed tens of thousands of troops along its mountainous frontier with Iraq. It has already carried out in recent months small-scale cross-border commando operations as well as aerial bombing raids PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US.

Massoud Barzani, the leader of the regional Kurdish administration in the Northern Iraq, threatened Turkey on Tuesday, saying they will not remain “silent” to Turkish army’s air operations in the region.

"It is very unnecessary for us to ask the Iraqi government 'to do something against the Turkey’s attacks'... I am declaring that if Turkey's attacks on the Federal Kurdistan's soil continue, we will not remain silent", Barzani told the al Arabiya television.

Babacan urged Barzani to declare the PKK as a terrorist organization. "Barzani should declare the PKK as a terrorist organization. He should take concrete and assuring steps" he said."

Think if this is patriotism or idiocity for any sides...

Think which hands are pulling which ropes again...

Think what is going on around the world...

Think what is going on in the country...

Think what time it is...

Think...

Monday, February 18, 2008

WOMEN OF US; CRAZY AYSEL


Today, we lost our "CRAZY AYSEL".

She was one of our women, one of our extraordinary women...

Aysel Gürel was probably one of the most colorful characters we had. Turcologist, literature teacher, actress, lyricist and composer Aysel Gurel died at the age of 80 yesterday. Born at 1928, she graduted from Istanbul University, History of Arts.

She was known by her joyful, interesting, cheerful, and original and contrast personality. She was a woman who always reminded me the immortality.

She was the mother of Turkish actresses Mujde Ar and Mehtap Ar. According to her daughter she sent a message to Turkish women before her death; "I worked till the age of 79. I worked nonstop. This should be an example to Turkish women. They should not give up working."

She left us those beautiful songs as Firuze, Yanarım (Burning), Gençlik Başımda Duman (Youth is a cloud over my head), Yalnızca Sitem (Only Reproach), 1945, Ne Kavgam Bitti Ne Sevdam (Neither My Love, Nor My Fight Ended), Değer mi? (Woul It Worth), Sır (Mystery), Yolun Başı (Begining of the Road), Sarıl Bana (Hold Me), Zor Kadın (Difficult Woman), Aşk (Love), Vur Yüreğim (Beat My Heart), Zorba Aşk (Despotic Love), Dönmeyeceğim (I Will Not Turn Back), Ayrıldık İşte (So We Seperated), Son Dua (Last Prayer) and her two books; Şiir Şimdi (Poem Now) and Senin İçin Sana Değil (For You, Not To You). Her movies include; Sarkici (Singer), Agir roman (Cholera Street), Kupa kizi (The Heart Queen), Üvey ana (The Stepmother), Meyhane koseleri, Tek kollu canavar, Yurda dönüs.

There was a wisdom making fun of life in everything related with her. In an interview she say; "Certainly. One can fall in love with potato or a painting. For example, I am in love with violin. It is not possible to believe in love between man and woman. Look at the animals; female monkeys are coupling with sixty males a day. Now men are just like that, like bulls. They climb over a woman and make gym. Their understanding of love is just like going to a gym. But there are some special people; poets, painters, writers idealize this primitive feeling and produce creations according to themselves. In fact this is a fooling system...."

Crazy Aysel didn't have an easy life. She divorce her journalist husband while she was 7 months pregnant to her second daughter. In a way, it was her choice to be known as "crazy" to survive and protect her family in the men dominated world. Müjde Ar says she always adviced her children "Don't be a thief, don't be a whore!" While she was so protective of her daughters; one day Müjde turn late from school and "crazy" Aysel punish/ gives the lesson in her own way; fallowing day she goes to school, pulls Müjde's skirt and show her underwears to everybody, saying "Come late again and I will do the same!"

It is impossible to describe her. There was something with her, which complete a naughty side of our souls. May be her whole life should be seen as an example to us, as a protest to hypocracy, fake norms of life. She was able to reply a question about her gender identity as; "I am autosexuel". At her 75th birthday she was surprising people with the words; "I am still a virgin. I will still be a wonder of world even at the age of 97".

We withnessed only the extraordinary actions she showed outside, can never know the intense feelings that interesting woman experienced. She was sure one of those characters one would be lucky to know. She was one of those women who deserve to be remembered.

Wish she rest in peace...

Wish she rest in joy...

...think she would wish us sing that unforgettable song she wrote...

it was longing it was separation
hours separated to sorrows
I saw two tears drops flowing
together with affection with separation

like a poem like a song
I lived my life with pains
memory for me now, beloved sorrows
that I hide from you

I hide you like a secret
an oath,like a hidden dream
I carry this load, you go
I dont grieve

dont cry I cant bare
dont cry my baby I cant resist you
take my heart let it be yours
if your heart remains in me I cant live

APOLOGY TO "STOLEN GENERATION"


Every nation has dark pages in their history. Some choose to face them some don't. So far, many countries apologized from others for their crimes against them during WW 2.

The news which transmitted by media a few days ago renewed my hope for humanity. We use "lost generation", "stolen generation" terms in many countries for the unlucky periods they lived. But there is an officially "Stolen Generation" in Australia.

Wikipedia writes; "The Stolen Generations (or Stolen Generation) is a term used to describe those children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and children by making Aboriginal children wards of the state, between approximately 1869 and (officially) 1969. The Australian Parliament has accepted that this was human rights abuse and on February 13, 2008... The policy typically involved the removal of children into internment camps, orphanages and other institutions. No consensus has been reached as to the extent of the removal of children, and the reasoning behind their removal. While in some quarters it has been suggested that a eugenics policy was adopted, in others the removals were said to be done for the well-being of the children."

Below is the Australian Federal Goverment's Apology from Aborigines, the native people of the land, read by the new Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd at February 13th;

"The Federal Government's formal apology to the stolen generations:

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment. We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia. "

Some reports as; "Some in federal parliament's public gallery, including members of the stolen generations, wept as Mr Rudd delivered the formal apology - the first official business of the new Labor government. MPs were given a long, standing ovation as they rose to their feet to vote in support of the motion. In city squares and parks across Australia, and on the lawns outside Parliament House in Canberra, people cheered, applauded, hugged and cried after the apology was delivered."

We were not stranger to the "Stolen Generations" of indigenous people around the world (however they called). Similar and even worse policies performed under the name of Americanisation to Native Americans or worst in South Africa. Many cultures and native languages destroyed in this way. It is said that only in Australia 250 local languages disappeared during this period.

Of course there are some who are against the apology too. Opposition leader Dr Nelson told Parliament: "Our generation does not own these actions, nor should it feel guilt for what was done in many, but certainly not all cases, with the best intentions."

We said we are not stranger to the issue in general but we are very far to understand the heaviness of the problem from the begining. It seems like the problem of "Stolen Generation" can not end with the "Apology". There are discussions of compensations and the sociologic defination of the period; if it can be called as "assimilation", "genosite" or not. And these are very sensitive matters of our day around the world inherited from history.

Colin Tatz writes (http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/resources/history/genocide.html);"Australians understand only the stereotypical or traditional scenes of historical or present-day slaughter. For them, genocide connotes either the bulldozed corpses at Belsen or the serried rows of Cambodian skulls, the panga-wielding Hutu in pursuit of Tutsi victims or the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. As Australians see it, patently we cannot be connected to, or with, the stereotypes of Swastika-wearing SS psychopaths, or crazed black tribal Africans. Apart from Australia's physical killing era, there are doubtless differences between what these perpetrators did and what we did in assimilating people and removing their children. But, as we will see, we are connected - by virtue of what Raimond Gaita calls "the inexpungable moral dimension" inherent in genocide, whatever its forms or actions...

...There has been an emotional, even an hysterical, response, to the word genocide. This century has seen several particularly well-documented episodes of the removal of children. The Turks killed close to 1.5 million of their Armenian citizens between 1915 and 1923. One "choice" for Armenian parents was to save their Christian children by "giving" them to Turkish Muslim families. Turkey ferociously denies these events and rejects all talk of restitution. Of importance in our context is the origin of Article II (e) in the Convention. Certainly Lemkin, Donnedieu de Vabres and the other drafters of the Convention didn't seek to include "the forcible removal of children from one group to another group" on the basis of the Jewish experience. Jewish children had no such Armenian choice. Clearly they had the latter's case in mind. They may have had a thought for the 200,000 Polish children who were taken by Nazis to Germany to be raised as physically desirable Aryans. Again, they may have been well aware of the Swiss practice of removing Romani (Gypsy) children over the decades. Both Raphael Lemkin and the United Nations (especially the Greek delegate, Vallindis) ensured that removal of children, and hence their disappearance through assimilation, was a (physical) genocidal act. Jacqueline Jago has evaluated Aboriginal child removals in Canada and Australia. Canada's Indian Act saw to it that Indian children were forced off reservations into schools where the stated aims were "religious instruction and cultural assimilation". That Australia sits alongside some strange bedfellows is perhaps reason enough to wriggle out of a verdict of genocide."

As we see, as the all branches of humanity there are much more issues we share than we can imagine, regarlesss to the place we live, from which part of the world we are from. We may be too far from eachother but it is always important to fallow what is going on at the other side of the planet.

Australia's "Apology" should be an example, at least giving hope to all the world.

Sunday, February 17, 2008

A COMMENT ON ACID ATTACKS

It is hard for a technology disturbed one like me to keep a blog. I recieved a comment but I couldn't manage to publish it (I hope to learn in time:)

A lady from Australia reading the acid attacks to young women writes;

"I am shocked that young men could feel that they had a right to harm girls because of the length of their skirts. Usually young men have other things to do rather than be vigilantes for such a cause. Is there large unemployment in this area? I realise there must be a growth in religious fundamentalism - and suppose there is also some economic aspect to it. My heart goes out to the young girls and to all other girls in that area who, for their own safety, will feel like covering up, no matter how hot it is etc.

I am glad you are letting the world know about these things. AND, of course, I love the poems you found. Kathy (Australia)"

Thanks to Kathy for her comment. She is right that the young men should have other things to do. This particular young man came out; not jobless but working in a factory, married and have a pregnant wife who will give birth in a few days and not from a very religious family.

But unfortunatelly there is really a great unemployment in the country. Turkiye has a very young population. 30 percent of 70.5 million population is under the age of 15 and half of the total is under 28. Education is compulsory and free from ages 6 to 15. The literacy rate is 95.3% for men and 79.6% for women, with an overall average of 87.4%. This low figure is mainly due to prevailing feudal attitudes against women in the east and southeastern provinces of the country. Total workforce is nearly 30 million while unemployment is around 10 %. The official unemployment rate conceals the fact that unemployment is up to 70.0% in some rural areas. And 20 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

Growth in religious fundementalism certainly have an economic aspect as Kathy comments, but it is hard take only general indicators as economics, income, education etc for the rise of such unacceptable events. International politics have a very important role on the current situation of Turkey. Althought the tariquats always had a strong but unseen role in politics, radical Islamic groups of Middle East never managed to make base in the country. Begining with the last decades of Ottomans and raising on the strong secular construction of the Republic, any individual events like these or any kind of religious revolts could never get support in this society.

It is hard to analyze what is going on in our society now but one thing is sure; it is a part of the Cold War years' "Green Crescedent", today's "New Middle East Project" or "moderate Islam model" of world's super power.

Some young women who wear latest fashion, silk turbans, who has lots of make-up on their open faces in headscarfs can easily say they are "not secular", they prefer "sheria" on TVs today. It is impossible to understand how can not they realize that they owe even voicing these views to the democracy, secularism in this country.

Dear Kathy, you say; "My heart goes out to the young girls and to all other girls in that area who, for their own safety, will feel like covering up, no matter how hot it is etc."

How easy to make this comment for any healthy mind. We already have a name for it; "neighborhood pressure". It will happen. Ill minds will begin to measure women's belief, honour, goodname with the pieces of cloths they wear on their heads or bodies.

We will see... but we will not sit and watch...

Thanks

Saturday, February 16, 2008

WHY SNOW...

There are too many things to write; houses of Turks are still set on fire in Germany, Kurdish protestors burning Turkish flag clashed with police in nort-eastern city Sırnak, Putin's interesting announcement about the hypocracy of EU on Cyprus raise comments etc. But I don't want to write on any of them. We are under a heavy snow storm again. Snow...


why do you came so suddenly snow
why you never leave behind the winds
I suspect if you deliberately drag the storms
why do you hit so suddenly snow
you know how helpless
how weak I am, how hopeless
surrendering to your sudden raids
yielding to the soul’s deepest memories

they say you are all unique snowflakes
all unique while falling in millions
pulling out the saplings with the help of winds
breaking the branches of my trees uniting in your uniqueness
so tiny that my eyes can hardly distinguish
so light that my skin can hardly sense
still so powerful in dragging me to absence
so strong bringing all the buried out to existence…

why do you come so suddenly snow
I hate welcoming you unprepared
wooden bank is facing the evergreen pines
cherry tree already lost the last leaves
those hanging the brick wall are still green jasmines
there is still cognac in the bottle left from your last visits
coffee cup in hands, eyes fallowing the falling flakes
but still I am not prepared neither to you nor your usual winds

don’t you know everything in me is as unique as you snowflakes
all unique while I buried them in millions of different ways
I can’t pull those saplings as you can with the help of winds
I can’t break them any more than they already been in their uniqueness
so valuable every one of them that I can’t differ any more
so heavy that my soul can’t carry any more, soul is so sore
buried treasures in soul, mind fallowing the breaking storms
can it ever be possible not to care, to ignore…

why do you come so suddenly snow
why with hurtful winds, blizzards
why can’t you ever leave me alone….


Storm

ACID ATTACKER CAUGHT

After seven victims (but 5 according to governor)the man who attact to the young women with nitric acid caught in immidiately, thanks to mobese cameras around streets. Two syringes found on the man. But the Governor is stil denying it was because of any ideological reasons. According to Anatolian News Agency;

"He dismissed reports that the students were attacked because they wore short skirts, noting that two of the civil servants were wearing pants when attacked.

He also said suggestions that the liquid used were nitric acid is false, adding that the investigation is continuing. “It is a liquid substance that gives a burning sensation and reddens the skin,” he said, adding that attacked individuals did not suffer from any other health problems.

Quoting one of the students, the Doğan news agency reported Thursday that a few people had first commented on the skirt one of the students was wearing as they were passing her in the street before she felt the burning sensation on the back of her legs."

What can we say; this is only the begining and are trying to be careful. This is the quickest arrest they made...

Friday, February 15, 2008

OUR WOMEN; UNDER ACID ATTACS

We were waiting this. This is the “breaking news” in Turkish media while conservative newspapers and TVs are trying to deny. Dogan News Agency and many others are reporting the victims already reached 5;

Girls attacked for wearing short skirts.

“Two teenage girls were attacked on separate occasions by unknown assailants who sprayed an acidic substance on their legs in the Mediterranean province of Mersin yesterday.

Both girls were approached from behind by a group of men in their 20s who sprayed a substance on their legs that burnt through their stockings and caused skin lacerations, according to reports.

Doctors said the substance sprayed on the girls' legs could be a strong acid. The police is still searching for the culprits. Based on witness accounts and statements by the girls, the police concluded that the same individuals had attacked them both.

One girl said she was on her way home from school when two or three men in their 20s passed by her and said her skirt was too short. Soon afterwards she felt a substance sprayed on her stockings and an immediate burning sensation. When she looked at her legs she noticed that her stockings were burnt. The incident provoked panic with rumors circulating that girls in short skirts are being attacked, reported the Doğan news agency.”

Can it surprize us? Certainly not. We withnessed examples at conservative neighborhoods before. This is the mentality which tries to put women behind veils, which want Sheria as the final goal.

The law didn’t even signed by the President yet but they begin to throw nitric acid to young girls’, teenagers’ legs.

Tomarrow covering our heads, hairs will not seem enough, they will want our faces to be locked behind veils and throw acid to our faces, eyes.

This is the mentality which banned red roses in Saudi Arabia, wanting to ban “love” itself. This is the mentality which stone women to death when they become “rape victims of men”.

Though they are unaware who they are trying to deal with this time; "Turkish women".

Reminding only two poems of Nazım Hikmet and announcing proudly to be ready to begin a new Independence War as Turkish Women is enough for now. They will not be able to turn us to their "black bugs". If needed, in price of being burried in acid wells, our women will not surrender to darkness.


THE FACES OF OUR WOMEN

Mary didn't give birth to God.
Mary isn't the mother of God.
Mary is one mother among many mothers.
Mary gave birth to a son,
a son among many sons.
That's why Mary is so beautiful in all the pictures of her.
That's why Mary's son is so close to us, like our own sons.

The faces of our women are the book of our pains.
Our pains, our faults and the blood we shed
carve scars on the faces of our women like plows.

And our joys are reflected in the eyes of women
like the dawns glowing on the lakes.

Our imaginations are on the faces of women we love.
Whether we see them or not, they are before us,
closest to our realities and furthest.

And from "THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE"

CHAPTER SEVEN 1922, THE MONTH OF AUGUST and OUR WOMEN

Ox-carts rolled under the moon.
Rolled the ox-carts on to Afyon via Akşehir.
The land was so endless and so wide,
mountains so far,
it was as if those on the move
could never reach, never any target.
The ox-carts moved on with their solid oak wheels.
And they
were the first wheels rolling under the moon.
The oxen under the moon
as if they were from a tiny alien world
were small, were stunted,
there were shimmers in their sickly broken horns
and what flowed under their feet
was land,
was land
and land.
The night was bright and warm
and in the ox-carts the dark blue shells
lay naked in their wooden crates.
And the women
without letting on
stole looks at the dead oxen and wheels under the moon
from earlier convoys.
And women,
our women:
with their huge sacred hands,
their delicate small chins and large eyes
our mothers, our wives, our beloved
and who die as if never have lived
and whose place at our table
comes after our ox
and those we abduct to the hills and go to gaol for
and those at the harvest, the tobacco, firewood and the market
and who are harnessed to the plough
and in barns
in the glint of daggers plunged into the earth
women who become ours
with their heavy rolling hips and their bells,
our women
now under the moon
following the ox-carts and cartridges
had the same peace of mind,
the same tired force of habit
of hauling stalks with amber ears to be threshed.
And slender necked children were asleep
at the steel of size 15 shrapnels.
And the ox carts were rolling under the moon
on to Afyon via Akşehir.

The sixth of August order's been issued
The first and second armies, with their troops, ox-carts and their cavalry
shifted positions, were to keep on the move.
98956 rifles,
325 artillery,
5 aeroplanes,
2800 odd light machine guns,
2500 odd swords
and 186326 brilliant human hearts
and twice as many ears, arms, feet and eyes
were stirring through the night.
Earth through the night.
Wind through the night.
Faithful to memories, outside of memories,
through the night:
humans, equipment and beasts,
huddling together with their metal, their wood, their flesh,
finding their terrible
and silent sanctuary
in huddling together,
were moving on
with their large and tired feet,
and soiled hands.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

WOMEN OF US: NEYYİRE NEYİR

It is important for us to remember the pioneer women in our history, especially in these days which our society and women rights are in danger of darkness.

Yesterday was the anniversary of one of them; first Turkish female actress Neyyire Neyir.

A new era in Turkish cinema started in 1922 when theater artist Muhsin Ertuğrul returned home from Germany where he had worked as an actor and director since 1916. A film based on the novel of Halide Edip Adıvar, "Ateşten Gömlek" (The shirt of fire) in which the first Turkish Muslim women actresses, namely Bedia Muhavvit and Neyyire Neyir acted in the leading roles, was the first movie to deal with the War of Independence. This film was first screened in İstanbul which was still occupied by foreign armies, on April 23, 1923, the third anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and only six months prior to the formation of the Turkish Republic.

Ateşten Gömlek (The shirt of fire), adapted from the novel by Halide Edip Adivar. Set during the years of the Turkish War of Independence it remains the "first" of an epic tradition and, furthermore, also the first film allowing Turkish women the freedom to work as actresses.

Neyyire Neyir made two more films with Muhsin Ertuğrul (whoM she was married).

Ankara postasi / The Courier Fom Ankara (1928) (as Münire Eyüp) - adapted from Halede Edip's novel
Atesten gömlek / The Shirt Of Fire (1923) - adapted from Francois de Curel’s “La Terre Inhumaine" and Reşat Nuri Güntekin's play adaptation
Kiz Kulesinde bir facia / A Tragedy At Leander's Tower (1923) Adapted from Pierre Antier's play "Les Gardiens de Phare" and P. Cloquemin's play "Les Gardiens de Phare" by Muhsin Ertugrul as writer.

She died at February 13th 1943. We remember her at her 65th anniversary and thankful for her influences to Turkish women's progress in the society.

Today is also important in history of Turkish women because of two other events. At 1931, Miss Turkey Naşide Saffet Hanım choosen Europe Queen of Beautiful Eyes and at 1951, our great pianist İdil Biret, performed her first piano recital in Paris, while she was only 10 years old. We will always carry them in a special place in our hearts.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

HOPE; STILL SET ON FIRE...

Place: Germany

There is no need to make any comments... they are not first, they will not be the last...

Let's remember what happened at Solingen and Mölln from Human Rights Watch documents of 1995;

· Solingen, a city of 170,000 located near Cologne in the Western part of Germany, was the scene of horrifying violence and death in the early morning hours of May 29, 1993. Neighbors woke to terrified screams and saw flames racing through a house owned by the Genc family.64 They saw a young woman with a child in her arms silhouetted against the flames she was unsuccessfully trying to escape. There were "bone-chilling screams and then silence, just the noise of the flames."

Five people died. Four were sisters: Saime Genc, 5; Hulia Genc, 9; Hatice Genc, 18; Gulfun Ince, 27; the fifth, Gulistan Yuksel, was a 12-year-old visitor from Turkey. Eight others were injured in the fire, including two small children hospitalized in critical condition. Fourteen others inside the building barely escaped injury.

The Genc family had lived in Solingen for fifteen years. Their youngest children were born and had lived their whole lives in Germany.67 They owned their own home. Outside their house, fresh swastikas were painted on nearby buildings and scratched in the dirt.

· On November 23, 1992, two buildings housing Turkish families in Mölln, a town near Hamburg, were firebombed. Screams for help awakened the neighbors, who saw people jumping from the windows. Someone telephoned the Mölln fire department, announced the fire, shouted "Heil Hitler," and hung up. The firefighters could not get there in time to save the victims.

Three people were killed: Bahide Arslan, who died shielding a grandson from smoke; her 10-year-old granddaughter, Yeliz Arslan; and Ayse Yilmaz, a 14-year-old girl visiting from Turkey. Of the forty-five people in the buildings at the time, nine others, ranging in age from eighty-two years to nine months, were injured.

And let's turn to last week;

The Australian -Children were thrown from the upper floors and caught by fire fighters. "Unfortunately, we cannot exclude further victims," Eisenbarth said. Investigators were not immediately able to enter parts of the smouldering building because the structure, much of it made of wood, was in danger of collapsing. The cause of the fire, which started in the afternoon, was not clear and the victims had not yet been identified, Eisenbarth said. Police said 24 people - all Turkish citizens - were registered as living in the four-storey building, but more people had been in the house because of carnival celebrations. Police said the house's old wooden staircase swiftly collapsed after the fire broke out; and that, in some cases, residents threw their children to police officers before jumping out of the building themselves.

CNN - The carnival tradition stems from the Roman Catholic regions in the west and south of Germany. Like Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Brazil, it is a time when residents dress up and take to the streets in celebration. The fire broke out about 4:23 p.m. (1523 GMT) on Sunday in a four-story apartment building, city police said in a statement. Its cause was unclear. Firefighters battled through the evening and into the night to bring the blaze under control. Two adjacent apartment buildings were evacuated as a safety precaution, the statement said. Fearing that there may be other victims, rescue crews brought in a large crane that lowered fire fighters into the shell of the building to conduct an initial check for additional bodies. Rescue crews have been unable to thoroughly search because the damage to the building was so severe that authorities think it may no longer be structurally sound.

Today their coffins were lined in front of the mourners from all religions and nationalities, representing the shame of humanity. Photos talk better than any words...

Saturday, February 9, 2008

WHAT ARE YOU CELEBRATING?

Turkish people is already victim of PTSD which refers, to the psychological response that can result when a person is exposed to an overwhelming event or series events, that are in many cases both life threatening and catastrophic.

These events don't include only "war", "natural disasters", "rape" or "physical violence" defined in medical sources which intensify their researches either on their homecoming soldiers or individual examples of ordinary citizens in imperialist societies.

Turkish people are not lucky enough to experience only flashbacks or nightmares about the events they lived but they are made to live the same events again and again physically; meaning "layers over layers of PTSD". Their experiences may turn all the scientific foundings upside-down.

They don't easily get startled any more. They often say that they feel "empty" or "dead inside" but it lasts only seconds, at most hours or few days conterary to the thesis. They bury another layer of PTSD inside and stand up to fight again.

Today we are facing another severe trauma.

- In our complete helplessness we are watching 411 treator deputies passing the bill for headscarf from the Parliament founded by bloodshed, by our great War of Independence.

- Individually and genderly I feel myself/ we ourselves in immediate danger but don't feel completely frozen and unable to escape.

- I / many friends I am talking to are reporting that they lose track of time and space and their capacity to use language is compromised. Psychologists explain this as a result, the brain loses its ability to process conscious memory. But still "confusion" can't take our minds over and any attempt to recall the sequence of events.

- We have persistent thoughts or nightmares about the event (but don't surrender our minds).

- We have the sensation of emptiness or “being numb” but an increadable power fallow filling in our veins.

- We perceive the world and especially our country as a dangerous and unsafe place to live but also have a great urge to fight making it safe for our children and grandchildren...

- And yes, most of us also reports chronic anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia or restless sleep, and poor concentration.

Can anybody help us? Did anybody ever helped us?

No...

Having "traumatic life experiences", "traumatic life experience periods" again and again; we very well know that it is, it can only be "us", "ourselves" who can cope this time too.

Defination of "trauma" may change. The "trauma" we are in and the "life thereatining danger" we are facing is; "putting the Turkish women's mind in ugly, dirty, dark pieces of cloths".

That young woman with headscarf on TV last night; you who said; "I am not secular!"; can't you think that you owe even having the freedom to make that announcement to this Republic and it's rules?

Why is it a sin to show your hair? Because your hair may draw "men's mind" to sin? It is not your but the "men's" problem, don't you aware where the sin, dirt lies, made it's place...

Do you think it will stop with closing your hair? Do you think they will not change all the articles of the Constitution one by one? Oh..Sheria is great for them, why should they they give the same share of your father's inheritence to you, they are "men" and Sheria says "men's" share should be more...

You may be used to your husband's infidelity untill now. But there is a better way, Sheria can show that way out of sin. Your husband may have wives up to 4 after you instead of mistresess. Honorable men, they will not sin any more with mistreses and great for you because you will not be an "unhonorable" woman who close her eyes to infidelity anymore...

You poor women who want to close your head, think it is your "religious must or freedom" today; you may be in a fake joy now, you may be so happy with the new passed law today. What a pitty, didn't they played with your mind so many times to prevent it thinking enlightment but put in the darkness of invisible cells. It is not surprizing to withness it once more...

Those who think closing your heads as freedom may be feeling great, while we, the majority are in sadness (also for you). That 90 year old lady who throw away the "traditional" scarf from her head on the podium and let her pure white hair to the wind should be an example with her words; "My forehead is clean, white. Let my life be sacrificied to this motherland!"

Think again; "what are you celebrating?"...

Opening yourselves to so many new traumas, period of loosing all your rights... this time hidden in a piece of cloth?

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

ALREADY DIVIDED, GET UP....

There is no more to say....

Turkiye is divided...

Not because of Kurdish issue etc... (in fact Aysel Tugluk made the best talk in Parliament)

Turkiye is divided because of political Islam from tonight and on...

Begining from tomarrow morning, every headscarf cloosing any woman's head means a flag of imperialims's sign of Green Crescedent for us...

And it is our duty to tear it off for women's real fredoom..

We will not surrender to fake religious oppressions...

WOMEN IT IS TIME TO STAND UP...

BİRŞEY YAPMALI...

TÜRKÇE ANLAMIYARSANIZ İNGİLİZCE SÖYLEYELİM...

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!

Preacherman, don't tell me,
Heaven is under the earth.
I know you don't know
What life is really worth.
It's not all that glitters is gold;
'Alf the story has never been told:
So now you see the light, eh!
Stand up for your rights. Come on!

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!

Most people think,
Great God will come from the skies,
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high.
But if you know what life is worth,
You will look for yours on earth:
And now you see the light,
You stand up for your rights. Jah!

Get up, stand up! (Jah, Jah!)
Stand up for your rights! (Oh-hoo!)
Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!)
Don't give up the fight! (Life is your right!)
Get up, stand up! (So we can't give up the fight!)
Stand up for your rights! (Lord, Lord!)
Get up, stand up! (Keep on struggling on!)
Don't give up the fight! (Yeah!)

We sick an' tired of-a your ism-skism game -
Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord.
We know when we understand:
Almighty God is a living man.
You can fool some people sometimes,
But you can't fool all the people all the time.
So now we see the light (What you gonna do?),
We gonna stand up for our rights! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)

So you better:
Get up, stand up! (In the morning! Git it up!)
Stand up for your rights! (Stand up for our rights!)
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight! (Don't give it up, don't give it up!)
Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!)
Stand up for your rights! (Get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Don't give up the fight! (Get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight!

STAY BACK DEATH

Stay Back Death

fire balls are falling from the sky
I am climbing up to hills with children I have embraced
the sea is boiling far down
green grasses under my bare feet
and fires I am trying to avoid...

“while walking alone with death he was seen
unafraid of her scythe...” says Machado of Lorca in his verses
“death, my beautiful gipsy, you are my death yesterday and today,
Oh! How eased I am when alone with you,
While inhaling the air of Granada
My Granada!”

together, arm in arm with death we walk for long
sometimes death even gets tired and gives the scythe on his hand to us
we are the ones deprived of fear, tired of travel
the ease of being alone with death is distant from us
life catches up from behind
trying to hold our flowing hair
the hills I am trying to climb, under the fireballs
the dark blue boiling up, ready to swallow
the children, the people on my lap
while I am inhaling the air of Anatolia
my Anatolia!
not very different from Lorca’s Granada
yet death, you are not beautiful, were not in yesterday, not in today
I cannot be alone with you, I cannot feel eased with you…

my hands are full
green grasses under my bare feet
and fireballs all over clashing souls
stay back death, didn’t Anatolia suffer enough from you....

1979

ON TURKISH WOMEN

Turkish Parliament is woting on headscarf ban in universities today. Though the main claim they are putting forward is the "freedom of education" for the headscarved females, defended closing their heads as their "freedom of belief"; we clearly aware of the agenda behind.

Turkiye is in another hard period, from economy to international politics and they are obsessed with our hair, heads (or is it what is in our minds)....

There is too much to think on, to remember, to analyze, to get in action etc that one get lost in the daily agenda. I frequently find myself remembering historical events, periods, characters and cant keep from comparing with the days we live in.

Lately I posted two calls to stop executions in two different countries immidiatelly, which are both about women (thanks to international public the execution in Afghanistan stopped today). Now, I want to turn into the labirenths of history a little and tell you the stories of two women from a century ago.

Let's close our eyes and imagine we are back in time... let's see how some events seem so similar to our day...

It was a time anti-Ottoman uprisings occurre in several fronts. Revolts backed by European colonials for the fall of Ottoman, as in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1875 triggered the Bulgarian uprising of 1876. The regular army was not paid for months and financially defunct Ottoman administration had to rely on irregulars (Başı bozuklar) to suppress the revolts. Irregulars suppressed the uprisings brutally, massacring thousands. In Europe, as if their countries didn't have any role in revolts, many dignitaries, including Charles Darwin, Oscar Wilde, Victor Hugo and Giuseppe Garibaldi publicly condemn the Ottoman abuses in Bulgaria. In the United Kingdom, the opposition leader, William Gladstone, wrote a booklet denouncing what he called "the Bulgarian Horrors," and calling upon Britain to withdraw its support for Ottoman.

Strongest reaction came from Russia. It was accompanied by sharp public discussions about Russian goals in this conflict: Slavophiles, led by Dostoevsky, saw in the impending war the chance to unite all Orthodox nations and fulfilling what they believed was the historic mission of Russia, while their opponents, westerners, led by Turgenev, denied the importance of religion and believed that Russian goals should not be defense of Orthodoxy but liberation of Bulgaria.

On December 11, 1876 a conference of the Great Powers opened in Istanbul to resolve the chrisis (which the Turks were not invited). Negotiations was granting autonomy to Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina under the joint control of European powers but Turks, found a way to discredit the conference by announcing on December 23, the day the conference was closed, that a constitution was adopted that declared equal rights for religious minorities within the empire.

On March 31, 1877 Russia persuaded the powers to sign the London Convention, demanding Ottoman to introduce the reforms which she already proposed herself. The powers were going to watch the operation of the reforms, and if they decide conditions remained unsatisfactory they reserved the right "to declare that such a state of things would be incompatible with their interests and those of Europe in general" (do't this remind you the EU countries support to terrorists and demands in the name of democracy from Turkiye of our day..). But Turks rejected the proposal on the grounds that it violated the Treaty of Paris.

At the end, on April 24, 1877, after nearly two years of futile negotiations, Russia declared war upon Ottoman Empire. Some legendery local wars fallowed one another. Many of the commanders under Russian Commander Nikolayevich were of Armenian descent (as generals Beybut Shelkovnikov, Mikhail Loris-Melikov, Ivan Lazarev and Arshak Ter-Ghukasov). Forces under Armenian Lieutenant-general Ter-Ghukasov, stationed near Yerevan, began their first assault into Ottoman territory by capturing the town of Bayazid on April 27. Victory in Bayazid, led Russian forces advanced further, taking the region of Ardahan on May 17; besieged the region of Kars in the final week of May.

It was hard times for the empire at all fronts in short...

There was a young Turkish woman, who born at 1857 in the city of Erzurum and grow up sending male family members to wars, waiting their returns singing laments behind them. Nobody, including herself knew she will become a legend in Turkish history yet.

Nene Hatun was a twenty year old woman with a three month old baby at the start of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78 (which is known as the "The war of 93" / "93 Harbi" in Turkish). She was living in the Aziziye neighborhood of Erzurum, which was close to an important fortification defending the city.

In November 1877 Aziziye Fort was attacked and captured by the Russians (after a sneak attack led by a gang of Armenians) . That treacherous night between 7 and 8 November, a crowded gang moving from two Armenian villages in the vicinity, managed entering famous Aziziye bastion of Erzurum. A few Turkish soldiers defending the bastion were in deep sleep. After they put to sword, fallowing Russian forces placed themselves in Aziziye bastion without any resistance.

A wounded soldier reached Erzurum running, and gave the bad news. According to withnesses of the time, the minarets shouted "Russians entered Aziziye" instead of morning call-to-prayer: "Whole Erzurum heard the news at the same moment. And at the same time, all Erzurum flied into a passion. People having rifles took them, others took what they could find, like scythes, pickaxes, shovels, and sticks, and ran to the streets. All of Erzurum people, both women and men began to run toward Aziziye."

Nene Hatun was a newly married bride living in a humble house. Her brother Hasan was taken home being severely injured the day before, and passed away in the arms of this new bride a few hours ago. Her husband was on the front. Putting her baby to sleep, taking the meat cleaver, she joined the crowd of civilian volunteers who were mostly women running toward Aziziye madly.

Some sources writes; "A bloody and violent fight started in Aziziye. People who did not have any axes, scythes, or sticks, used their claws to throttle Russians. That army with artilleries and rifles, was totally defeated against such rush... The new bride was hitting her meat cleaver on the face and head of any Russian before her. She would never be able to end the pain of her martyred brother even if she killed a thousand Russians..."

"The new bride was among the wounded. She fell down in blood due to an injury she got during her fight with the meat cleaver in her hand. She was unconscious when they found her wounded, even then she did not let that bloody meat cleaver be taken... The name of this young bride was Nene. She got among the people known and respected by all Erzurumers after that day. "

Nene Hatun lived in Aziziye her entire ninty eight years life, and died there at the age of 98. She was named as "Mother of the Mothers" in 1955. Until her death, she was also known as the "Mother of the Third Army" because of her close ties with the military personnel in her region. In 1955, after being elected as the "mother of the year", she died on 22 May because of tuberculosis.

Her fight for the freedom of motherland which began that night went on actively till the end of Natiuonal Independence War. As an iconic Turkish heroine who established her reputation for bravery late in the Ottoman Age, Nene Hatun lived well into the 20th Century, and saw the new Turkish Republic successfully rise from the ashes of Ottoman. Nene Hatun (Kırkköz) earned pension from Serving to Motherland Order at 1953 of this day.

"She told about how Russians were killed in Aziziye to all Erzurumers during her life of ninety eight years. However, she told about herself with only a few words. She told to the NATO Chief Commander who visited her one year before her death that "I did what was necessary then. I would do the same if necessary now too", and stroke him with admiration.."

Certainly Nene Hatun was not the only Turkish woman who wrote their own legends. There were; Kara Fatma, Hatice Hatun, Halide Edib, Corporal Aliye, Tayyar Seher Hanım, Corporal Adile, Black Ayşe and many more we are not able to count.

But, Corporal Nezahet was a unique example between them.

She was only 9 years old when her father Colonal Hafız Halit Bey decided to unite the national resistance forces in Anatolia, with the 70th Battallion under his command. Istanbul was under invasion, her mother was already died and she had to accompany her father from front to front. Learned to fight and became a symbol between the soldiers.

She took part in many main clashes of the Independence war but named between the female heroes very late because of her early age. At the worst minutes of the clashes with Greeks at Gediz, while some of the soldiers even think to run away, Colonal Hafiz Halit Bey saw his little daughter standing on the way of the soldiers on a horse yelling; "I am going to die with my father, where are you going to!.."

This was more than the behavior of a child to help her father but a reminder to all the soldiers, which effected the end of the war at the west front. She recieved her rank "corporal" after this event. They sew her a soldier clothing to the little girl. She had interesting encounters with historical leaders as Inonu, Cerkez Ethem and even with Mustafa Kemal. It is said that, when Ataturk saw her and asked who she is, she replied as; "I am the castle, when the soldiers want to return the safety of their castle they have to find me."

After long discussions at January 30th 1921, Turkish National Assemby decided to honor this 13 year old with Independence Medal. Some deputies disagree giving such a medal to a child but several others told the events they withnessed and how she named by soldriers as "Turkish Jean D'Arch". Bolu Deputy Tunalı Hilmi Bey defended that even the medal was not enough but she should be ranked as "general" too. But though the desicion passed she could never recieve her medal.

The Independence War (1919-1922) marked a turning point for the Turkish women; "Large numbers of women left their homes and made their appearance in public, both as active participants in the war--as nurses, carriers of ammunition, and less commonly, as soldiers--and as replacement workers in the positions vacated by men who had been drafted. The war significantly influenced both the terms in which women's rights were negotiated during the first decade of the republic and the internalization of these terms by many women. When proposing legal reforms concerning women, Ataturk countered the resistance put forth by the conservative constituency in the Parliament by citing the heroic role women had played in the war. For those women, too, who were active public figures during the period, women's contribution to the war became the primary grounds on which they claimed equal worth as citizens. Nezihe Muhiddin, the president of the Women's Association , wrote in her 1931 autobiography.

Turkish woman who proved her self, identity could not be separated from the men in anyway, achieved her share of the work in the battle and the victory. The educated and peasant worked in the same field; one delivered lectures with her mastery of the language, while the other carried ammunition to the front, organized military attacs with their gangs.

Kara Fatmas and their gangs were carrying out operations for independence against the British, Armenian, French, Italian and Greek soldiers (well-known for killing and raping young girls), while another woman, spy author, acheologist, whatever of colonialists was working hard to divide the lands of Ottoman and creating new countries on maps; Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1917.

Bell earned the nickname, "the Uncrowned Queen of Iraq." Working with the new king was, however, not easy: "You may rely upon one thing — I'll never engage in creating kings again; it's too great a strain.". On July 12, 1926, Bell was discovered dead, committed suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.

An excerpt from Bell's letters also shows us the similarities of the super powers' conspiracies on these lands in time line, it writes: "March 14, 1920: It's a problem here how to get into touch with the Shiahs, not the tribal people in the country; we're on intimate terms with all of them, but the grimly devout citizens of the holy towns and more especially the leaders of religious opinion, the Mujtahids, who can loose and bind with a word by authority which rests on an intimate acquaintance with accumulated knowledge entirely irrelevant to human affairs and worthless in any branch of human activity. There they sit in an atmosphere which reeks of antiquity and is so thick with the dust of ages that you can't see through it -- nor can they. And for the most part they are very hostile to us, a feeling we can't alter…There's a group of these worthies in Kadhimain, the holy city, 8 miles from Baghdad, bitterly pan-Islamic, anti-British…Chief among them are a family called Sadr, possibly more distinguished for religious learning than any other family in the whole Shiah world….I went yesterday [to visit them] accompanied by an advanced Shiah of Baghdad whom I knew well."

Well, let's open our eyes and look around...

Though not possible to compare with Bell, Condi Rice is succesfully performing the plans of the Super Power. The condition of the countries and their people created by Gertrude Bell and friends (drawing the borders on maps) are crystal clear. Shiahs, tribes, Mujahids and even the family called Sadr are still there and worse.

Why they are interesting us, we are not Ottoman Empire any more? We share history and borders, and important than all; we regard women, human rights above all. Middle East and near Asia is a blood dam enlarging day by day. We cant say "lake" but a "dam" because lakes are natural geographic structures while dams are artificial constructions made by human hand.

Unfortunately, that bloody hands and others infected by thoose bloody hands are now trying to reach us. Or should I say "our heads" because they were always between us invisibaly. Most probably, the treacherous deputies of AKP will pass the law about "headscarf ban" from the Parliament in a few hours. We will see the results alltogether.

What a pity for my country but there is still hope. There is still hope because we inherited endless hopes from Nene Hatuns, Corporate Nezahets and nameless thousands buried in these lands (non of them with any medals).

I recieved a comment to my post about Kubilay's massacre, from a reader of my blog asking me; "My brother, how will the Republic help you after you die?" I think this is just the appropriate time/ place to reply;

First of all, thank you asking this question brother. Before any reply, I should make it clear that I am not a "brother" but a "sister". I am very proud of being a female. I am aware of all kind of strenght, power and determination creator and nature gave to women (please dont confuse, I have nothing to do with feminism).

And you ask; "How will the Republic help me after I die?" I will not need any kind of help from any kind of being or concept of meterial world after I die. But as long as I live, I will serve "republic" and "secularism". Republic will see my/ our death but I/ we will not see the death of SECULAR REPUBLIC.

Remember the characteristic of women as "life giver and life takers". Outer and inner forces backed by super powers tested the women of this country all along the history. Not only during the wars but also in times of military juntas, lack of democracy women proved their strengsth and determination several times, under bullets and bombs or surviving tortures and jails.

Headscarved or not the women of these lands has enough intelligence to hug their democracy despite the efforts of radical Islamist pupets and imperialist super powers who pull their strings as they wish, which has nothing to do with real Islam and Kuran.

Karl Marx said; "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce". Let's watch but don't die laughing.