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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| Is Turkey European?
By Antonio C. Abaya Written March 25, 2007 For the Standard Today, March 27 issue The average educated, urbanized middle-class Turk most likely believes that Turkey is European and should be admitted into the European Union, even if the average rural dirt farmer in Anatolia probably couldn�t care less if it were or weren�t. The average European, rural or urban, most likely believes that Turkey is not European and should not be admitted into the European Union, even if some European leaders � principally the UK �s Tony Blair, following the lead of the Americans � want Turkey to be admitted into the EU. This is the central issue that dominates the debates within the European Union as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. If the matter were put to a Europe-wide referendum, the NO vote would win by a resounding majority. This is so because there is a growing Islamophobia that has been gathering steam in Europe, all the way from the British Isles to generally neutral Switzerland to the teeming cities of Central and Eastern Europe, even to the usually tolerant Scandinavian countries. Rightly or wrongly, Islam is associated with terrorism, with a medieval attitude towards women, with a warped concept of freedom of expression, with an intolerant union of Church and State, with obscurantist religious beliefs and practices�..all of which are clearly incompatible with the generally secular way of life in culturally (if now only nominally) Christian Europe. Islamic culture clashes with European culture on all major interfaces: political values, social values, religious values. With its population of more than 70 million, 99.8% of whom are Muslims, Turkey is seen by Europeans as a square peg in a round hole, that will never integrate successfully into the European way of life. If Turkey were to be admitted into the European Union, Europeans see a mass migration of Turks into Europe in search of a better life. This fear is well-grounded. Turkey�s per capita GDP is only $8,200, way below that of new EU member Poland ($13,300), and way, way below those of original (and �poorest�) EU members Portugal ($19,300) and Greece ($22,200). While the presence of Polish migrants is accepted by Western Europeans, since they are culturally akin, that of Muslim Turks would be resented . Oppositors point to the millions of Turks who were allowed into Germany in the 1970s and 1980s as gaestarbeiter or guest workers for Germany �s wirtschaftwunder or economic miracle, most of whom have stayed permanently and sired further generations of square pegs. Similar situations exist in France and Spain , where former colonials from North and Black Africa, mostly Muslims, populate the urban ghettoes, unable to integrate even after decades of residency. Aside from resistance on the grounds of religious, political and cultural values, there is also the matter of geography. Where does one draw the line? Only 3% of Turkey �s land mass is in Europe, the remaining 97% is in Asia . If Turkey is to be admitted into the EU, why not Israel , which � culturally, politically, socially, philosophically � is more European than Turkey ever will be? And why not Syria , Lebanon and Iraq , which together with Israel and Turkey host the hallowed sites associated with the birth and spread of Christianity? And why not Armenia and Georgia , which are 95% and 84%,Christian, respectively? And why not the Philippines , which by its religious, legal and political values can claim to be a granddaughter of European civilization? And why not predominantly Muslim Morocco, which has actually applied (and been rejected) for membership in the EU? Middle-class Moroccans think they are Europeans just because they speak French and drink French wines. In the West, only the British and the American leaders support Turkish membership in the EU. Both the outgoing French president Jacques Chirac and the current German kanzler Angela Merkel (who is the sitting president of the EU) are opposed to it. The kind interpretation would be that Blair and Bush want to reward the Turks for their steadfast support of NATO during the Cold War against the Soviet Union when Turkey was a scimitar poised to strike against the Soviets� soft underbelly. A cynical interpretation would be that Bush and his lapdog Blair want to punish the French and the Germans for their refusal to join the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq , by having their borders threatened by millions of Muslims from Turkey . Having the goodwill of the Turks would also more easily enable Bush and Blair to ask for the use of Turkish military and air bases when they decide to attack neighboring Iran in the near future. An amusing map of what Europe will be in 2015 has been going around the Internet since last year, and I wrote about it in my article Europe in 2015 (Feb. 12, 2006). This map reflects Europeans� fears - only half in jest, I surmise - of being overwhelmed by their fast-growing Muslim communities, while their own populations are actually declining due to falling birth rates... According to this 2015 map, Russia has been overwhelmed by the Muslim Chechens and has been renamed Greater Chechnya. Germany has been renamed New Turkey. Bosnia and Herzegovina is now the Bosnian Sultanate. And Belgium has been reborn as Belgistan. The Netherlands , former Master of the Moluccas , is now known as Euro-Indonesia. Italy , including Sardinia and Sicily , has joined with Muslim Albania (their major source of illegal immigrants) into the Albanian Federation. France , trying to head off the Muslim challenge with a ban on head scarves, has given up and has become the Islamic Republic of New Algeria. Spain recovers the ancient glory of the Caliphate of Granada with its new name: the Moorish Emirate of Iberia. Most amusing of all, the British Isles are renamed North Pakistan, while the resort islands of Majorca and Minorca in the Balearics, favorite haunts of British tourists, are the new and vastly diminished British Isles. The author/s forgot to rename Turkey . How about the New Ottoman Empire ? Inshallah. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Other articles in www.tapatt.org and in [email protected]. JUN DUCAT � MAN OF THE HOUR. Whatever his criminal liability for hostaging 31 children and two teachers from his own day-care center, Jun Ducat has emerged as a hero of sorts, even among those who would not normally approve of his eccentric behavior. His apparent motives � to demand decent housing and free education up to university level for the 140-plus children enrolled in his center, and to rail against the corrupt political system of this country � are devoid of personal gain and would find resonance with many Filipinos who are equally disgusted with the politics and the politicians of the day. He has become an instant 15-minute celebrity worldwide. The incident was given prominence not only by CNN and the BBC, but also by the three European channels that I occasionally watch: Deutsche Welle ( Germany ), TVE ( Spain ) and TV5Monde ( France ). Because his demands were eminently civilized and the crisis was resolved peacefully, the coverage was generally positive, even if the Arroyo government was (again) made to look the fool. I hope Ducat will resist being recruited by the GAGO and the Communists. He would more appropriately be better positioned in the leftist but non-Communist Akbayan party-list group as one of their nominees. Make space for him, Etta. Go for it, Jun! *****. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Reactions to �Is Turkey European?� More Reactions to �Postpone the Elections� I enjoyed it very much. Despite Turkey often being presented as "secular," in actuality it is a deeply anti-Christian society--one of the most anti-Christian in the Muslim world--where being Sunni Muslim is one's litmus test for acceptance in the society. Countries like Syria (20% Christian), and Egypt (15% Christian) are Muslim countries that are much more tolerant (though even they could improve). Turkey , on the other hand, has ethnic-cleansed its Christians, and continues to treat very badly the few Christian remnants that are left (0.1%). Before the arrival of the Muslim Turks into what is today Turkey , that land was the very hotbed of Christianity. Today, there is nothing left of it. Nothing. You might enjoy this article, written by a Turkish journalist after Turkish attacks on Christian clerics: http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=48145 Since this article was written, of course, there was the murder of Armenian Christian journalist Hrant Dink, and an attempted attack on the Patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Christians. It just does not stop. The people who are advocating for this society's membership into EU seriously need to have their heads examined. Turkey is not European, probably never will be, and should not be allowed to join the EU. The EU should fast-track a country like Albania (popn.: 3.5 million) into the EU. Admittance of Albania --religiously a tolerant country (65% Muslim, 20% Orthodox, 10% Roman Catholic)--would stop the mouths of those who try to accuse the EU of being an intolerant Christian club simply because it refuses to admit highly un-European and intolerant Turkey . Keep writing! Lionel Rose, (by email), USA , March 27, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww One wonders why Turkey is not more interested in leading a Middle Eastern bloc of nations into some sort of common market. For all its success, the EU is still an experiment in progress, and there are a lot of problems creeping up now -- namely high unemployment and growing social welfare costs. It's not at all certain that all the member countries will stay in the union. These issues also drive the decision to keep Turkey out. It would add a whole other layer of complexity and problems to the union. Brook, (by email), USA , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tocayo, Remember this saying, "You cannot soar like an eagle if you are flying with turkeys." Tony Joaquin, (by email), Daly City , California , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, I am well acquainted with Turkey , politically and also fairly culturally. I cannot disagree with or encounter your article in any way, but I just say this: It's just like the Philippines vs. the US . Same incompatibility......... But no matter how liberal some systems can be at any given time, no European country will in the end give in to a deluge of people with a different and incompatible way of living. In the end, self preservation is stronger than imported Middle East gods (all three of them) and non material "values", no matter the so-called "universal human values". Regards, Rolf V. Olsen, (by email), Norway , March 29, 2007. PS! On the other side. Let's hope that the legacy of Kemal Pasha is stronger than the power of superstition and traditions called religion. We need a moderate corner at the border of the Middle East . wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi Tony: Turkey should never be admitted into the European Union. You said Turkey 's GDP per capita income is $ 8,000 or something. I'll check that. Very truly yours, Ramon A. del Gallego, (by email), March 29, 2007 MY REPLY. It was $8,200 in 2005, according to the 2007 World Almanac and Book of Facts. wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony: Islamophobia, now afflicting most European nations as a direct result of September 11, will continue to keep Turkey out of Europe for a long, long time. It will take some effort plus the healing effect of time for Muslims to live down their reputation, perhaps generally undeserved, that Islam, at minimum, tolerates terrorism. The time will come, however, when Europeans will have to live with the reality, on balance, that it will be to Europe's advantage to accept Turkey as a member of the European community. Mariano Patalinjug, (by email), Yonkers , NY , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Have you been to Turkey ? I have. I find it even better economically than the other so called European countries accepted by EU- i.e., Romania and Bulgaria .. It being Islamic should not be an issue about its acceptance to the EU. (- just see the change of heart by the current Pope!). (The Pope was forced to PUBLICLY change his position by the furor raised by his remarks. His private feelings have probably remained the same. ACA) It is secular-- and by the way better than the Philippines when it comes to Religion and the State. It does not support madrassas with State money and it does not accept Sharia law. May I suggest that you visit the place-- it was an eye opener for me. Not all Islamic people are blood hungry fanatics and zealots. (I never said that all Islamic people are blood hungry fanatics and zealots. ACA) Alexander Po, (by email), March 31, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Geographically Turkey is Western Asia , not part of Eastern Europe . If they will be allowed to the European Union, then everyone else should be allowed. USA and UK support the aim of Turkey to be part of EU as a reward for not intervening in the crisis in the Middle East , being a Muslim nation. France is correct to not include Turkey . Russia , Bulgaria , Poland , Ukraine , Romania , Belarus , Hungary , Slovakia , Czeck Republic , Moldova are Eastern Europe Nonoy Ramos, (by email), Pennsylvania , March 31, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Attacks against priests cannot be brushed aside By Semih İdiz Turkish Daily News, July 06, 2005 The knife attack on Father Brunissen in Samsun , following the brutal murder of Father Santoro in Trabzon in February, is being brushed aside in Turkey as �the act of a madman.� That you have to be mad to carry out such attacks goes without saying. But whether you can attribute such attacks to �madmen� and leave it at that is questionable. One cannot but agree with western diplomats that there is a tangible hatred of Christianity in this country. More so than in many other predominantly Islamic countries. Turkish sociologists explain this in terms of �bad historic memories� going all the way back to the Crusades and involving proselytizing missionaries in the 19th and 20th centuries that destabilized the Ottoman Empire . This is what lies at the bottom of the lore that has entrenched itself in this country over the past 80 years. The mere mention of �missionary� is enough to get blood boiling among Turks. It is no wonder then that the recent Pew Global Attitudes Project indicated that only 16 percent of Turks surveyed had anything good to say about Christians. Put another way, the �Islamophobia� that has grabbed Europe has its counterpart in this country in the form of a deep rooted phobia against all things Christian. This is also what lies at the bottom of the difficulties being experienced by the Greek and Armenian Churches in Turkey . In fact when it comes to these churches, Turkish blood does not only boil, but it boils over with hatred, for historic reasons. Needless to say the feeling on the other side is not much different. Given that there are similar attitudes in Europe about Muslims; one might say that there is nothing out of the ordinary in all this. But when it comes to Turkey , there is because it highlights some serious contradictions. To start off with the most apparent one, �secular Turkey � is currently engaged in an effort to bridge civilizational gaps between the Christian and Muslim worlds. It is engaged in this with Spain under the banner of �Alliance of Civilizations� being conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. Looking at the hatred of all things Christian in this country, though, one would have thought that Turkey would first start by trying to bridge some of these gaps at home in order to be convincing. There does not appear, however, to be a tangible effort on the part of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to do so. The irony is that according to the Pew Global Attitudes project, Spain is the country in Europe where antipathy towards Muslims is growing fastest. One wonders in this case whether Turkey and Spain are the best qualified countries to try and bridge the deep civilizational divide between the Christian and Muslim worlds, given the situation both countries are faced with at home. Returning to Turkey , though, the rise in anti-Christian feeling also has something to do with the continual watering down of secularism. Neither can one put the blame for this on the AKP only. Take Rahsan Ecevit, for example, the self professedly �staunchly secular� wife of the former �staunchly secular� Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. It was no other person than the same Rahsan Ecevit who just a few months ago came out with the curious remark that Islam was being lost in Turkey because missionaries were running amok in Anatolia . How ironic it is that she is now arguing that secularism is what is being lost because of the AKP. There is also the phenomenon of the Sunni-based religious classes in schools, which are compulsory according to the Constitution. It was, again ironically, today's �staunchly secular� military that was instrumental in the introduction of this after the 1980 coup, based on the argument that religion would be the antidote to Communism. So the picture is not exactly a simple one where you can blame the rise of Islamists for the fact that secularism is being watered down in this country. It is curious that those who are raising the alarm bells on this score find no need to question the whole notion of �compulsory religious education,� involving the teaching of a specific religion to the exclusion of other faiths. And this in a country that prides itself in being �secular,� which, if really true, requires that the system remain �equidistant to all religions.� As for the remark by Education Minister Huseyin Celik, published in yesterday's Hurriyet, to the effect that �those who do not consider themselves Muslim should not enter these classes,� not only is this remark a deep insult to the millions of Alevis in this country, who are Muslim, but is also belied by the fact that religious classes in schools are �compulsory� according to the Constitution. The simple fact is that there is little tolerance among members of the predominant Islamic sect in Turkey , i.e., Sunnism, for other faiths and beliefs, whether this be Christianity, Alevism, Hinduism or Judaism or, for that matter, atheism. Rather than focus on this fact, the AKP government talks continually about �Islamophobia in Europe ,� which does, in fact, exist. But the same government has no answers when one points to a similar phenomenon in this country vis-a -vis other religions or beliefs. It should be no surprise then that there is an attempt to down play the attack on Father Brunissen. It is clear that the AKP is not prepared to go into this topic because it might then have to face unsavory facts about itself, and its constituents, not to mention about Turkey itself. © 2005 Dogan Daily News Inc. www.turkishdailynews.com.tr wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Jun Ducat: Man of the Hour Jun Ducat, unlikely hero, but for a nation in thirst for gunuine heroes, will take anyone just for a fleeting moment, the likes of Pacquiao, the Billiard Kings Efren Reyes and Bautista. When was we last have a real hero? President Magsaysay, of course I'm biased here, because my darling niece, the Bibs just adores his Lolo Monding, and rightfully so. Regards Victor.A. Sanoy, (by email), Scarborough, Ont. , Canada , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Yeh it was all over the news today here in New York City ..Although his action was not right, at least he was heard all over the world Rachel Chavez, (by email), New York City , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, I would vote for Jun Ducat, if he had the chance to run - so with my officemates! He raised a good point - an embarrassing one for selfish, egoistic government leaders. I saw the stupid-looking actors and actresses running for election on the front page this morning. All are nuisance candidates except for Ms. Vilma Santos. Nancy Marie de Castro, (by email), Paranaque City , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww . So anyone with the same feeling of KSP can do the trick.....and be rewarded as a Party-list nominee.......and a title of Congressman? Scary! Kung di makuha ang gusto, mang-hostage! Renato Santos, (by email), Los Angeles , CA , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Jun Ducat's adventure reflects the common tao's hope for a super inggo (?) in their impoverished life. Deprived of all decent things in life. Morey often than not, they always look forward to a morning that somebody will bring them to their hopes and dreams in like magic. Applause heard moments after Jun released his well-cared for hostages simply indicates the same vibes those people had of what Jun felt against this corrupt political system we have. "Be yourself Jun". Regards. Allan Presto, (by email), March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Gago talaga yang si Ducat. Kung isang bus load ng congressmen ang ni hijack niya, he would have gotten the total sympathy of a grateful nation. Manuel Espaldon, (by email), Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww The ducat incident just goes to show how bereft we are of heroes. I, for one, fail to see the heroism in his bizarre behavior. I dare not imagine how traumatized the children were because of the incident, even if he tried to sugarcoat it with demands for free education and housing. Is this how one should act, by blackmail? i certainly hope no one imitates him--otherwise, we shall be known as a nation of weird people. It's unfair to the silent majority who try to educate their children and acquire their own homes through time-honored values like thrift, perseverance and self-reliance. Ethel, (by email), March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Mr. Abaya, Re Jun Ducat -- to me, personally, Mr. Ducat was simply an irresponsible idiot who had put 33 pre-schoolers and a couple of teachers in harm's way. There were tons of worst-case scenarios that could have happened during that 10-hour hostage drama. Grenades, automatic weapons, innocent kids and a lunatic definitely are not a good mix. Sincerely, Rico Gloton, (by email), Guam , March 29, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Dear Tony, Why is that Jun had use young kids as hostage for his unselfish cause. Everybody dies anyway. If I were in his place. and did that "stupid" or "heroic" thing,. I would have called or requested for someone who is perceived to be a corrupt politician. Enter the bus and end his life together with his own life. Or maybe call General Garcia.Yung mukhang nagnakaw ng todo todo yun dapat ang hinostage nya. Pwede na ring siguro si Singson. Tanga talaga, bakit pa nya pinalabas sa bus yun? For me, Jun Ducat was the greatest stupid in the world during that moment. Ernie Dellosa, (by email), April 04, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww More Reactions to �Postpone the Elections� Dear Tony, I agree with your suggestion if the things you mentioned would happen. But would they? With the clowns we have, I doubt if they realize the urgency of your suggestions. Fritz Maramba, (by email), April 02, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Hi, Sir! I'm just sharing with you my article which got published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on March 24, 2007. http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/letterstotheeditor/view_article.php?article_id=56689 Claude Despabiladores, (by email), April 02, 2007 wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww HELLO TONY, JUST A SUGGESTION WHICH I HOPE COULD BE A GOOD ONE. ELECTIONS BY LAW SHOULD BE BY ALPHABETICAL PROCESS AND THE DAYS TO CAST BALLOTS BE LIKE 3 TO 4 DAYS. AND SHOULD BE ONLY IN CAPITALS OF PROVINCES OR METROPOLIS, MAYBE IN TWO ACCESSIBLE PLACES. THIS WILL MINIMIZE CORRUPTING THE BALLOT BOXES IF THE PEOPLE WILL BE AWARE AND PRESENT IN THOSE PLACES WHERE THE CASTING AND COUNTING IN SUCH PLACES ARE MADE. Len Pasion, (by email), April 02, 2007 Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Tony, Here is a short article I sent to my e-mail group. I know you have been touching on this issue but it would help if we could join hands on this one. Thanks. Lt. Col. (Ret.) Hector Tarrazona, (by email), April 03, 2007 A Common Issue Among Us There is comfort in the thought that we can share our ideas with our e-mail group(s). This alone is a blessing during these unsettling times, especially here in the Philippines when there seems to be no hope for a better Philippines . That is if we rely on our political leaders and those aspiring to be our political leaders. In fact, one political party is just as bad as the others. As the candidates assassinate each other�s character and choke each other�s throat, we cannot avoid concluding that we should not rely on our politicians to solve our problems. Instead we must make our presence felt by participating in the democratic space that has been dominated for years by the powerful media people, businessmen, politicians, religious groups, and the noisy communists. As a group that claims to be members of the cream of the youth of the land, what can we do for humanity, for our country? Shall be remain silent and divided? Shall we join the fray? We have been losing the battle in winning the hearts and minds of the people. And when I say we, everyone who has tasted the life of a cadet at PMA belongs to this group. If we include the members of our families, then we become a respectable and powerful group, at least in number. If we can convince those occupying key positions in government and private sector, we are indeed a powerful group. It is a power we have not fully harnessed for the good of our country. The first thing we must do is to focus on issues that we have a common stand. For example, if we are not happy or if we are outraged that part of our taxes is being spent for the salaries and pork barrel of some party-list congressmen who allegedly channel government funds to the CPP/NPA, then let us have our collective voice heard, especially during this time of elections. What does the PMAAAI do about this issue? What do our fellow Peemayers in government do about this? Perhaps we can now start the ball rolling by simply tossing this idea around. The cream of the youth of the land must take the lead on issues like this. Hector Tarrazona, PMA �68 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO |