Comments on: Turkey is Typing…. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/07/turkey-is-typing-23/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:18:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bea http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/07/turkey-is-typing-23/comment-page-1/#comment-701509 Bea Fri, 09 Feb 2007 17:34:03 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/07/turkey-is-typing-23/#comment-701509 Keeping up with the Turkish political scene is challenging enough, but when politicians continue to jump ship or dream up ingenious ways to get the limelight, entertainment is the only word of the day. I understand why Caprio has doubt about its EU entrance. I, too, weighed in on the future of Turkey tying it to the events of late and where Nihat commented on my blog about his predictions for success. I think Caprio has company. Oddly enough, though, no one has mentioned Turkey's bid to patrol the internet for insulting Turkishness. http://remarkablesolutions.typepad.com/foreign/2007/02/stirring_the_po.html Keeping up with the Turkish political scene is challenging enough, but when politicians continue to jump ship or dream up ingenious ways to get the limelight, entertainment is the only word of the day. I understand why Caprio has doubt about its EU entrance. I, too, weighed in on the future of Turkey tying it to the events of late and where Nihat commented on my blog about his predictions for success. I think Caprio has company. Oddly enough, though, no one has mentioned Turkey’s bid to patrol the internet for insulting Turkishness. http://remarkablesolutions.typepad.com/foreign/2007/02/stirring_the_po.html

]]> By: caprio http://globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/07/turkey-is-typing-23/comment-page-1/#comment-697382 caprio Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:23:49 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/02/07/turkey-is-typing-23/#comment-697382 I was reading Pamuk's novels this year, and visited the West coast of Turkey, Asia Minor and Istanbul. In the past I always favored Turkey's entrance to the EU, stressing the common history and Turkey as the cradle of Christian traditions, and mostly encountering European Turks in European capitals, having lived in Amsterdam's Turkish neighborhood during my student years, and in Berlin's Neukoelln, based on the random and scarce impressions of Turks. But after my visit to Turkey, I have become more reluctant about Turkey's entrance. I encountered a Turkey with few modernized Turks (those who have embraced the Open Society concept of post-industrial civilization), and those that did struggling to emerge against the traditionalists' influence on one hand and a corrupt and latent military/police apparatus on the other, while a personal debate easily over-heating pride nationalist sentiments. The fact that someone as moderate as Pamuk and Dink have to face the constant threat of radical elements that find cover in a broader layer of social approval on both sides of the spectrum, is worrysome to many Europeans, although I tend to be less worried in general. Sure, maybe Turkey will be ready in 10 years to meet minimal West-European requirements, but then again, they might very well not be. I was reading Pamuk’s novels this year, and visited the West coast of Turkey, Asia Minor and Istanbul. In the past I always favored Turkey’s entrance to the EU, stressing the common history and Turkey as the cradle of Christian traditions, and mostly encountering European Turks in European capitals, having lived in Amsterdam’s Turkish neighborhood during my student years, and in Berlin’s Neukoelln, based on the random and scarce impressions of Turks.

But after my visit to Turkey, I have become more reluctant about Turkey’s entrance. I encountered a Turkey with few modernized Turks (those who have embraced the Open Society concept of post-industrial civilization), and those that did struggling to emerge against the traditionalists’ influence on one hand and a corrupt and latent military/police apparatus on the other, while a personal debate easily over-heating pride nationalist sentiments.

The fact that someone as moderate as Pamuk and Dink have to face the constant threat of radical elements that find cover in a broader layer of social approval on both sides of the spectrum, is worrysome to many Europeans, although I tend to be less worried in general.

Sure, maybe Turkey will be ready in 10 years to meet minimal West-European requirements, but then again, they might very well not be.

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