Comments on: Turkey is Typing: You Tube “Should I Stay or Should I Go”

By: metin

metin — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 05:32:25 +0000

You don’t take ‘action’ by shutting down access. You provide access through ‘other’ mediums (i.e. cable, pay-per-view, satellite radio, etc.) and/or ‘ratings’ on albums where both versions are available for those offended and those defended. So it’s not an apples to apples comparison AT.

The more you protect the untouchable status of ‘Ata,’ the less likely will be the chances of ‘outsiders’ quitting their indefensible actions. Remember, they’re (including I) not subject to Article 301 or any other ‘restriction’ outside of the borders of Turkey.

Maybe I should pose the question as, would there be more protesters (some deadly) if cartoons depicting Jesus or George Washington or Buddha or Dalai Lama or Mother Theresa or Saint John or Napoleon or The Czar or any other father of any other country or people in a not so complimentary light versus you know who? And fill in the blank.

Why such an obsession to protect an individual? If he’s so holy, shouldn’t we be not so afraid to open it up for submission? Isn’t it a double standard to argue the Armenian Genocide claims are not sufficient and we have nothing to hide and come look at our archives . . . but yet when it comes to Ataturk, we’re afraid to open it up for anyone to look into it.

Wouldn’t the Armenians think we’re full of shi* if we’re so protective of things we’re so enamored with?

Is that what Ataturk would do if he was alive today? Wouldn’t he welcome the criticism if there is none to be justifiable?

By overly protecting, aren’t we suggesting the ‘hiding’ of some truth when it fact it may not be the case?

Or are we so stupid as people that we are afraid some of us will abuse that privilege, and what does that say about us?

Things that make you go hmmmmm…..

By: Amerikan Turk

Amerikan Turk — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:50:44 +0000

“If you aint got no money take your broke [bleep] home”

“This aint a scene, it’s a [bleep-bleep] arms race”

These are the lyrics we listen to here in the US, censored by the radio stations to avoid 1/2 million dollar fines from the US government. The words “god damned” and “ass” are illegal for some reason? Why the double standard? Why is it OK for the US to censor the most trivial and asinine issues imaginable, yet when Turkey takes action in defense of our national hero, it’s such a big effing deal?

To answer your question Metin: IMHO there would be more protesters of Ataturk cartoons than of Mohamed cartoons.

By: metin

metin — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:29:55 +0000

Nobody is discussing the ‘underlying’ problem here though. YouTube or the government’s action is not really the point here. It’s Ataturk! How much longer will this guy be treated in such a way for any discussion about him in any light except for the most flattering (albeit he’s deservant) is likely to cause heartache within the Ataturkism religionists. Which do you think will cause more protesters in Turkey? Cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed or Ataturk? Is this another ‘taboo?’

From a past post titled “Taking the ‘Boo’ out of Taboo:” on my blog TalkTurkey

“Why do we have to defer all of our current and foreseen obligations to the man (or the symbolism of such idolatry,) whom we call the father of our country?”

By: Amerikan Turk

Amerikan Turk — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 03:43:41 +0000

YouTube banned in Turkey? How ridiculous!
Okay… last I checked this incident worked itself out and it’s now behind us. Should we all beat our knees in shame? No. Let’s get over it. A lapse in judgment should not result in Turks adding more insult to injury, upon themselves. I for one am not embarrassed by the government’s actions. They made a decision.. and then later changed course on the matter. The governments of far “greater countries” have done far worse.. The banning of YouTube in Turkey, was in my humble opinion, designed to get the attention of YouTube, with the mistaken belief that they might actually care and take TOS action.. Bygones.
Meanwhile, the ‘Borat’ movie is flying off the shelves in Kazakhstan?
Duuuuhhhhh… we should be more like them Kazakis… duuuhhhhhh.
Tolerance of malicious humiliation is not a virtue.. That’s all I can say.

By: Kaya Ozalp

Kaya Ozalp — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:49:14 +0000

What do you expect of a government that handles Transportation and Telecommunication on the same ministry.

“Ataturk is the founder of the modern Turkey” but no-one followed his lead and now Turkey is going back step-by-step.