I’m afraid of neighborhood pressure during Ramadan

The month of Ramadan is about to start and it effects can be seen even in advance.

Neighborhood pressure already started. It was not like this in past years. This year, different smells are coming to my nose. I have started asking myself, “What is happening?” Especially the beer ban in a festival at Bilgi University has upset my stomach.

To top it all, words of the head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, Professor Mehmet Görmez, when he said festivals or entertainment involving alcoholic drinks should not be organized during Ramadan immediately had its effects on some circles. The Head of the Religious Affairs Directorate has a right to make such warnings. Besides, a major portion of his speech criticized extreme and posh “iftar” banquets given. He suggested that care should be exerted about these. But, those who wanted to see it their way immediately acted and highlighted his words on alcoholic drinks.

Take a look at some publications, then you will have gooseflesh.

We are faced with a typical “neighborhood pressure.”

I’m afraid. I’m concerned that we will go through a lot of tension all through the month ahead of us.
What if those who do not fast are oppressed? What if those who drink alcohol are beaten? What if entertainment venues are raided?

Nobody will be able to come out and say, “What is it to you, pal? I will fast if I want to and not if I don’t want to.” They will be afraid and shy. They will just dodge and tell themselves “I don’t care. Why should I put myself in trouble?”

Nobody from the state and the government will raise a voice and say or want to say, “Nobody has a right to intrude into any other’s life.”

Winds of fear will blow.

Nobody should have a right to create such an atmosphere in this country.

Let the citizen decide himself what he will do and what he will not do.

Do not force people.

CHP should come around now
Head of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has formed his own staff with this congress. He is truly in command of the party. There’s nothing he would complain now.

You may like CHP or not but you cannot deny that this party is extremely vital for our democracy to function, moreover for it to survive. When viewed from that angle, the new CHP order Kılıçdaroğlu has set up will pass a historic test at Turkey’s most important process.

The coming two years before us will bring change and transformation:

A new constitution is being written.

The Kurdish issue is at its solution stage.

Presidential elections are scheduled in 2014. Erdoğan will ascent to Çankaya Presidential mansion. The prime ministry will go to another name. The order we got used to for 10 years will change.

Ak Party is entering a transformation stage. New names will replace old ones in many positions. Even though they say, “We are institutionalized. Names are not important,” an earthquake is awaiting Ak party.

We are entering such a transformation. How this will unfold, where the outcome will take us is unknown. For this reason, we need a new CHP.

After the congress, a CHP is needed that has left behind the past, domestic fights and conflicts.
This is what is expected of Kılıçdaroğlu.