Pro-Russian, Putinist, go to Moscow, traitor, soldier of Medvedev

Do not ever call for moderation. Keep up the discourse of heroism. Otherwise, they would call you “pro-Russian.” 

Don’t ever think of asking the question, “Do you have the power to challenge Russia?” Otherwise they will call you “Putinist.” 

Don’t ever worry for a second about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will cut the natural gas supply in the winter ahead of us; even if you worry, don’t say it aloud. Otherwise, they would call you “the servant of Moscow.” 

Never, ever mention in such a difficult position the downing of the Russian plane has put us in the diplomatic field. Otherwise they will call us “the soldiers of Medvedev.” 

Do not ponder “What if Putin causes some craziness?” Otherwise they will tell you to “go to Moscow.” 

Let go of the concern that Russians will no longer buy poultry from us; this is a concern for the poultry-raisers. Otherwise they would ask you “are you afraid of the Russian, man?” 

Don’t you dare to make a reminder that we were to become the “sixth” to the “Shanghai Five.” Otherwise they would label you “a traitor.”  

Do not ever join those worrisome comments that “This plane downing incident will actually further strengthen Russia’s position in Syria.” Otherwise they would call you “Putin’s man.” 

Teachers who applaud the shooting of a plane  

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech to an audience of teachers. When he said, “We downed a Russian plane,” the teachers started applauding.  

Even Erdoğan was not fine with that. He kindly reminded them this was no situation to applaud.  
This is the picture, the snapshot of our teachers. 

My wish, on the other hand, is this: I wish the next generation will not be the fruit of these teachers. 

Disadvantages of being the son-in-law 

No matter whether you graduated from the best universities in the U.S., no matter what degrees you hold, no matter how competent an expert you are, no matter how good a career you have, no matter how suitable you are for the position even if you weren’t the son-in-law, you are still the son-in-law… 

Even if you are the most deserving person for this cabinet post with your career, with the schools you graduated from, with your expertise, you are, nevertheless, irredeemable of becoming the most debatable name in the government. 

Take-home message: Being the son-in-law is, contrary to what is believed, a disadvantage instead of an advantage. 

I want that pin too

At a time when violence against women has reached the dimension of a massacre, I find it meaningful that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu wore that pin. I also like the pin very much; a hand, a determined hand, saying “no” to violence against women. 

I want that pin also. I will wear it and ever so humbly I will make my stance known. At least I will make it known which side I am on. 

The bitter taste of figures 

$5 billion: The equivalent of the contracts Turkish construction firms are undertaking in Russia.
  
4.5 million: The number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey annually. 

$6 billion: The amount of Turkish exports to Russia. 

60 percent: The percentage of Turkey’s natural gas need met by Russia. 

One plate for the professor 

In front of the door of the house of Prof. Celal Şengör, who declared forcing someone to eat feces was not torture, a dish of feces was left. 

If also a sign saying “enjoy it” or “bon appetite” had accompanied the dish, I would say, “This has been the most meaningful act I have seen and heard in recent days.”