The Turkish nation stands behind the state by national reflex

We are indeed an extremely polarized society. We are furious at each other.

Yes, on every issue we are at each other’s throats. We would strangle each other if we could…

Then what is it that we are witnessing?

All the research is showing this: 65 percent of the people are against the Syrian policy.

They believe it’s the wrong policy.

But then Turkish F-16s drowned a Russian plane… What do we see?

The Turkish nation is behind the state; 50.5 percent of the nation voted for this government.

What do we see? A large section is behind the state in its fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

What is it then? What is it that unites this nation?

Why do they stand behind their state?

This is called national reflex.

In other words it is solidarity, a feeling of belonging to their homeland. It is not a reflex of umma.

Just as the whole Arab world has shown a full-fledged “Arab stance” against our military unit in Bashiqa near Mosul in Iraq, what brings us together despite all this polarization and division is the sense of belonging to this country.

In the midst of this feeling of isolation and loneliness we will need much more this national feeling of solidarity in the near future. We will need each other; every single individual of this holy motherland.

Journalists in jail

Doğu Perinçek and the magazine Aydınllık were acquitted in the legal case where they were tried for publishing the conversations of the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) and the Foreign Ministry about the Süleyman Shah Tomb.

The justification is the fact that these were already public knowledge before.

Well then why are Can Dündar and Erdem Gül still in jail?

Why are the same mistakes that were done in Silivri being repeated?

I call upon everyone that loves Turkey.

Each day they remain inside serves to spread the conviction that Turkey has helped the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Wise people 

I know the concept of a “wise person” has been devalued. But I will take the risk to say we need wise persons more than ever.

Not only does the government need them but also the opposition.

What kind of a wise person? Let me talk about the definition first: Someone who is devoid of ambitions for power; a person who has walked all the roads in politics; people who have gone around the summits of politics like party leadership, ministries, the Prime Ministry and the Presidency.

People who have taken lessons from what they have lived.

Like opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Deniz Baykal who can be on speaking terms with both Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. I believe both the CHP and its leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu need this wise person.

Bülent Arınç for instance; I believe the Justice and Development Party (AKP) still needs him. Like former President Abdullah Gül; an isolated Turkey on the international platform needs him.

Middle East Technical University

I will not come to the forefront and say this or that is right in the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) incident.

Because I know that the incident is not about not being able to find a place to pray.

There is a mosque with a capacity of two thousand and 12 praying places.

You can’t justify praying in the basketball court.

I am a person who has witnessed what politicized Islam can do.

I won’t understand when everyone who prays or every man with a beard is treated as an ISIL sympathizer.

I also know what a really politicized leftist can do too.

I have witnessed how they chased away people whose ideas they did not like.

That’s why for those who want to have a view on the issue, my advice is this:

Watch out. Don’t let the state’s power interfere there.

Don’t play with the wound; it will bleed tremendously.

If the problem is about those who say they cannot pray, you can introduce a bus at prayer times to carry them to the mosques.

If the intentions are good and it is not about the show of the leftists or political Islam, then the solution is very easy.

In addition the university’s rector is Ahmet Acar, my friend who is a democrat and respectful to all faith and convictions.

Politics and prejudices should take their hands away from this brilliant university.