I am more hopeful today, what about you?

I sometime feel like I am walking in a desert. Endless drifts of sand and incredible heat… And then, all of a sudden, the climate changes. The surroundings become green and I find myself near a pond full of water. 
Here, in this country, our daily life is like this. 

On Wednesday, some statements delivered at the 50th anniversary of the Constitutional Court took me away from this land that has become a desert to another Turkey where I have a smile on my face. Three different speeches and one development were enough to change the atmosphere. I asked myself, “Are we really changing?” 

Here is who said what and what it meant, in a nutshell. 

It was a historic speech 

President Abdullah Gül’s speech was very important and had historic significance. He said, “Do not write a reactionary constitution.” He also said, “Do not empower the sufferers.” And another statement from Gül was, “The constitution should not have a party mark on it.” 

He said what a wise man would say. He nailed the essentials. Frankly, he doesn’t want to see past mistakes repeated. He pointed to the examples of the May 27 and Sept. 12 constitutions. He emphasized the inconveniences of a constitution that carries the brand of the military or a political party (in this case that of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP). 

With a new constitution about to be made by a Parliament dominated by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), there could not been a more democratic and more healthy warning. 

I have mentioned this before, and I will repeat it. Since Gül ascended to the Çankaya Presidential Mansion, he has become more keenly democratic. He has not acted like a founder of the AK Party. He has been subject to criticism from the opposition, because he has endorsed some laws very quickly, but he has shared the reasons for this with the public. 

To the point 

The head of the Constitutional Court, Haşim Kılıç also made a speech that made me happy. He directly pointed out the most essential problem in our country. 

“Those who hold power should be merciful,” he said. He also said, “Choose the language of peace over that of war.” Another statement he made was, “Democracies, sooner or later, call to account for what has been done to them.” 

I also applauded this speech. 

Kılıçdaroğlu correcting a flaw 

Republican People’s Party Leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu clarified his party’s stance on various subjects while talking to journalists in Bosnia. He may have said these things many times before, but this time his timing was perfect and made us all very happy.

He said, “We are happy that the problem of the headscarf-wearing wives [of politicians] was overcome at the parliamentary reception [on April 23].” He also said, “We are not against the imam-hatip vocational schools.” He also said the CHP could not be in cooperation with the military. Kılıçdaroğlu has contributed a lot of reasons for hopes for the CHP to increase. 

Saygun’s health situation 

Retired Gen. Ergir Saygun’s daughter Ece has provided the latest information about her father’s health. When GATA [a military hospital] issued a report saying “His treatment can be continued in prison,” he was taken back to Silivri. His condition is not good. It is up to me to issue a warning.

“None of the conditions of the forensic medicine institution are met. There is no means for providing his special diet because there is no such system. They only serve the normal hospital food without salt. That has become his diet. However, my father cannot eat vegetables, fruit and or even white flour. He has to exercise for his heart, diabetes and neuropathy. There is no exercise bike. In addition to the swelling in his feet, there is also liquid in his lungs. His kidney problems are increasing. The personnel in the prison are doing all they can. They are very kind and helpful. But they don’t have medical or emergency response skills…”