Ertuğrul Özkök - English

It was with a sense of yearning that I watched the ceremony held for U.S. President-elect Barack Obama.

Tiger Woods, one of the most successful golfers in history, delivers a speech.

He is also a U.S citizen, just like Obama, and both have their origins in Africa.

"My father was a U.S. army officer," he says.

He spent his childhood surrounded by U.S. army officers representing every state in the country, adding:

"I am honored to be part of a family that was a member the U.S. armed forces that defend our country."

He also says that they organize a yearly tournament for veterans and that he feels the same sense of honor when attends this tournament.

* * *

Then I start to think. I wonder if in the history of U.S. army, if anyone was involved in any shady relations?

I followed the parliamentary group meetings of Turkey's three leading parties yesterday and read the text of each of the leader's speeches.

All three leaders made some very correct statements in their speeches.

Prime Minister Erdogan said:

“Regardless of the institution to which they are a member, anyone who did something or asked another to do something, should face the consequences.”

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, said:

"The fair trial process of the so called Ergenekon case, which will remove the shadow, if it exists, over our democracy and discover those responsible, is an important development that should be taken seriously."

And isn’t Deniz Baykal, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, right in saying: "While the Ergenekon case on one hand is against those who are members of criminal organizations, on the other hand, it is against men of law, intellectuals, and commanders, who have no relationship with these people, moreover who have struggled against them. For some reason or other, these two camps are standing together in each wave of detainments."

We are standing at the parting of the ways in the Ergenekon incident.

The last 24 hours have revealed that very important changes have taken place in our democratic culture.

Everyone is aware of how angry the military body is.

 

Despite this situation, no statement was issued in the middle of the night.

 

Thankfully not...

 

Their grievances are being delivered diplomatically, without resorting to the might of stripes and tanks.

 

As the citizen of a nation that embraced the Jews 517 years ago, I wish that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan had not have made the following statements.

What is more, as a member of a generation that grew on the story of "The Price"*, written by the Turkish novelist, Omer Seyfettin, and made a connection with the theme of the story as part of our cultural identity, I would never have expected that those statements would be made.

 

What does the prime minister say when he harshly condemns the Israeli ground offensive against the Palestinians in Gaza:

 

"We are speaking as the grandsons of the Ottomans who hosted your ancestors in these lands when they were expelled."

 

* * *

In the name of our country, I wish these remarks had never been spoken.

Do you agree with the hypothesis that suggests “if the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) continues to govern in the same manner in the lead up to the March 29 local elections, and manages to increase its support by even one extra vote, then all their wrong-doing will be legitimized by the media that supports them.”

This is just a fixation. What is more important is the following remark:

"God forbid, the end could be a catastrophe for us all."

These remarks belong to the leader of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli.

After reading this remark, I automatically reacted by asking, "Why this would be a catastrophe..."

Ultimately, this is a democracy and everything rests on the ballot box...

* * *

The question of "What would happen if the AKP loses votes in the local election?" was the main issue in Turkey's capital Ankara until recently.

Evaluations for this possibility have already started.

A relative of mine, whose family for two generations, has supported Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called me yesterday and said "I am very confused. I am struggling to understand the CHP stance to embrace veiled members. I am not sure if I would vote for the CHP following this move."

It is obvious that this decision has confused a number of CHP supporters.

 

I wonder at the exact number of CHP supporters who think like this?

 

I spoke to party chairman, Deniz Baykal, yesterday.

 

He said he held the results of a survey conducted in 16 of Turkey’s largest cities and towns.

 

I will leave aside my journalist hat and make a claim as a sociologist, a profession I left 25 years ago.

If anything emerges as a result of my declaration, anyone can bring this article before me.     

 

Turkey has made the first step towards solving the headscarf issue at universities through legitimate means.

 

What is more, this step has been made by the most appropriate institution and people.

 

This issue that for years has been disturbing the country’s social psychology was put on the path towards a solution by the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal, when he pinned party rosettes welcoming veiled women into the party.

 

If I had not been in a meeting all day yesterday, I would have asked the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal, this question: "Would you also pin a party rosette on a homosexual?"

I could also ask this same question for other identities.

 

For example;

 

"Would you organize a ceremony to pin rosettes on women who work in brothels who had decided to join the CHP?"

 

Or;