Turkey is suffering today and anger is naturally a part of grief. Yet the overriding message from those representing power is that now is no time for criticism - it is time to unite.
The problem is that we have been divided, quite purposefully by those in power, for decades.
The problem is that we have been divided, quite purposefully by those in power, for decades.
This is a salutary lesson for all leaders around the world (the US and UK are prime examples) who seek to use division to create loyal bases and otherise all opposition.
When things are going well, you push away opponents but you can’t expect them to come back on bad days.
When things are going well, you push away opponents but you can’t expect them to come back on bad days.
The opposition in Turkey have been called traitors, terrorists, Luddites, backwards, idiots, honourless, basically every word under the sun.
They have been persecuted, jailed, silenced, pushed out of decision-making and had their rationale demeaned as nonsense.
They have been persecuted, jailed, silenced, pushed out of decision-making and had their rationale demeaned as nonsense.
It was only opposition voices (at least openly) who questioned whether it might be sensible to carry out military adventures without air support. The same goes for those who question whether the economy can really be run off the back of playing around with swaps.
Then when things take a turn for the tragic, those who were ridiculed or even prosecuted for venturing critical viewpoints are expected to toe the line and express fealty to a cause they always warned was on the wrong course.
That doesn’t seem right. It certainly isn’t fair.
That doesn’t seem right. It certainly isn’t fair.
Turkey needs pluralism in its decision-making. It needs a greater arena for rational debate. This road we’re walking down is quite clearly a cul-de-sac (çıkmaz sokak).
If the country is to unite, it can only unite because everyone is involved in building our mutual future.
If the country is to unite, it can only unite because everyone is involved in building our mutual future.
So no, it is almost impossible to invite unity with people who you demonize and call traitors or terrorists.
Don’t demand a kumbaya from people you never listen to and who often, tragically, are proven right by awful turns of events that they tried to warn were inevitable.
Don’t demand a kumbaya from people you never listen to and who often, tragically, are proven right by awful turns of events that they tried to warn were inevitable.
In short, if your hope is for unity across the nation when times are bad, don’t divide them into warring factions when times are good just for petty political advantage.
It takes but a moment to make us all hate each other, it seems. Helping us trust one another takes longer.
It takes but a moment to make us all hate each other, it seems. Helping us trust one another takes longer.
