Job Discussion Forums

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

So, Britain is appalled by racist comments by Jade Goody

and Turkey is appalled by Dink's murder.

Are Jade and Ogun Samast really that different. Which is scarier the rise of racism in the UK or Turkey? Remember Hitler was voted in.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

It's all part of a new conservatism that is sweeping the world post 11 September. Stories of people not being allowed on planes wearing t-shirts with Arabic and the like are becoming so increasingly common that they aren't newsworthy anymore. In addition, the anti-PC lobby are gaining more and more kudos by repeatedly making up stories about the banning of Christmas / words/ blah blah blah. I remember the mid-90s when rock against racism, Youth Against Racism, and the Anti-Nazi league were massive scenes. Nowadays pop-culture has been depoliticised along with the young and it is becoming increasingly easy to get away with casual racism, even on this very forum, without people kicking up too much of a fuss.

I all too frequently get accused of being a woolly-PC-liberal when I'm outspoken in criticising and challenging people's right-wing and often misogynistic, racist, or culturally-imperialistic comments. However, I strongly object to any, even casual, racist comments be they about blacks, Jews, Kurds, Turks, Indians, Pakistanis or even the Welsh. Shame that people like this are becoming harder and harder to find.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

Actually, I was really suprprised how upset everyone is about Dink's murder. 'Pleasantly surprised' is not the right word for it, but something like that. I expected more of a 'he was asking for it' stance. Even my husband, a total uber-nationalist, is really sad about it, and has been for days.

tararu · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 494

If there is a brain child of this whole affair, l think that they are probably equally as shocked at the public's response. Maybe Turkey is feeling a bit of regret and remorse. I don't know. I found the public's outrage suprising, too. It brought a tear to my eye to watch the mass vigil in Sisli.

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6289275.stm

High security? I'm in Sisli, the roads are closed, but people are walking straight past the police.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

i've just walked past the Agos office. it is absolutely heaving around Ergenekon Cad, and there about 200 police men in Mecidikekoy just at the metro area. I believe there is a march to Yenikapi at 2.00.

EDIT

here we go avoid these places.

yaramaz · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

Apparently a number of nationalist parties are blaming it on the CIA, Hamas, and other organisations, because goodness knows its all just a plot to unravel the unity of the republic.

Otterman Ollie · Posted: Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:56 am Post subject:

After reading about his murder in the TDN I felt that it was a black day for this country, when someone who promotes peace and harmony between Armenians and Turks is killed for his beliefs because a twisted group of powerful people are made to feel uncomfortable .I don't believe that the killer was someone who had a real grievance against him .He was paid to do what he did and any enquiry against the real people behind his death will turn up onthing or very little .A very poor reflection on the Republic that it does not deserve .

Baba Alex · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 2411

tararu · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 494

Yes. His death does seem like a message to others who might have the crazy idea to write anything that migth fly in the face of 'Turkishness'. It is hard to know what is true and what's not. It would nice to go back to a time when we all blindly trusted our heads of state.

Laura777 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Istanbul Turkey

When was there a time when we trusted our heads of state??

I cannot remember such a time.

...saw many coming home last night who were carrying the signs 'We are all Hrant Dink'...

Very strong sentiments. What a loss. What a tragedy for his family and friends. My prayers are with them.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

I'm assuming the kid that did it was just a sad, lonely psycho and not a pawn of the 'deep state,' as they're starting to suggest. And while this kid's story isn't nearly as tragic as Dink's and his family's, he makes me sad too. He may be a stupid kid, but he's still a kid nonetheless, and he's f*cked his life before it even started.

Also troubling is that if he's tried as a juvenile (though last I heard, they're probing the muhtar records trying to show that his birth was actually registered a year late, making him 18 ), he'll spend 18 years in prison. WHich means he'll be 35, still in the prime of life, with no job, no education, and no training except what he learned from spending 18 years among prisoners, and he'll be set loose on the world once again. Super.

tararu · Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 494

Laura said, "When was there a time when we trusted our heads of state?."

I don't think that it was too long ago. The world has not existed in a continual paranoid state for the past 10,000 years.

lovelace · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 190

Yes, the worry is that people will say 'Oh, he's just a crazy kid' and brush aside the fact that there are really dangerous people out there who don't want anyone to ever ask questions about the state, Turkish society, Turkish history etc etc.

Laura777 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 101 Location: Istanbul Turkey