Wallpaper for some time

Wallpaper for some time

The below image was found from the internet.  This website used the image since the children (of war-torn Syria) in the image were thought to be looking into the camera wanting and hoping for a bright future to come, where they can be happy and safe with family and friends.  The wishing of a bright future by the children is similar to what this website is hoping for, which is a bright future of internet users visiting the site to read informative articles.  We are hoping both good wishes come to fruition.

Hope is a good thing 

Thank you for visiting,

Ben

Ahmet Kaya's Legacy

Ahmet Kaya's Legacy

I'm proud to come from the Anatolian land, however there are many troubles in this old country/area.  Here is an example.  

Ahmet Kaya was at one time the number one seller for fantasy/folk/turko rock music, and he was one of my favourite.  

The problem (for him) was he was Kurdish.   Turkey is a country of close to 70 million, and of that number about 20 million are Kurds.   

In the olden days, Turks and Kurds, and other ethnic groups within this nation fought side by side against the imperial powers.  However, since about the mid 1970s, there is an emphasis on what your back ground is in Turkey. This divide got worse, before slowly getting better now.  

But in 1999 this is what happened to Ahmet Kaya.   

Ahmet Kaya drinking tea

He went on a show, and declared that in his future album, he was going to sing a song in Kurdish, this became a big deal and eventually he was declared that he insulted the Turkish identity and was going to be jailed, therefore he took off to France.   This all happened while he was the number one singer in Turkey.  

In France, until is death only a short year later, he kept telling the Turkish authorities that he had not said anything wrong and he declared that he wanted to come back to his country as he missed his country, friends, family etc.   However, the Turkish government did not forgive him and advised him that his prison sentence would stand.   

Ahmet Kaya died in October of the year 2000 and his wife said that he died of the heartache he had for his country.   This really upset me and many folks back then and even now.   The Turkish government has not apologized for this event yet and there are repeated requests by Kurds, his family and friends.  

My son is named after him.   My side of the family does not have any Kurdish, we have a bit of Syrian from about 7 generations back and my parents can still speak levantine Arabic, I can a bit...

My wife's grandmother was Kurdish, therefore my son is one forth Kurdish now.  My son Ahmet is one forth as following: 

Kurdish, Turkish, Canadian and Arabic, I'm very proud of this.  

My son Ahmet and his Jeep

Ahmet Kaya and his daughter

Back to Ahmet Kaya, because of his stand with  the Turkish government, Kurdish language is recognized now and there is even a Kurdish radio/TV and so on.  He paved the way for many within this country.   

May he rest in peace.    

Ben here

Bombing of Syria

Bombing of Syria

 

Here we go again, another USA administration bombing a country.  How many countries has the USA bombed in the past quarter century?  A dozen? 

 

I am saddened to see people in Syria suffer, however, bombing is not the answer, and we should know this by now.

 

The Obama administration rightly stayed out of Syria. 

 

The fighting in Syria has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions in Syria since the beginning of the war, which I believe is at the sixth year mark.

 

The direct American involvement that began on April 7, 2017 with over 50 cruise missiles attacking has caused even further destruction in this country.  I believe this military action is a complete error by USA.  The USA constitution does not require that American forces fight in every war around the world; this one should have been sat out.  

 

The immense resources of the United States should be dedicated rather, to one single goal:

Reduce human suffering with humanitarian aid.

 

President Trump should immediately cease all direct attacks on the Syrian regime and instead help the people of this country.

 

Thank you for reading,

Ben

 

 

Only The Brave Youth Equality Association

Only The Brave Youth Equality Association

(This blog was written on March 17th, 2014, and the logo is the first logo of the association)

The purpose of  'Only the Brave" is:

- Help disadvantaged youth with social inequality',

- Contribute to the sustainable development of less advantage areas and people around Mesopotamia (Eastern Turkey, Northern Syria/Irak) (Tigris & Euphrates River System Area),

- Provide support and help to youth in and around the city of Edmonton,

- Relief of poverty, in underprivileged families with children/youth,

Thank you for reading,

Ben

Intervention by Turkey

Intervention by Turkey

I have been following the 'guerrilla war' going on in Syria, and I am perplexed at some comments made by westerners from the comfort of their peaceful homes.  

          Tanks sitting on the Turkish side 

Let us briefly look at the issue at hand.  

But first, I will re-write the question, why are some screaming for meddling and interventions by Turkey? 

The answer is that the Turkey does not want to get dragged into an in-ending & un-winnable guerrilla war.  

I invite citizens of the world to read 'Art of War' by Mr Sun Tzu.

If USA politicians actually read the book, they, I mean the politicians would not be constantly getting involved in fiascos all the time, all around the world.  

          Men watching the bombing

If IS (Islamic State) attacks Turkey, then the matter is different, as Turkey is justified to protect its borders and therefore retaliate.  What Turkey is doing is watching how the affair unfolds and using caution.  This 'caution' is something all countries should use, before bombing each other.  

But, let's say something needs to be done right away, as in we need to go into Syria and 'bomb' IS or other parties.  

I for one definitely agree that something should be done to save the people of the town of Kobani. 

However, Turkey should not fight IS on its own.  

What is required is a a 'joint force' of NATO countries going in to solve this dilemma.  

Or how about the 'so called' world powers of USA, UK, Canada and France, putting their nose into this as well and going into Syria and bombing that country like Afghanistan or Irak or Vietnam was 'handled' previously.  

But, let's not be sarcastic here.  

If Turkey were part of a joint force it would make sense to complete a 'peaceful ground operation' but for a single country to invade another is illegal and absolutely foolish. 

I hope our politicians have learned that 'war is not the answer to peace'.  I really hope that...

Sincerely, 

Ben 

Wallpaper of May 2014

Wallpaper of May 2014

This is a beautiful little boy located in the Syrian Refugee Camp inside Turkey.  I sure hope that the conflict in this region comes to an end very soon.

Sincerely,

Please, Strive for Peace

Please, Strive for Peace

From the bombarded city of Homs in Syria, 'a peace sign' from a beautiful little girl.  The leaders of Syria and the world, stop the violence and war, 'Please, strive for Peace'. 

Thank you, 

Ben