Bending Over of the Ottomans by the Imperialists

I don’t buy the argument or at least the down playing of Erdogan’s leadership by all the western writers/journalists.  I don’t buy it. 

He was elected numerous times by the majority of the citizens of Turkey. Why does the west keep referring and thinking and believing Erdogan is a lessor ruler, than say anyone of his counterparts? Is it because the west cannot put a puppet candidate to win against him? And just concludes, Erdogan is a dictator. Where is the proof that he is? 

When the French declared marshal law for the uprising and used excessive force, not  one western nation said that France was going over board beating/killing the immigrants. 

When Turkey declared marshal law because bombs were dropped onto the parliament, everyone of the western nations said, Erdogan is going over board in arresting so many military staff/reporters/judges etc. 

The double standard is obvious.  

I’m more liberal than most Turks, and it would piss me off if the same ruler kept winning elections. And I know many people in Turkey hate that he keeps winning, but living outside of Turkey and always reading negative comments about Erdogan and his party, really makes me say, “I hope he keeps winning to piss off the western rulers who donot know how to deal with him.”

I strongly feel he will win 2023, and the last few years of his rule will be melancholy as Turkey will wonder who will lead them next. Same mentality ruler like Erdogan (I hope so) or a “yes boss” man like most all of the leaders before Erdogan, even Ataturk was a “yes boss” man to the Imperialists.  

Yes boss, I’ll get rid of Islam. 

Yes boss, I’ll get rid of the Arabic writing. 

Yes boss, I’ll get rid of the Adhan. 

Yes boss, I’ll make sure women who attend university cannot wear the hijab. 

Yes boss, I’ll hang all the imams who go against western values. 

Yes boss, I’ll eliminate 1,000 Arabic words and put French words in our language, to move us away from the Arabs/Islam and closer to the west. 

Thought to share, I’m just thinking out loud, it will be another short book I’m working on. The title will be, The Bending Over of the Ottomans by the Imperialists. 

City of Gaziantep

Gazi means Veteran. 

Antep is the name of the eastern city. 

Gaziantep. This name was given to this city for kicking out the French and Italians in the war of independence, when the Ottoman Enpire collapsed and the imperialist came to take land.  

Turkeys best food is always from around this area as, the food has heavy influence from Syria, and Lebanon and other middle eastern nations, but before, these were all under the empire. 

We are from, my encestors are from close to Antep, it is called Siirt, the province next over. 

The people of eastern Turkey are like Burak (Ozcivit) dark features.

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