First They Kill People's Souls, Mother

Those who know me well know that I am a motorcycle enthusiast. This is human, and over time, we adapt to the tastes and listening to the people in the social activities we are involved in. Leonard Cohen is one of them. In one of his songs he says in his guttural voice: "It was a dance of masks and every mask was perfect, because every mask was a real face and every face was a real mask." This is exactly the situation of these days. 

Great big people are always saying something. Which is the mask and which is the real face. It is a bit difficult to understand who is telling the truth, according to what they are telling the truth, according to whom they are telling the truth. It makes you want to say, "Whoever understands!" Everyone is in a crisis. 

If one cannot touch something, if one cannot flow into something, if one feels that one cannot be understood, if one cannot understand oneself, if one cannot communicate, it means that one needs to rethink words and perhaps go deeper. But where are those who can fulfill this need?

We know that words dominate and shape our thoughts. Thoughts, in turn, stimulate emotions and cause behaviors. And behaviors bring about results. Confucius is certain that without knowing the power of words, it is impossible to understand human beings. For this reason, we often ask, "Do you hear what comes out of your mouth?" 

Most of us know that every word, every sentence that comes out of our mouths reveals the flavor of our thoughts, the meaning of our lives, our experiences, our authenticity. But why are we so poor at making our point or understanding the other person's point? 

It is because we are so poor that some people use words very well and make us do what they want. "A man who assassinated a former head of state is brought before a judge. The judge asks him: "Why did you kill him?"

The murderer: "Because he was secular"

Judge: "What does secular mean?"

Murderer: "I don't know!"

Again in a country, the judge asks: "Why did you shoot him?"

Defendant: "For writing a book called Street Children's Dreams."

Judge: "Well, have you read about the dreams of street children?"

Defendant: "No" 

I can multiply such examples in as many variations as possible. Do you think those who are referred to as criminals or those who manipulate them with words are the criminals here? 

The taxes we pay for education return to us and our society as the ignorance of minds exploited by superstition and sophistry. It is a pity that even our intellectuals are silent. They lack the ability to use their words as effectively as they do. When this is the case, a quote by Maksim Gorky in his novel Mother comes to mind; "they are killing people's souls, mother" 

That's what murder is, isn't it? Shameful murder! You understand me, don't you, mom? They're draining the souls of the people and they don't understand anything. Those who deceive and instigate people are guilty, but they don't realize it! But unfortunately, the intellectuals who see all this and remain silent are another matter. 

"What will become of us?" everyone asks nowadays, as the souls around them, including their own, are being killed one after the other. 

I have written this article in memory of Uğur Mumcu, Gaffar Okkan, Turan Dursun, the last one Sinan Ateş and the people whose names I cannot write here. May their souls rest in peace.

Stay with respect and love.