The Understanding of Nationalism and Despair Questioned in Turkey in the Recent Period

In my view, nationalism is to know the land you live in as your homeland, to love the people who live in this land with you, and to struggle to make this geography one of the most advanced countries in the world. When we look at Atatürk's nationalism, we see a similar understanding. We call it "nationalism" to work together with other individuals for the survival and glorification of the nation to which one belongs, and to reflect this work and consciousness to other generations. Accordingly, the most important element of nationalism is being a "nation".

In fact, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk described the nation as follows: "A community consisting of people who have a rich heritage of memories, who are sincere in their common desire and willingness to live together, and who have a common will to continue the protection of the heritage together, is called a nation."

All kinds of "-isms" fall behind this understanding of nationalism, this definition of nation. In essence, I always doubt the love for the country of people who do not adopt this common denominator of nationalism, who do not have the feeling of being the Turkish Nation, regardless of who they are, rightist, leftist or liberal. 

From this point of view, I would like to tell you how I see the principle of nationalism by making a description of what is happening in our country. Every citizen of the Republic of Turkey living in this distinguished country should be able to say "I am happy to be a Turk". When reciting our oath, which starts with "I am Turkish, I am right, I am hardworking...", he is expected to be so enthusiastic that his heart will jump out of his chest. While saying these words, his/her hair should be as straight as the mane of a grizzly wolf. 

It is the motto of the Turkish nationalist not to open the first three articles of our constitution, which cannot be changed or even proposed to be changed, to discussion. Turkish nationalism is an understanding shared by those who can find the strength to stand upright against those who want to open the article "Everyone who is bound to the Turkish state by the bond of citizenship is a Turk" and say "what are you saying?". Turkish nationalism is to be able to fight in every medium with those who want to remove the word Turkish and replace it with the word Turkey, Turkish people! The nationalism that flourishes in these lands, which have become our homeland by being watered with the blood of our martyrs, is not just a thing, a simple sentiment. 

- If we are to talk about nationalism in Turkey, it also requires taking the responsibility of not forgetting and not letting people forget those who sang megri megri with Barzani and Şivan Perver. 

- Nationalism requires taking it as a duty to oppose those who want to open the TRT Kurdi channel on the official state television and thus create a different nation by turning a dialect into a literary language. 

- Nationalism means having the courage to stand against those who send state representatives to Oslo to meet with the terrorist leaders of the PKK and negotiate their demands. 

- Not reading the letter of a separatist murderer sentenced to life imprisonment by a Turkish court in Diyarbakır square, not allowing it to be read, means doubting the nationalism of those who read it. 

- Nationalism is not sending the Turkish court to the Habur border gate and pardoning separatist terrorists who enter the border in terrorist outfits. It is not to watch and consent to terrorists wandering among us and in our country with victory signs.

- Nationalism is not to allow the conspiracy against the generals/admirals, officers and non-commissioned officers of the Turkish Army under the names of Ergenekon, Sledgehammer, etc., and to fight the conspirators to the end. 

- Nationalism is not to accept those who want to usurp the rights of tens of thousands of young people by stealing entrance questions to schools, and to "destroy the equality of opportunity in education by the state" in the recruitment of students to all our educational and training institutions, especially our military schools. 

- Nationalism does not mean changing the population structure of the country by filling the Turkish homeland with Syrians and Afghans and competing to make this country cease to be a Turkish homeland, nor does it mean being a partner in these actions for the sake of staying in power and benefiting from the blessings of power, even though it has the name "nationalist movement" in its name. 

- Nationalism means not selling the country's stones, soil, mines, factories and harbours to foreigners. 

- Nationalism is not selling Turkish citizenship to Arabs, Qataris, Afghans and the like for money in order to save the economy, which has reached the sinking stage due to measures that were not taken on time, and not selling the nation's capital, distinguished institutions, to the Gulf capital.

We can multiply these. All of you can add countless things and your experiences under these articles. You can even see the injustices done to you, if not to you, then to your children, your spouse, those around you, and say things like "down with this nationalism", "you can no longer live in this country under these conditions", "young people, if you can, go abroad and save yourself". 

But please do not forget. Because we are not or cannot be Turkish Nationalists, because we cannot protect our homeland, our politics and our future for various reasons, we have been confronted with a bad picture of Turkey that you are uncomfortable with. Each of us loved money very much. We preferred to think that whoever has money is a man. We have become alienated from the values of this homeland, the historical traits of the Turkish people, the characteristics that make us different from other nations, in short, we have become alienated from ourselves. We have preferred to use every power that has been entrusted to us for our own benefit, our supporters, our fellow countrymen, our relatives, our sect, our social circle, our party, etc. We have preferred to use it to the fullest. We have preferred this. The saying "Let it be from us, let it be from the mud!" belongs to this geography. 

The fundamental problem of Turkey is that in the struggle between the good and the bad, the good have given up. The inability of the good to unite and struggle around "Turkish nationalism" is the source of all problems. Democracies do not run out of remedies. The Turk is hardworking, intelligent, determined and knows how to fight. 

As the poet said, one cannot "abandon determination by seeing the future as dark". If there is a lowly death, it can only be this. "No feeling, no movement, no pain... Are you carrion? You astonish me... You were not like this. If we are really the continuation of the ancestors who founded this Republic, who fought for independence, if we are a true Turkish nationalist, I cry out to you like our National Poet Mehmet Akif Ersoy:

"It is right for a country without a master to sink; if you are the master, this homeland will not sink!"

"Stop wailing, come to your senses, because time is short..., try: there are so many damages to compensate."

"The power you need is in the noble blood in your veins." As long as you feel the blood flowing in your veins. The moment you feel it, you will see that you can stand up again with the determination and will to correct every wrong done. Come on, feel a little... Be a Turk, say "I am happy to be a Turk"... The rest will come. Believe, first in yourself and then in this nation. Come on!

Stay with respectful love