The Test of the Turk with Itself in the 100th Year of the Republic
I see the fragmented, hopeless state we are in as Turkish people as a turning point and I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have to overcome it. I would like to underline that we all need to realize that there is a possibility that we may drift at this turning point and that in this sense, the 100th anniversary of the Republic should be read as a good reminder.
Like every living organism, countries, too, pass through some twists and turns as they go through each stage of life. Some countries may be severely damaged, or even disappear. Others grow stronger and skillfully turn the corner without tumbling into the abyss.
Since its foundation, the Republic of Turkey has been tossed around at some crossroads, but has managed to continue on its way. May 27th, March 12th and September 12th were among such crossroads. So was the July 15 attempt. We can multiply similar examples.
I believe that we are now on the eve of an important turning point. Looking at the history of our country over the past century, I believe that it is a bit like that. Of course, I am not referring to a coup or an uprising. I just see the fragmented, hopeless state we are in as Turkish people as a turning point and I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have to overcome it. I would like to underline that we all need to realize that there is a possibility that we may drift at this turning point and that in this sense, the 100th anniversary of the Republic should be read as a good reminder.
All of us, all together, are going through difficult times in which the founding values of the Republic have been undermined, the parliamentary democratic system has been distanced in a sense, the rule of law has remained in words, bilateral relations with some countries have been troubled, and economic life has almost collapsed. A significant part of our people, who are struggling with severe economic problems, find it difficult to understand and digest this bad course of events. As a member of this country, I think that many of the recent events in our country do not befit the centuries-old history of the Republic and its founding philosophy and founding values. We should all have high expectations that there will be no deviations from Turkey's founding philosophy in this period of the centenary of the Republic. But unfortunately, we have concerns. There are numerous deteriorations that feed our concerns.
When the Republic of Turkey was founded, it was aimed to achieve industrialization and development within the framework of the principles of national sovereignty and full independence, and to reach the level of contemporary civilization. Parliamentary system and separation of powers were the foundations of the Republic. Atatürk's principles of Statism, Republicanism, Populism, Nationalism, Secularism, Secularism and Revolutionism were the basic guides for those who governed the state and the people. Acting with the awareness that they were the representatives of a people who looked to the future with hope and a nation that was aware of its prestigious place in world history, the Turkish people had taken a path for the sake of progress and modernization. However, the current situation shows us that we are in the thrall of a corrupt mentality that turns art into viscosity, politics into mercantilism, religion into bigotry, nation into ummah, law into law, right into falsehood, power into despotism, education into medievalism, science into superstition, the press into cronyism, scholar into sycophancy, depth into shallowness, state into tribe, elegance and mastery into rudeness, and quality into unqualification. When did we fall into this state?
Now is the time to shake up, tremble and return to our essence. This year we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of our Republic. When October 29, 2023 comes, we will experience the honor of gathering under the 100-year old plane of the Republic as free citizens in an independent Turkey, believing in the rule of law and confident of their future. We will once again be proud of our ancestor and the Republic of Turkey, which he called "my greatest work".
What kind of Turkey do we envision in this 100th year and what kind of Turkey do we dream of becoming? I believe it is time to ask these questions and put them back on the agenda of the country. If we want it to be truly the Century of Turkey, we must be able to do this sincerely. In our 100th anniversary, we must return to our essence as a nation, we must be able to make new moves to stop the bad trend without falling into despair.
As Atatürk, the founder of our country, pointed out, "Our country will be a modern, civilized and constantly renewed country no matter what." We believe that the Republic of Turkey will prove with its works that it is worthy of the place it occupies in the world. The Republic of Turkey will be happy, successful and victorious! And there is no reason why it should not be.
We, as the Turkish nation, must move forward in our own identity, with our own temperament and character. Everyone knows that change and development is like a constantly flowing river. In this river, it is our common ideal and belief to ensure the existence of the Republic of Turkey forever, to carry forward the strength, intelligence and industriousness of the Turkish Nation as our cultural code, and thus to rise above the level of contemporary civilization as a country. It is the common duty of everyone who can say 'Happy to be a Turk' to protect the present and future of this country by adhering to Atatürk's principles and reforms.
Stay with respect and love
