In this reactive essay I will reflect on my experience in Turkey, include exerts from my posts, as well as reference the readings and other academic references we used in the program. We spent a few days in the historic areas of Izmir, home of Ephesus and beautiful Kusadasi, but in this essay I would like to focus on Istanbul. Most of our time was spent in Istanbul which is a city that has a rich history and straddles the threshold of two cultures and continents. We were able to explore the complex and remarkable characteristics of this city and its people. It is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center, even though it is no longer the countries capital. Istanbul is not only a major metropolis --the only one in the world situated on two continents (Asia and Europe), but also a unique modern, secular cultural center where elements from Western and Islamic societies come together.
During this program, we had the opportunity to explore how the legacy of a rich diverse history interacts with a modern life style. Throughout its history, Istanbul has served as the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, and hosted a diverse group of ethnic and religious communities (such as Greek Orthodox, Latin, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim). (History of Turkey, Crescent & Star) Today, the city is considered one of the best cultural centers of Europe with its rich nightlife, restaurants, its wonderful museums, festivals, concerts and cultural impromptu entertainment, like folk dancing. These attractions have made it a major site to observe and understand the dynamics of the interaction of the West with the East.
During the two and a half weeks we spent there, we explored the historical sites from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods like Efesis and the myriad of religious structures to see the tension and synergy between Greek Orthodox, Latin, Jewish, and Islamic influences in the history of Istanbul. We studied the interactions of the Ottoman Empire and then the Republic of Turkey with Europe and the role of Islam in everyday life as well as foreign policy. We explored the contemporary political and cultural issues of Turkey and its diverse communities, like the controversial joining of the European Union. We also were exposed to how this Islamic society interacts with the elements of Western culture to make it its unique own.
I will now explore some of my findings in discussions, readings, and personal reflection. There are many views and opinions concerning the ruling government in Turkey. Many of which are negative and some are brutally honest. Stephen Kinzer in the Crescent & Star states his opinion of the ruling elite and describes what he feels the government is doing to the people of Turkey. I explored his writings mostly of the chapter titled “Dreaming in Turkish” and evaluated whether I agree based upon my studies and experiences in Turkey.
At one point, Kinzer states, “The country would certainly take a huge leap forward if people could be grabbed there (on Istiklal Street) at random and sent to Ankara to replace the members of Parliament.” (Kinzer: 10) This street that he mentions is one that harbors people from all walks of life from diverse cultural backgrounds. The word Istiklal means independence, which is reflected in the people who walk the street. The diversity on this street is something Kinzer says frightens Turkey’s ruling elite. One might say that diversity is strength. The same diversity that makes Istiklal Street so magnificent scares others. That fear is far reaching all the way to Ankara, where the Parliament sits with thoughts of insecurity. They are frightened by Turkey’s neighbors and the West; they are frightened by Islamic extremists, and the Kurds. They have been so scared they have abandoned what Turkey was destined to be, a free democracy.
I have seen examples of this and believe this is a real problem for the Turkish people. Without a voice for the people, the people who believe in a free democracatic Turkey will continue to struggle and the nation will not reach its potential.
Kinzer also talks about how he believes that Turkey’s government has little to no trust in the people of Turkey to make decisions because they are not mature enough to do so. Turkey and its people have somehow made it through several attacks and criticism from sheiks and leaders, religious sects to Kurds and to Europeans, and are still there.
No one can deny that there are certain threats to Turkey, but most other countries have the same threats. The problem now is it that the government of Turkey thinks that the country is under attack and that every movement made by another country is a move made to take over. When something is always on the defensive it has little time or effort remaining to plan or be on the offensive; to thrive.
Kinzer goes on to say that these attitudes of self preservation, isolation, and seclusion have turned the country of Turkey into the enemy of many other countries and organizations.
Turkey has been viewed as its own entity of sorts. It has some Middle-East attributes, while having some Balkan attributes, while having many Western, in particular, European attributes, because it does not fit in with any of these areas completely it abandons the similarities that it has with some of them.
Turkey’s history of abandoning allies and isolating itself has had negative implications when trying to join the European Union. Currently is being debated in Turkey whether or not to join the European Union, if accepted. Most people outside of the society would say yes because it would benefit Turkey. The people that the decision affects the most disagree, and basically say they do not want to be a part of the E.U. anymore.
As we discussed in a lecture at Sabanci University, the issue is no longer can Turkey join the E.U. but rather should Turkey join the E.U. It is a complex matter that has many dimensions.
As mentioned in Turkey, A Modern History, the European Union put a block on Turkey’s entrance into the European Union because it believed it did not have a good handle on the human rights of its entire people. (Zurcher: 323) There were arguments on both sides to why Turkey should or should not be let into the E.U.
Many countries in the E.U. are scared that if Turkey joined, it would tip the political scales within the E.U. This would probably occur because Turkey would be the second largest E.U. member. Another important fact is that the E.U. would collectively become poorer if Turkey was accepted. This would mean that the E.U. would have less to offer financially to the poorer countries in times of crisis. The amount of money and the number of people that Turkey would bring into the E.U. can be looked at in a negative light, but some say this influx would actually be beneficial in the long run. Since the average age of the current E.U. members is older and is aging, pretty soon the size of the union will shrink. Allowing Turkey into the union with its medium age of 27 would provide the necessary age difference that would provide support for the union for several generations. There is also reluctance from the Christian community. Turkey is a predominantly Islamic country, which in some people’s eyes makes them a part of the Middle-East. (Zurcher: 336)
With the onslaught of rejection pouring in for so many years many Turkish people have just had enough and do not want any part of the European Union, and I agree.
The religious diversity in Turkey is very dynamic. While we were there we visited multiple mosques, a synagogue, and Roman Catholic churches. It was interesting to see how over time different religions took over a single building and adapted it to reflect their unique religion. For instance, the Hagia Sophia has had a tumultuous and historic past. It has been completely torn down and rebuilt twice, the dome has caved in several times, and various religious iconic artifacts have been implanted, covered, uncovered, and/or removed. After visiting sites like this and the other religious locations it is peculiar to me how the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam can have such similar beginnings but have such differing views of their religion compared to others. The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque by Sidney Griffith is a book about the history of these religions and the compelling relationships between them. When looking at what type of texts have been written on the topic Griffith’s stood out as one which fully grasps the entirety of the relationship and historic struggles.
It was interesting to see how the various religions played their individual roles in creating modern day Turkey. The geographical location of Turkey may have played an even larger role though. Stephen Kinzer said it best in the Crescent & Star:
Whenever I sit in a café beside the Bosphorus I sense the power of Turkey’s geography. Behind me lie Paris, Berlin, and London. Across the narrow waterway is Asia, an unbroken land mass stretching from the streets of Istanbul to Baghdad, Dehli and Beijing. The Black Sea, gateway to Russia and the Slavic world, is a few miles to the north. To the south lies the wine-dark Mediterranean, most storied of seas, which washes the shores of Europe and Africa. This country is the great bridge between East and West, North and South.
With greatness comes anguish, and this country has had their share of both. Since the location is “prime property” in the world view they have had many changes in power over its spansive history, equaling war and recently a murky identity. The Turkish people of today protest to be mostly Islamic in belief and have strong ties to their families. There is a great amount of contempt towards the conservative leaders of Turkey, who again and again resist change. “In their minds Turkey is still a nation under siege. To protect it from mortal danger, they feel obligated to run it themselves”, instead of allowing the country to become a true democracy. “These attitudes have turned Turkey’s ruling elite into the enemy of the ideal that gave it life.” (Kinzer: 12,13)
There is not a strong tie between the people of Turkey and the nation. Instead there is a greater tie with the faith in Ataturk. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk came to power in 1922-23 when ideologies were changing and the nation was in ruins. After emerging as a leader he went on to abolish the Ottoman regime, dethrone the Islamic caliph as the national religion, change the very clothing on the Turkish people by banning the fez and veil, and ending the subservience of women, replaced the Muslim calendar with a European one, ended polygamy and the use the Arabic language and introduced the “Turkish” language and the metric system. Every aspect of daily life was altered by Ataturk.
Istanbul is the metropolitan Mecca for Turkey, every extravagance can be found. All types of products and services are sold. The economy is stable in many ways and shows promise for the future. Everything from the sales people to the driving seems to in a hurry and in your face. Life feels as if you are in the fast lane. When you find quiet moments in your home or on the ferry to and from work you relish it. I saw men in their suits taking deep breaths after hustling to get on the ferry, enjoying the fresh air and the moment of peace. Orhan Pamuk in Istanbul Memories and the City described a similar feeling he experienced while on the Bosphorus. He goes on to say, “What I enjoyed most about our family excursions to the Bosphorus was to see the traces everywhere of a sumptuous culture that had been influenced by the West without having lost its originality or vitality.” (2004: 52)
This blending of Western culture with Eastern culture, is not like a cake being blended but more like a salad, Western influences can be seen everywhere amongst the Eastern influences. The various forms of media such as television, the internet, and print media helps develop the nation of Turkeys perception of what is Western and what is hip. I have seen several Burger Kings, McDonalds, and Starbucks which says they like Western foods. European and American clothing styles can be seen all over and wearing them is very fashionable. I have seen brands of clothing like; Nike, Puma, Coach, Chanel, etc. These influences tend to penetrate the more affluent and/ or younger generations. With the huge under 30 years of age population and advances in technology, consumption of media is at an all time high. This high consumption has fully saturated the market creating a high penetration percentage. When you have such high levels of consumption and penetration of certain aspects of Western culture, like name brand products, you end up having a greater acceptance of the Western culture as a whole.
Westerners seemed widely accepted. It was interesting to be able to communicate and have fun in a country where you barely know the language. It seems as though the Turkish people rely heavily on non-verbal communication. They use hand gestures to welcome you, and show approval and disapproval. A smile from one stranger to another stranger seems to alleviate some discomfort and unfamiliarity between the two people. After two people have moved out of the stranger relationship and it is time to depart from one another, both people kissed the other person’s cheeks. Touching in general seemed to be more acceptable. Men could hug, kiss cheeks, and touch without the thought of anything more than friendship between them. This ability to show emotion is what makes the Turkish people more pleasing to get to know.
This is in strong contrast to Americans who do not really engage one another unless they have to. Hugging and kissing is reserved for family members or intimate partners. Friends sometimes hug but this is usually occurs more often with women than men. If men were to greet and interact the way they do in Turkey, in America, they may be viewed as gay or weird. The whole ideology of being gay was not apparent while in Turkey. Maybe because being gay is prevalent in Lawrence, Kansas where I live, I expected to see it more than I did. Even though we have differences in culture what I found most interesting is that I was never faced with a situation where I could not communicate what I desired at all, which is significant.
One similarity of the Turkish people and Americans is how we value our families. Family is very important to the Turkish people and waiting till after you have completed school or have been married to move from your parent’s home is traditional and practical. Leisure time is very important to the Turkish people: the drinks, food, and activities enrich the time spent with friends and family. The meals are an important time to converse where time is valued in quality not quantity. Turkish coffee and tea is something the Turkish people relish and the time spent enjoying such libations only provide more time with family and friends.
There are several value systems in Turkey. We have discussed the value of personal presentation a little but I would now like to discuss it from a different angle. There is a hybrid of people growing and spreading throughout Turkey. The value system among the young Turkish population is evolving. Some young women seem to be moving more conservative and contemporary. This group of women identify themselves as Islamic and forward thinking while rooted in tradition. These women wear fashionable modern head scarves and the long full body jackets, covering everything besides their face, hands and feet. The clothing, purses, shoes and jewelry they wear are of high quality.
The young men of Turkey have been raised to follow certain traditions and seem to be very appreciative of their culture and its people. When traveling to Kadikoy I was astonished to see young men and a few women performing Black Sea folk dances. Several groups of people had formed circles by joining hands and were dancing and singing to Turkish music. It was interesting to see how the young individuals had little reservations and how enthusiastic they were in performing. They welcomed anyone in that wanted to participate. These practices are rooted in years of tradition. These customs have not faded through time and seem to be reinvigorated with the large, young population. The values of brotherhood, family, and community can be seen in this area of life in Turkey.
So there are these dichotomies within Turkey, where there are these ever evolving aspects within the culture, while there are these other aspects that remain treasured and passed down through the generations. You have this contrast between the conservative, modern, religious sect and a more secular yet traditional sect. Sometimes you may have all these attributes in one individual which seems to be a part of being Turkish.
“Istanbul’s greatest virtue is its people’s ability to see the city through both western and eastern eyes.” (Pamuk 2004) By viewing their society through different lenses the Turkish people have an expanded and more complicated identity to understand and perform. That identity has two parts; one is that it is a victim which feels that all Westerners conspire against Turks. The second identity is a peaceful identity that wishes everyone could live in harmony.
This multidimensional Turkish identity leads me to believe that there are varying levels of acceptance of a new or differing culture within the Turkish society. This level of cultural acceptance is dependent upon many variables including, but limited to; the area in which you were raised, what your family believes, their values, what experiences you live through, and the influence of other people who come into your life and impress their beliefs on you.
In this essay we have discussed the rich diverse history of Turkey and how it interacts with a modern life style. We explored the dynamics of the interaction of the West with the East. We evaluated the sociopolitical repercussions of the government and the situation with the European Union. We talked about the importance of religion and Ataturk, the nation’s hero. The communication patterns and types were discussed in detail. Insight into their value systems was exposed. Turkey has proven to be a unique country as an Eastern nation with Western influences. Ataturk believed in a free democratic nation that valued all cultures but harnessed the Western ideal. Even though there have been incredible advances towards this ideal there is still more to do. This ideal is in so many hearts in Turkey and the desire to have such a nation is the drive of the Turkish people.
During this program, we had the opportunity to explore how the legacy of a rich diverse history interacts with a modern life style. Throughout its history, Istanbul has served as the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Ottoman Empire, and hosted a diverse group of ethnic and religious communities (such as Greek Orthodox, Latin, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim). (History of Turkey, Crescent & Star) Today, the city is considered one of the best cultural centers of Europe with its rich nightlife, restaurants, its wonderful museums, festivals, concerts and cultural impromptu entertainment, like folk dancing. These attractions have made it a major site to observe and understand the dynamics of the interaction of the West with the East.
During the two and a half weeks we spent there, we explored the historical sites from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods like Efesis and the myriad of religious structures to see the tension and synergy between Greek Orthodox, Latin, Jewish, and Islamic influences in the history of Istanbul. We studied the interactions of the Ottoman Empire and then the Republic of Turkey with Europe and the role of Islam in everyday life as well as foreign policy. We explored the contemporary political and cultural issues of Turkey and its diverse communities, like the controversial joining of the European Union. We also were exposed to how this Islamic society interacts with the elements of Western culture to make it its unique own.
I will now explore some of my findings in discussions, readings, and personal reflection. There are many views and opinions concerning the ruling government in Turkey. Many of which are negative and some are brutally honest. Stephen Kinzer in the Crescent & Star states his opinion of the ruling elite and describes what he feels the government is doing to the people of Turkey. I explored his writings mostly of the chapter titled “Dreaming in Turkish” and evaluated whether I agree based upon my studies and experiences in Turkey.
At one point, Kinzer states, “The country would certainly take a huge leap forward if people could be grabbed there (on Istiklal Street) at random and sent to Ankara to replace the members of Parliament.” (Kinzer: 10) This street that he mentions is one that harbors people from all walks of life from diverse cultural backgrounds. The word Istiklal means independence, which is reflected in the people who walk the street. The diversity on this street is something Kinzer says frightens Turkey’s ruling elite. One might say that diversity is strength. The same diversity that makes Istiklal Street so magnificent scares others. That fear is far reaching all the way to Ankara, where the Parliament sits with thoughts of insecurity. They are frightened by Turkey’s neighbors and the West; they are frightened by Islamic extremists, and the Kurds. They have been so scared they have abandoned what Turkey was destined to be, a free democracy.
I have seen examples of this and believe this is a real problem for the Turkish people. Without a voice for the people, the people who believe in a free democracatic Turkey will continue to struggle and the nation will not reach its potential.
Kinzer also talks about how he believes that Turkey’s government has little to no trust in the people of Turkey to make decisions because they are not mature enough to do so. Turkey and its people have somehow made it through several attacks and criticism from sheiks and leaders, religious sects to Kurds and to Europeans, and are still there.
No one can deny that there are certain threats to Turkey, but most other countries have the same threats. The problem now is it that the government of Turkey thinks that the country is under attack and that every movement made by another country is a move made to take over. When something is always on the defensive it has little time or effort remaining to plan or be on the offensive; to thrive.
Kinzer goes on to say that these attitudes of self preservation, isolation, and seclusion have turned the country of Turkey into the enemy of many other countries and organizations.
Turkey has been viewed as its own entity of sorts. It has some Middle-East attributes, while having some Balkan attributes, while having many Western, in particular, European attributes, because it does not fit in with any of these areas completely it abandons the similarities that it has with some of them.
Turkey’s history of abandoning allies and isolating itself has had negative implications when trying to join the European Union. Currently is being debated in Turkey whether or not to join the European Union, if accepted. Most people outside of the society would say yes because it would benefit Turkey. The people that the decision affects the most disagree, and basically say they do not want to be a part of the E.U. anymore.
As we discussed in a lecture at Sabanci University, the issue is no longer can Turkey join the E.U. but rather should Turkey join the E.U. It is a complex matter that has many dimensions.
As mentioned in Turkey, A Modern History, the European Union put a block on Turkey’s entrance into the European Union because it believed it did not have a good handle on the human rights of its entire people. (Zurcher: 323) There were arguments on both sides to why Turkey should or should not be let into the E.U.
Many countries in the E.U. are scared that if Turkey joined, it would tip the political scales within the E.U. This would probably occur because Turkey would be the second largest E.U. member. Another important fact is that the E.U. would collectively become poorer if Turkey was accepted. This would mean that the E.U. would have less to offer financially to the poorer countries in times of crisis. The amount of money and the number of people that Turkey would bring into the E.U. can be looked at in a negative light, but some say this influx would actually be beneficial in the long run. Since the average age of the current E.U. members is older and is aging, pretty soon the size of the union will shrink. Allowing Turkey into the union with its medium age of 27 would provide the necessary age difference that would provide support for the union for several generations. There is also reluctance from the Christian community. Turkey is a predominantly Islamic country, which in some people’s eyes makes them a part of the Middle-East. (Zurcher: 336)
With the onslaught of rejection pouring in for so many years many Turkish people have just had enough and do not want any part of the European Union, and I agree.
The religious diversity in Turkey is very dynamic. While we were there we visited multiple mosques, a synagogue, and Roman Catholic churches. It was interesting to see how over time different religions took over a single building and adapted it to reflect their unique religion. For instance, the Hagia Sophia has had a tumultuous and historic past. It has been completely torn down and rebuilt twice, the dome has caved in several times, and various religious iconic artifacts have been implanted, covered, uncovered, and/or removed. After visiting sites like this and the other religious locations it is peculiar to me how the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam can have such similar beginnings but have such differing views of their religion compared to others. The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque by Sidney Griffith is a book about the history of these religions and the compelling relationships between them. When looking at what type of texts have been written on the topic Griffith’s stood out as one which fully grasps the entirety of the relationship and historic struggles.
It was interesting to see how the various religions played their individual roles in creating modern day Turkey. The geographical location of Turkey may have played an even larger role though. Stephen Kinzer said it best in the Crescent & Star:
Whenever I sit in a café beside the Bosphorus I sense the power of Turkey’s geography. Behind me lie Paris, Berlin, and London. Across the narrow waterway is Asia, an unbroken land mass stretching from the streets of Istanbul to Baghdad, Dehli and Beijing. The Black Sea, gateway to Russia and the Slavic world, is a few miles to the north. To the south lies the wine-dark Mediterranean, most storied of seas, which washes the shores of Europe and Africa. This country is the great bridge between East and West, North and South.
With greatness comes anguish, and this country has had their share of both. Since the location is “prime property” in the world view they have had many changes in power over its spansive history, equaling war and recently a murky identity. The Turkish people of today protest to be mostly Islamic in belief and have strong ties to their families. There is a great amount of contempt towards the conservative leaders of Turkey, who again and again resist change. “In their minds Turkey is still a nation under siege. To protect it from mortal danger, they feel obligated to run it themselves”, instead of allowing the country to become a true democracy. “These attitudes have turned Turkey’s ruling elite into the enemy of the ideal that gave it life.” (Kinzer: 12,13)
There is not a strong tie between the people of Turkey and the nation. Instead there is a greater tie with the faith in Ataturk. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk came to power in 1922-23 when ideologies were changing and the nation was in ruins. After emerging as a leader he went on to abolish the Ottoman regime, dethrone the Islamic caliph as the national religion, change the very clothing on the Turkish people by banning the fez and veil, and ending the subservience of women, replaced the Muslim calendar with a European one, ended polygamy and the use the Arabic language and introduced the “Turkish” language and the metric system. Every aspect of daily life was altered by Ataturk.
Istanbul is the metropolitan Mecca for Turkey, every extravagance can be found. All types of products and services are sold. The economy is stable in many ways and shows promise for the future. Everything from the sales people to the driving seems to in a hurry and in your face. Life feels as if you are in the fast lane. When you find quiet moments in your home or on the ferry to and from work you relish it. I saw men in their suits taking deep breaths after hustling to get on the ferry, enjoying the fresh air and the moment of peace. Orhan Pamuk in Istanbul Memories and the City described a similar feeling he experienced while on the Bosphorus. He goes on to say, “What I enjoyed most about our family excursions to the Bosphorus was to see the traces everywhere of a sumptuous culture that had been influenced by the West without having lost its originality or vitality.” (2004: 52)
This blending of Western culture with Eastern culture, is not like a cake being blended but more like a salad, Western influences can be seen everywhere amongst the Eastern influences. The various forms of media such as television, the internet, and print media helps develop the nation of Turkeys perception of what is Western and what is hip. I have seen several Burger Kings, McDonalds, and Starbucks which says they like Western foods. European and American clothing styles can be seen all over and wearing them is very fashionable. I have seen brands of clothing like; Nike, Puma, Coach, Chanel, etc. These influences tend to penetrate the more affluent and/ or younger generations. With the huge under 30 years of age population and advances in technology, consumption of media is at an all time high. This high consumption has fully saturated the market creating a high penetration percentage. When you have such high levels of consumption and penetration of certain aspects of Western culture, like name brand products, you end up having a greater acceptance of the Western culture as a whole.
Westerners seemed widely accepted. It was interesting to be able to communicate and have fun in a country where you barely know the language. It seems as though the Turkish people rely heavily on non-verbal communication. They use hand gestures to welcome you, and show approval and disapproval. A smile from one stranger to another stranger seems to alleviate some discomfort and unfamiliarity between the two people. After two people have moved out of the stranger relationship and it is time to depart from one another, both people kissed the other person’s cheeks. Touching in general seemed to be more acceptable. Men could hug, kiss cheeks, and touch without the thought of anything more than friendship between them. This ability to show emotion is what makes the Turkish people more pleasing to get to know.
This is in strong contrast to Americans who do not really engage one another unless they have to. Hugging and kissing is reserved for family members or intimate partners. Friends sometimes hug but this is usually occurs more often with women than men. If men were to greet and interact the way they do in Turkey, in America, they may be viewed as gay or weird. The whole ideology of being gay was not apparent while in Turkey. Maybe because being gay is prevalent in Lawrence, Kansas where I live, I expected to see it more than I did. Even though we have differences in culture what I found most interesting is that I was never faced with a situation where I could not communicate what I desired at all, which is significant.
One similarity of the Turkish people and Americans is how we value our families. Family is very important to the Turkish people and waiting till after you have completed school or have been married to move from your parent’s home is traditional and practical. Leisure time is very important to the Turkish people: the drinks, food, and activities enrich the time spent with friends and family. The meals are an important time to converse where time is valued in quality not quantity. Turkish coffee and tea is something the Turkish people relish and the time spent enjoying such libations only provide more time with family and friends.
There are several value systems in Turkey. We have discussed the value of personal presentation a little but I would now like to discuss it from a different angle. There is a hybrid of people growing and spreading throughout Turkey. The value system among the young Turkish population is evolving. Some young women seem to be moving more conservative and contemporary. This group of women identify themselves as Islamic and forward thinking while rooted in tradition. These women wear fashionable modern head scarves and the long full body jackets, covering everything besides their face, hands and feet. The clothing, purses, shoes and jewelry they wear are of high quality.
The young men of Turkey have been raised to follow certain traditions and seem to be very appreciative of their culture and its people. When traveling to Kadikoy I was astonished to see young men and a few women performing Black Sea folk dances. Several groups of people had formed circles by joining hands and were dancing and singing to Turkish music. It was interesting to see how the young individuals had little reservations and how enthusiastic they were in performing. They welcomed anyone in that wanted to participate. These practices are rooted in years of tradition. These customs have not faded through time and seem to be reinvigorated with the large, young population. The values of brotherhood, family, and community can be seen in this area of life in Turkey.
So there are these dichotomies within Turkey, where there are these ever evolving aspects within the culture, while there are these other aspects that remain treasured and passed down through the generations. You have this contrast between the conservative, modern, religious sect and a more secular yet traditional sect. Sometimes you may have all these attributes in one individual which seems to be a part of being Turkish.
“Istanbul’s greatest virtue is its people’s ability to see the city through both western and eastern eyes.” (Pamuk 2004) By viewing their society through different lenses the Turkish people have an expanded and more complicated identity to understand and perform. That identity has two parts; one is that it is a victim which feels that all Westerners conspire against Turks. The second identity is a peaceful identity that wishes everyone could live in harmony.
This multidimensional Turkish identity leads me to believe that there are varying levels of acceptance of a new or differing culture within the Turkish society. This level of cultural acceptance is dependent upon many variables including, but limited to; the area in which you were raised, what your family believes, their values, what experiences you live through, and the influence of other people who come into your life and impress their beliefs on you.
In this essay we have discussed the rich diverse history of Turkey and how it interacts with a modern life style. We explored the dynamics of the interaction of the West with the East. We evaluated the sociopolitical repercussions of the government and the situation with the European Union. We talked about the importance of religion and Ataturk, the nation’s hero. The communication patterns and types were discussed in detail. Insight into their value systems was exposed. Turkey has proven to be a unique country as an Eastern nation with Western influences. Ataturk believed in a free democratic nation that valued all cultures but harnessed the Western ideal. Even though there have been incredible advances towards this ideal there is still more to do. This ideal is in so many hearts in Turkey and the desire to have such a nation is the drive of the Turkish people.
No comments:
Post a Comment