I Still Don't Know Much...

It has become glaringly obvious that I had no clue what the Islamic religion really was until I came to Turkey. Not only was I completely naive, but slightly ignorant in the ways of this religion and ultimate culture as a result.

The Turkish government has undergone a struggle of rule since the Ottoman empire was in power. A nation that started out extremely conservative, and with a strong religious influence, became extremely secular under Ataturk, the shaker and mover of the country. He basically demanded that the population throw out the idea of the headscarf and adorn modern secular garb to distinguish a solid unified population. This method was both cautiously and whole-heartedly accepted but overall completely effective. His ideas succeeded in uniting the state and creating a radically new Turkey that we know it as today. More recently in history the headscarf on women has been reestablished and one can still see a good percentage of women wearing one. The feeling is that, even thought nothing is specifically mentioned in the Koran about this matter, a woman should cover herself in public and only be unveiled for her husband. This coverage is seen by those who choose to cover as a "holier-than-thou" status, and a lower class status by those who don't.

Just like in any other religion there are those who practice and those who observe. There are the Muslims, because they are Muslim by birth and upbringing, and there are those who are Islamists, who are pushing for the political system to adopt more of the Islamic fundamentals. It is just like in the states with the separation of church and state. Turkey has been battling that separation for decades. How close can the Mosque get to Parliament? It has been a continuous struggle between the secularists (those pushing an agenda in parliament) and the Islamists.

I think when I imagined an Islamic country I imagined terrorism, every woman covered, everyone dropping to their knees at each call to prayer, and a tough outlook on government and opposing nations. I have discovered the contrary. Not only are Turks a relatively peaceful people, but they are extremely modern and "secular" thanks to the period of Ataturk. There is so much to learn about other religions in order to gain worldly perspective and to understand a people. I am so glad my ridiculous stereotype has been readjusted for the better and my knowledge of Turkish people has been broadened as much as it has. I can only hope so many more people can get the same lesson I did when it comes to a new nation and not prejudge.