Mehmet Ali Birand: Why do you expect everything from the state?

TDN
Thursday, May 19, 2005

OPINIONS

Mehmet Ali BIRAND

Just look at yourself, your family and those around you and you’ll
see it. We have a habit that is incurable. I guess it started with
the Ottoman Empire, with everyone considered to be the state’s
servants. However, the habit of generations continued through the
republican era.

The image of “Father State” has become a part of us.

Let’s worship the state, let’s become slaves to it so that it protects
us and provides for us. In the past, you might remember the official
statements and the media talking about the “compassionate state”
or the state as the “father of the poor.” These were the secret
instructions instilled in all of us by the state.

As the years passed, society became addicted to this drug; however,
as the state got poorer, it failed to keep the promises it made. As
expectations increased, so did the criticism. The state became the
victim of the monster it created.

Despite failing to keep its word, the state was something the nation
could not do without. No matter how small it became, the nation would
not stop asking the state to provide for them.

I assume you have not forgetten the chant, “Where is this state?”;
however, I will take a closer look. You will realize that such
expectations were not coming only from the poor. Up until recently,
businessmen would ask the state to give them tenders. The only way
to get rich was by dipping one’s hands into the state coffers.

If you just take a look at today’s political arena, you’ll see the
same thing.

When we have to fight against the Armenian genocide allegations,
no one wants to do anything. Everybody is complaining, asking:
“Where is the state? Why can’t it become more effective against such
Armenian propaganda?”

When there is a need to initiate a campaign for the European Union,
everybody expects the state to do everything.

When the secular system of the country is in danger, do the civilian
organizations flood the streets? Unfortunately not. No one bothers
to do anything and instead prefers the military to deal with the
issue. People start saying, “Where are you, Pashas? Come on and
take over.”

These are the habits we need to get rid off.

John F. Kennedy’s famous statement, “Ask not what your country can
do for you. Ask what you can do for your country,” has yet to cross
the ocean and reach us.

However, that day is close.

It’s wonderful to be young:

Our daily problems usually make us forget certain things.

Whenever national days come, we start thinking about their significance
and then come to understand them more clearly.

We realize how right Turkey’s founder, Ataturk, was to point us in
this direction.

Pushing Turkey towards the West and severing links with the religious
bigots who capitalized on people’s beliefs are best understood on
national days.

In these respects, May 19 is a beautiful day.

It is the symbol of a new and young Turkey.

The young people on the streets, their perception of the world, their
dynamism all give us hope. It builds our confidence in our progress
towards the future.

Those who see Mustafa Kemal Ataturk only as a symbol of our
independence, ignoring his efforts to take Turkey closer to the West
upsets me.

They call themselves “nationalists.”

They abuse Kemalism for their own benefit.

The youth of May 19 want to open up to the world, get rich and lead
happy lives.

May 19 warms one’s heart.

Ataturk becomes a more impressive figure with every passing day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress