Zaman Online, Turkey
June 15 2005

Universal Ethics: No to Intolerance

NEVVAL SEVINDI
06.15.2005 Wednesday – ISTANBUL 16:13

The symposium, “From Terrorism to Universal Ethics: Religions and
Peace,” was staged in Moscow for the first time.

Religions and beliefs were side by side. Hundreds of people,
Buddhist, Muslim, Orthodox, Syriac; Rabbi, Catholic and Orthodox
representatives from 26 countries, donning their splendid ceremonial
attires and symbols greeted the people in the hall. Among the
impressive dresses, colors and symbols, Mustafa Cagrici looked very
alien with his attire, that included a nearly century-old necktie.
Unfortunately, Turkey represented a stance of non-identity with
this dress, that did not befit hundreds of years of civilization and
religious representation. Laws and conditions may have been different
yesterday, however, at least donning a traditional dress and symbol
for this occasion would have been more meaningful today. In fact,
it is impossible for someone who does not know anything about Turkey
to understand where this culture and religion belong. Living with
the fears of the 19th century, in a world where cultures are being
marketed, means we have been left outside. The Armenian church speaking
Turkish, Syrian religious leaders and a chief rabbi also represented
our cultural heritage.

There are many things that could be said about the symposium. But
if you ask about the most basic emotion, it was people of all
religions and beliefs, and also unbelievers, sitting side by side,
and their speaking and eating together. The masses who belong to
these religions and beliefs will question their prejudices when they
look at this picture. They will say if our leader sat there, I should
also reconsider my negative feelings. If you ask whether this will be
enough to stop those who complain about fanaticism, but later express
the most narrow-minded views in their news reports, I would say, it is
better not to expect anything from those who prepare news items without
consulting influential scientists, religious leaders and intellectuals.

The DA Platform (Dialogue Assistance Platform), which organized the
forum, is a success for the independent civil initiative. Working
wholeheartedly with a staff made up of only a few people and
integrated with the DA Journal, the platform aims to restore respect
for differences, because, the loss of differences is a nightmare that
leads to violence.

We had a chat with a priest, Bup Hyun, who came from Korea and is a
member of the Buddhist TaeGo Order. There was a picture of a lovely
child priest on his card. I asked him what that meant. He replied:
“Buddhism is being considered as something very difficult and
confusing. We use the picture of children in order to prove quite the
opposite.” He in fact talked about the ability of being able to look
at life and the universe like a child, with love and surprise. He
went on: “If we liken the world to a garden, it would be boring if
there is the same flower all the time or only roses. Various flowers,
colors and smells beautify our garden.”

Ilber Ortayli’s remarks that “Culture means peace” and Kenan Gursoy’s
assessment that “Those who want to exclude religion from history have
failed,” were remembered as much as the statement of former Indonesian
parliament speaker that “The terrorist is one who thinks of himself
as superior to God.” The mufti of Istanbul also underlined a crucial
point: “In the past, people thought that an understanding of ethics
with no reference to religion would save the world. If we weaken the
sacred power, we make it fall into dangerous hands. An idea may easily
be attributed to sacredness and this could turn into an ideology if
there is no religious belief. All theories on terrorism stem from this,
because once the sacredness that belongs to religion is clarified,
all ideas are set free. They might change and are debatable. That is
to say, tolerance grows and develops. Believers should undertake this
duty.” Armenian Church Deputy Patriarch Masalyan told a short story:
“A priest gives a stick to a sexton before his sermon. The sexton asks,
‘Should I poke those who sleep with this stick?’ The priest says ‘no’,
‘you should poke me with the stick during the sermon so that I wouldn’t
make people sleep.'” Speaking for Italian Muslims, an attendant said:
“It is believed that Arabs represent Islam. Islam is universal.”

>>From Moscow, I moved on to Bergama for a conference. I benefited
from the tolerance our culture internalized into the 69th Bergama
Festival. Five thousand people came for a concert and they sang all
the folk-songs that originated among Alevi, Southeastern and Laz
people. Bergama Mayor Rasit Urper and his spouse have worked for
the development of Bergama, where Yoruk, Pomat, Albanian, Yugoslav
and Bulgarian immigrants are living. The village of Daghistan where
Daghistani natives came and settled 300 years ago is very modern.
People who educate their children, send them abroad due to lack of
investment. There is a very beautiful synagogue and the plan of the
building is ready as well, but there is no one to restore it. If you
visit Bergama one day, you will never forget it.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress