IMPORTANCE OF HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS

Zaman, Turkey
Aug. 17, 2006

Life is like a living organism; the traditions, customs, governmental
systems, cuisines and dressing styles are all subject to the inevitable
reality — change. The changes that occur are the consequences of the
"dynamism" embedded in life itself; life does not fossilize thanks
to this dynamism, the driving power, in its structure.

Historical consciousness enables societies to exist despite these
inevitable changes. If this consciousness is not strong enough,
it may break our national consciousness into pieces and may turn it
into a schizophrenic situation.

All social and natural events in our lives have historical
backgrounds. As long as we avoid explaining these events to ourselves,
we will continue walking in our sleep. However, if we try to conceive
of events, we will understand their meanings and feel the need to
think of how we can make them better. Societies lacking historical
consciousness consider themselves only as tools, means, shadows
and nameless fragments. Hence, such societies seek happiness or the
continuation of their existence in the lives of other societies.

We are at the threshold moment opening up to a new future
after ages-long struggles, and to countries we conquered with
fanfare. This means history is not entrapped by history, on the
contrary, it is life put in front of us. Historical consciousness
keeps our consciousness awake by saving us from a rootless identity
and links us to eternity. This phenomenon which functions in society
as historical consciousness is created by the philosophy of history
that is a product of intellectual minds.

The philosophy of history reproduces itself in the society as wisdom,
not as knowledge. It cannot fully explain the events but can predict
them. The literacy rate during the Turkish War of Independence was
between 10-12 percent. University graduates were very rare. There was
hardly any governmental authority in territories under Turkish control
and the country was on the verge of disintegration. An incredible
number of foreign organizations were operating in the country. The
British brought Kurdish rulers together in the northern city of Van
and lectured them on the need to establish a new state.

Kurdish rulers realized that the British really wanted to establish
an Armenian state in the region. The British attempted once again
to actualize their plans of establishing small states in Western
Anatolia. However, the Circassian people who lived in the region
opposed the establishment of a Cricassian state more than any other
minority. Thanks to the national consciousness of Turkish citizens
in Eastern and Western regions, the Turks could easily guard against
the tricks that threatened our national existence and secure our
independence.

The Soviet Union attempted to occupy Afghanistan. Despite the severe
imbalance of power between the two countries, the tough Afghan warriors
defeated the Soviet forces. It was not difficult for them to recognize
the enemy that’s why they could easily achieve unity.

However, the Afghan people could not enhance domestic peace when
there was no enemy threatening their existence, because their national
consciousness was not strong enough and the slightest difference was
enough to tear them apart. In all societies there are differences
that can easily turn into clashes but national consciousness does
not allow them to disturb social order. For instance, is it possible
to separate Germans as Catholics and Protestants? Can you shake the
German national consciousness bolstered by the philosophy of history
acquired as a result of thorough historical analyses and experiments?

National consciousness is not a God-given quality. The metaphysical
atmosphere, historical knowledge, painful experiments and other
similar factors constitute national consciousness. However, the
greatest source of national consciousness is historical awareness.