WHICH ERDOGAN IS THE PRIME MINISTER OF THIS COUNTRY?

Hurriyet
March 22 2010
Turkey

If you did not read Ahmet Altan’s columns in the daily Taraf on
Saturday, you have missed a lot.

Please find it and read it.

It was written the same day the prime minister gave his famous speech.

Remember that speech where he threatened to deport 100,000 Armenians
and how he denounced all columns opposing his speech including mine
by saying, "Who the hell do you think you are to recommend I apologize?

Look in the mirror… you’d do better to be the country’s lawyer."

And Ahmet Altan took the prime minister’s very speech, which does
not go well with a country’s prime minister and in which he despises
us not accepting any criticism, and evaluated it giving his article
the headline "And who are you?" describing Erdogan’s politics full
of ups and downs and drawing attention to the general attitude in
his speeches.

In this column for the first time I saw a literaturist writing such a
great piece of work while using his columnist identity. About the same
time while I was reading this column Erdogan was probably lecturing
artists about the best day in his life.

I was astonished.

Which Erdogan are we talking about?

There couldn’t be any better identification of one of Turkey’s basic
mistakes.

We met an easygoing Erdogan who in the name of his country apologized
to the past, realized the truth and asked for help of those who are
not sharing the same view. I have listened to many of his speeches
but there was none so effective like this one.

So which Erdogan is the real one?

Which Erdogan leads this country?

Which Erdogan is our prime minister? Is it the Erdogan who did not
accept any criticism on Friday and who beat us up by complaining to
the public, or is it the one who talked in front of actors?

Is it the Erdogan who turned blue while he was outraged and even
spoiled his body language or the one who was confident and spoke in
a sincere way while chatting with actors?

I paid attention and noticed that many of my colleagues wrote about
this issue that Ahmet Altan picked up.

The prime minister I want and deem likely is the Erdogan who talked
to the actors. Not the one who talks about deporting illegal Armenians
or the one who can’t stand criticism or yells at people.

The Erdogan who should be our president is the one who shows affection
for children, knows how to take brave steps and embraces minorities.

And not an Erdogan who is unpredictable when he gets upset or is
willing to sacrifice minorities when he sees it fit.