Throughout history, cultures and civilizations have been influenced by each other. It would be correct to say that humanity managed to reach today's modern level by stacking one block on top of the other. Instead of fighting over who placed the bigger block, shouldn't we be discussing how we can make today and our tomorrow more modern? For me, modernization means living humanly in this world that has been bestowed on humans. Since structural modernism and spiritual decay do not make people happy, modernization has to be changed in a way that will. Certainly, the technological and scientific developments humans have achieved through their relation with nature are a part of modernization because they have made life easier and the world appear nicer. The use of electricity, travel by cars, trains and airplanes, watching live soccer matches, learning about the world from television without having to travel and many other opportunities are all elements that explain modernization. But what if you are unhappy? Or let's say you are happy. Think about the millions of people out there that can not enjoy these benefits? Think about the millions of people that are oppressed, exploited, and left to starve and the millions of children that die from various illnesses. When you remember that the worst and brutal human trafficking and murder is conducted by the citizens of modern countries, what does modernization recall for you then?
There cannot be modernization without love, justice and equal rights and opportunities. Democratization based on the power of law should expand rights in the process of modernization. Democracy must have a level of meaning. Modernization should not release some people from the burden of accountability. Today's modernization requires that need for a new human project, a new civilizations project. This project should not be an alternative to the West or built to respond to the West, it should be a joint civilizations project. We need to create an agreement based on a common public prosperity, rights, and public security, not on clashes and old costs. We need to join the search for a civilization project based on a move that is intended to unite universal human values.
We as a nation, have committed to raise our voice and to fulfill our responsibilities needed for such a modernization with the growing number of educational and dialogue foundations that we have in many parts of the world.
This modernization will prevent the negative effects of globalization and decipher the methods of exploitation as well as end the debates on Islam, state and democracy. When we say, "modernization should have a human dimension, and democracy should have a meaning dimension," we are also expressing our strong belief in our own values. The worldwide exhibition of the values we have to contribute to modernization makes the citizens of those countries excited and optimistic.
This confirmation should be recorded as a mean to provide encouragement. That is to say, if we are successful in representing our values, we can achieve great progress in inter-cultural dialogue. That is to say, Muslims, who are forcefully identified with terrorism cannot be defamed and criminalized as a whole. That is to say, if Islam's sympathetic face is represented, then seeking a joint civilization with the rest of the world will not be a challenge in the least.
The hope we have in our horizons for our country as well as for the world is to build a modern world not formed despite our differences, but based on security, freedom, prosperity and respect for one another.
