The response given at times to this twisted mentality that questions the legitimacy of almost everyone results in self-resignation of the ‘underprivileged,’ because those questioning the legitimacy of others with brazen ignorance get their encouragement from the polemics. As one gets into polemics, an ill-intentioned group resorts to demagogy on another subject, only to hide the truth. Even in the face of incontrovertible facts, it continues pursuing its deviant purpose. Its goal is to cause chaos to hide the truth.
Intimidation with polemics is common. For example, a well managed mid-size business moves its capital gradually to Anatolia, new business entities emerge. Then all of a sudden, the arguments over “green capital” emerge. Deception and truth get tangled. In the absence of legal measures, harassments start and people are intimidated...Who wins in the end, the Turkish economy or the Turkish state?..
Same is true for politics. Some say, government by the elite should be respected and obeyed by common people. However, elections show common people’s wish to be different from those of the elite. When such is the case, the ‘elite’ raises furor. Nightmare scenarios to overthrow the regime; fictitious, misleading and false reports are fabricated. The aim is obvious: to oust the government elected by the people for the people. Names of parties change, party leaders change, but the course of the ‘elite’ remains the same. Who wins in the end, Turkish politics or the Turkish people?..
What is happening in the Turkish media should also be evaluated within this framework. A handful but influential group of people wants to place a “gang” in the center of the news and information network, to write and publish make-believe reports they will later believe as true. The reader, who gets his strength from his rich history does not matter at all to these monopolistic novices. In their opinion, they are the ones qualified to determine the agenda; nothing else maters. Translate the views of the silent majority, the same group gets hopping mad. Try to embrace the whole country and address issues from a global perspective, their curiosity turns into incredulity. Inasmuch as you make an analysis and synthesis and inasmuch as these well-intentioned efforts are acknowledged by collective conscience, the same small group acts in a commanding tone. A simple question stomps them: “Who are you and who gives you the power to question everything agreed to by the people and has become an accepted norm? It would be unbecoming of us to expose all the tricks of these magicians here. If you behave kindly and try to respond, they go into frenzy for being talked to and continue playing their creepy role. Who wins at the end, the Turkish media or Turkish readers?..
We’ve had enough of this nonsense. The debates on legitimacy and power seemed somehow justifiable to some, but the truth is out now. The insolent crashed into the dynamism of social change and taught us all costly lessons. The people of this country want to share in a decent life, work together in public spirit and enjoy the fruits of pluralistic thought. Those who think they are in charge must see the reality and give up their arrogance. This tough approach serves no one, especially them, because inasmuch as they try to demonstrate might in vain effort, the people support every new format and embrace it more than imagined. Is it so hard to see?
July 18, 2006
