This scene from an animated film sometimes transpires in real life, particularly in love affairs. We may think we are involved in a great love affair -- that everything is perfect -- and without paying attention to what we are doing we continue walking on air. Yet when we finally realize the truth, we fall down and our hearts are broken. This can happen in societies, too. As opposed to cartoons, where the characters often spring up unharmed from their fall, in real life the long fall after a short walk on air is extremely painful, both at the personal and societal levels. The moment that we are no longer able to pretend that everything is OK is the most difficult point in the entire process. Just as in cartoons, first we try to deny the situation, but this does not prevent us from falling -- just like the Ergenekon investigation.
The Ergenekon investigation is certainly not limited to the suspects; it affects the vast majority of society, and this is why the friction in society is so obvious and strong. Based on their backgrounds and political views, almost everybody feels that they are on a side in this process.
Of course, all the opponents of the investigation didn't try to form a gang or create chaos in order to lay the groundwork for a coup and establish an autocratic regime afterwards; however, many of them thought -- or it at least crossed their minds -- that if the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) was not replaced by an alternative, a coup would be justifiable.
Those who are strongly opposed to the values of the EU -- such as a strong democracy, transparency, respect of the rights of minorities and the rule of law -- with the idea that if these values start to be fully embraced in Turkey their interests would be threatened, are also feeling like they are suspects. This is why they are making so much fuss about the investigation. Maybe they did not form gangs, but they supported the ideology of Ergenekon and because of this they feel on a subliminal level that they are a part of it.
Those who have a tendency to think all Kurdish citizens are by nature separatists and thus deserve to disappear into the death wells or become victims of extra-judicial killings are again feeling that even if they are not a member of the gang, they are "subconscious suspects," too.
As the number of suspects increases, the number of subconscious suspects is also growing. For example, when Mustafa Özbek, the head of the metals sector workers' union Türk Metal, was detained, all the other union leaders who, instead of defending the rights of workers throughout their professional careers, have tried to create their own fiefdoms and use their positions for their personal interests are becoming furious because they committed the same ethical crimes as Özbek. When Levent Ersöz was captured, some of the young men who served in the Kurdish-populated areas during their compulsory military service and participated in burning down villages are feeling as if they are also suspects.
The Ergenekon investigation made it impossible to hide the feeling of being guilty any longer. Though it is impossible to know for certain, I think if the Ergenekon investigation was not taking place, actor Atilla Olgaç would never have admitted the fact that he killed 10 Greek Cypriots, among them prisoners of war.
The journalists who were aware of the fact that many wicked things were taking place in this country, but didn't write much, if anything, about them subconsciously feel like they are suspects, too.
Those who never questioned how their privileges were connected to being members of the republican elite, namely the civil and military bureaucracy -- even if they were not members of a gang but silently supported undemocratic actions and thought that this awful system would continue forever -- are disturbed now.
Of course, to wish for a coup, to wish for the continuation of the privileged system and to be against the values of the EU are not crimes but are enough to create pangs of conscience. To differentiate between those who just wished for these things and those who formed gangs to realize them is the job of the justice system. This is obviously a very difficult job. It is also quite obvious that to walk on air, whistling all the way, is no longer possible. Falling down is inevitable, but the question is, how will we get up and continue as a society?
