For example, one Turkish proverb states that "if you say 'you are mad' to someone 40 times, he/she will become mad." This proverb seems to be correct at first glance, but if you repeat any word constantly it will became meaningless, and no word is immune to this, including love, human rights and gender equality. If the Turkish proverb about repetition was right, then the world would be full of love, there would be no human rights violations and gender issues would no longer be a problem. Some words and concepts such as justice, democracy, human rights, gender equality and love should not be used carelessly; they should not be degraded as tools of cheap policies. For example, the word "love" -- which is repeated not 40 times but 40 million times, especially on Valentine's Day -- has had its meaning corrupted into shopping madness, lighter wallets and heavy credit card debts.
When we are using these very valuable words, we should always use them with their full meaning. Every time we hear the words love, democracy, justice, women's rights and human rights they should touch our hearts, minds, souls and conscience. We should feel the meaning of them from head to toe.
In order to feel their true meaning, we should watch our tongues when we are using some other words, too. For example instead of "war," we should not use the phrase "military operation"; "massacre" should not be replaced by "events," "suicide attacks against civilians" should not be called "actions of martyrdom."
The International Criminal Court (ICC), which was established as a permanent war crimes tribunal, issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in the name of "justice" and the defense of "human rights," but has neglected to indict other criminal heads of state like former President George W. Bush. No doubt al-Bashir should be brought to justice, but the same is true for the Israeli government officials who were behind the bloody attacks in Gaza beginning last December.
When human rights are concerned, the same rules should be applied regardless of race, gender, ethnic origin, language, political orientation or religion, not in terms of the victims but also the perpetrators. Claims that al-Bashir should not face trial if Bush does not are as erroneous as the claim that crimes against humanity only occurred in Sudan.
To use "human rights" as a stick against countries, nations and groups that do not want to share their petroleum or other natural resources with "developed" countries is disgusting; it harms the holiness of "human rights" and makes it an empty phrase.
Justice should not be raped by forcibly removing her blindfold and making her see the suspect. To mention justice's name 40 times only in certain cases -- but not in all cases -- renders her meaningless. If we want to maintain the value of justice for humanity, we must prove that no one is above or beyond justice.
Another meaningful and very valuable concept that constantly loses its importance is women's rights. Day by day this field is becoming an arena of very strong hypocrisy. Some powers are using it as a new tool of intervention to legitimize their efforts to shape the political system of a country, though not for the sake of women or their rights in that country.
I am not trying to say that human rights, gender issues and the need for justice and democracy should not be universally applied in order to become the tools of cheap policies; actually I am trying to say the opposite -- activists should work harder to make them universal by all means available. The test of sincerity for humankind is becoming harder every day and the only way to succeed is to apply these values to everyone, all the time, regardless of politics. The real defenders of these values should be careful about who is using these words and for what -- repeating them 40 times unfortunately does not bring them to fruition, but rather makes them empty words.
