Until recently I used to think like this: I have a daughter, and I want to live until the day I see her grown up and standing on her own feet, then if I die, I wouldn't mind, but now I think differently.I changed my mind when I was listening to Interior Minister Beşir Atalay's remarks this week about the new government initiative regarding the long-standing Kurdish question. In the past, there were many discussions and reports suggesting solutions to the Kurdish question, but none of them worked. But this time, at least, there is a hope that it will be different.
He mentioned first of all that the government is working on an initiative that can hopefully be a model for the world in similar cases of conflict. If this is really the case, then the government is most probably working on a comprehensive package, not simply a dressing for a very deep wound. Anyway, gangrene cannot be cured with an aspirin.
He also called the problem the Kurdish problem, not reducing it just to terrorism or a problem of economic underdevelopment. Finally, it seems to me that a government was able to understand the fact that this problem has cultural aspects and problems of identity.
He mentioned the importance of the solution now, although he said that there are things to be done in the medium term and the long run.
One of things that I liked hearing most was his stressing of the “future.” I think he was trying to prepare the ground for a consensus in society while he was saying we should not get stuck with the pains of the past but look to the future and do something for our future prosperity.
He did not give any details about the new initiative but at least he was stressing that the solution will be created by democratization. “The way to a solution is through democratization. We want to take this step together with all segments of society. For this reason, we would like to see every segment being constructive regarding this and contributing to a solution,” he urged.
Well, in short, after listening to him, I thought that we are quite late in solving the Kurdish problem when we consider all the losses, including lives and money, but it is not too late, and the day to solve it is nearer than ever.
You might ask what the relationship between my wishing to have a long life and all this is. But can you imagine a Turkey which has solved its Kurdish problem?
First of all, such a Turkey would mean a country whose democratic standards are really high. Many problems that we have now which sometimes make life miserable will not exist any longer, such as the militarist tutelage over politics. The other human rights problems that are linked to it will be solved over time. When I meet with my Kurdish friends, we will not talk about the pains, but the beauty of the Tigris River. We will be able to express our thoughts on every matter more freely than ever before. Since the state will not spend so much money on the pretext of fighting terrorism, our money will go to better causes, and prosperity will increase. We will be able to concentrate on our real problems, like education, for example. Since the normalization of violence in people's minds will be reversed, violence against women will decrease. We will be able to confront the past, including the events of 1915. Instead of discussing security problems, we will be able to discuss the latest novels and other art forms.
Every time I meet with my friends, we will not mention the blood; our deep conversations will not be soured as they are now. I will have fewer reasons to worry about the future.
This country, after solving the Kurdish problem, of course, will not be heaven, but will definitely be a place which will give more joy to its inhabitants, and under these circumstances in order to enjoy it, I want to live for a long time.
I want to be an old lady who is sipping her tea happily while sitting next to the window and looking outside. Because I am sure after the solution to the Kurdish question, the things I will see will make me smile.
