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A new world where extremism won’t pay off
How did politicians, jurists and, more importantly, citizens on the street respond to this question? Many people with differing political views who shared their assessments with Cafe Capital had interesting approaches. The statement that stood out to me the most, as the headline indicates, termed the situation an entry into a period where extremism won’t pay off.
Another interesting point was that the majority of people expressed difficulty in understanding why people who have been subject to fascist acts would victimize others by using the same methods. A friend of mine who served in Israel for many years provided an answer to the question of “Why does Israel, which lost many people under the Nazis’ state terror, kill innocent Palestinians?”
The crux of the answer was extremism -- the extremism in propaganda, the extremism in affecting people by causing pain and keeping it fresh and the extremism in fictionalized propaganda, from instilling the mental foundation in children to influencing the man on the street. Every type of argument is used just to prevent people from having different views. Train wagons that were used to transport people to death camps are even put on display on the highest hills of the city so they can be seen by anyone on the street.
A first in IMF history The announcement by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that a critical phase has been completed in reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has left the opposition uneasy. An influential member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) said he would not speak “on the record” until the agreement was completed and the details were revealed. Speaking off the record so as not to be quoted talking about a subject that isn’t yet clear, the official asked, “Do you think Erdoğan will share the economy’s performance, which he sees as a success, with the IMF?” When asked whether he thought it will be successful, our backstage conversation continued with his response: “It is not important if we think it is successful or not. What’s important is that we as the opposition are not able to explain the failure to the public. When economic problems fell behind on the agenda, Erdoğan started to explain the performance in the economy as a success and influenced the public.” The IMF’s image is not very positive in the Turkish society’s subconscious. Despite the global crisis, not signing an agreement with the IMF has a positive effect on public opinion. While an agreement has not been reached in the last few years, announcements by the government that “problems have been solved” and an agreement “is being reached” or “will be reached” have positively affected the markets. The fact that an agreement was not reached despite the insistence of some media organizations, banks and especially the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TUSİAD) was also seen as sign of success. Furthermore, if in 2008-2009 people were given the impression that an agreement was being signed out of necessity, the expected benefits would not have taken place. In this respect, the more it was delayed the more the effect would be positive because it would suggest that an agreement was not reached because Turkey was obliged to. As Prime Minister Erdoğan said, if an agreement that doesn’t “squeeze Turkey’s throat” is reached, its positive effects will be huge. The opposition’s anonymous executive made an important statement in reference to Erdoğan’s remark and said: “Agreements are made with the IMF to, in the words of the prime minister, squeeze throats. An agreement that won’t squeeze a throat would be a first for IMF. Then Erdoğan will be a hero.” |
This extremism, which until recently yielded results, opened the way to new extremist acts and was manifested in the form of bombs falling on innocent women and children, sparking outrage from the world.
Every form of extremism has an inevitable cost. This process did not begin with the “one minute” incident at Davos. The countless number of warnings and condemnations from the UN were a consequence as well. But with the lack of regard to warnings, a growing reaction has formed in the universal public conscience. After all, isn’t being condemned in the public conscience the biggest punishment for mistakes and crimes that are not regretted?
Israeli leaders need to take the pulse of humanity, not just the Muslim world. Will they find any country or society that approves of the Gaza massacre that occurred one year ago?
The reaction shown to the TV series “Ayrılık,” broadcast on TRT, as well as the reaction to Turkey’s decision to exclude Israel from the Anatolian Eagle military exercise were both products of extremism. While the cost of extremist acts that went unpunished accumulated in the public consciousness, some politicians became extremely self-confident. The only explanation for Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon’s desire to belittle Turkish Ambassador Oğuz Çelikkol is that he was blinded by his extreme self-confidence.
The mistakes of a state do not tie down the people of that country. Opposing the bombs that kill innocent people is not anti-Semitism. The people on the street who understand the personality of the crime blame Israel’s mistakes on the entity making the mistakes, not on the people. The sorrow one feels for innocent people does not change depending on religion and nationality. If a peaceful life is truly desired, then foregoing extremism could truly inspire hope.
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