Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
I found out on Twitter today that a protest was scheduled for 3:00 pm on Istanbul's Taksim Square in support of the protesters in Tahrir Square. Curious to know what Turks were saying about these events, I pitched up dutifully.
To put the fact that no one--not one person--showed up in context, I should note that Istanbul is a city of some 15 million people. I see protests all the time in Taksim, and I know for sure that Turks can really get their freak on when they feel like something's worth protesting.
I did see a few bedraggled protesters unfurling a banner, so I rushed over to see what was happening, but it turned out they were trade unionists protesting new employment legislation now under debate in the General Assembly. Mind you, their confrères just got pounded by the police in Ankara--a point journalists keen to show their solidarity with peaceful protesters might wish to note.
I spoke a bit to the people there. Wasn't it odd, I asked, that Turks weren't protesting the brutal crackdown on the Egyptian protesters? I mean, Turks are madly on the side of oppressed Arabs, right? Isn't that Erdoğan's great claim to fame, that he's a courageous voice for oppressed Arab people?
Well yes, they agreed. But the sentiment among Turks, one guy suggested, was that there was something really fishy about those Egyptian protests: I mean, Arabs couldn't organize their way out of paper bag, so it must be the Americans behind it. Or George Soros.
Another guy in my neighborhood told me yesterday that thirteen very powerful Jews were behind the whole thing. Behind everything, in fact. (He was quite precise about the number.)
You know, I said, I really didn't find that plausible.
He smiled, sunny and indulgent. He was amused that I could be so naive.
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Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Man, these Jewish conspiracy believers are as tenacious as global warming believers. Both groups think their bête noire is behind EVERYTHING bad that happens in the world. It is interesting that some anti-Mubarak protesters in Egypt blame Israel for propping Mubarak up and some people in Turkey blame the Jews for trying to tear Mubarak down.
May '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Did that guy seriously just say one demonstration had to be postponed so they could demonstrate about something else?
"What day is today? Thursday? Today, I'm angry about jobs!"
May '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Jews can bi-locate and assume animal form. Read that somewhere. Intriguingly, so can Steve Forbes.
I don't see this protest taking off. That's the least intimidating union guy I've ever seen. Is he a member of the international brotherhood of Emo's?
Jun '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Studying history, in a serious way, usually comes with lots of disillusionment. The villains are not quite as villainous, and the heroes are not quite as heroic. And the more dictatorial your country is--the more it controls education and information--the more disillusioned you'll be. Of course, the other solution is to just kill the messenger. That's an equally popular reaction to historical research.
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
When I lived in Turkey, I was struck by the contempt that the Turks harbored for the Arabs. I never once heard anyone express concern for the well-being of the Arabs.
Jul '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Thirteen Jews rule the world? Claire, with all due respect, why do you choose to live among people who believe in such nonsense?
Jul '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
No kidding, what a nutjob. Everyone knows it's a council of 17.
Oct '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Methinks you left yourself wide open there...Try doing a few "Man on the Street" interviews in the good old U.S.A. Now there is a frightning outcome..
Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: Well yes, they agreed. But the sentiment among Turks, one guy suggested, was that there was something really fishy about those Egyptian protests: I mean, Arabs couldn't organize their way out of paper bag, so it must be the Americans behind it. Or George Soros.
Another guy in my neighborhood told me yesterday that thirteen very powerful Jews were behind the whole thing. Behind everything, in fact. (He was quite precise about the number.)
Concocting and believing improbable grand conspiracy theories seems to come naturally to large segments of the population in Eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf states. Any idea why that is? I think every poll I've seen from that region indicates majorities believe 9/11 was either an inside job, a Mossad plot, or both.
In comparison our Truthers, Tin Foilers, and Black Helicopter Brigade paranoids are unimaginative bumbling amateurs, and relatively small in numbers.
Edited on February 3, 2011 at 7:10pmNov '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Nickolas
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: Well yes, they agreed. But the sentiment among Turks, one guy suggested, was that there was something really fishy about those Egyptian protests: I mean, Arabs couldn't organize their way out of paper bag, so it must be the Americans behind it. Or George Soros.
Another guy in my neighborhood told me yesterday that thirteen very powerful Jews were behind the whole thing. Behind everything, in fact. (He was quite precise about the number.)
Concocting and believing improbable grand conspiracy theories seems to come naturally to large segments of the population in Eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf states. Any idea why that is? I think every poll I've seen from that region indicates majorities believe 9/11 was either an inside job, a Mossad plot, or both.
Nevertheless, it was right for Muslims to punish us that way, no? I mean, there's no problem holding two entirely contradictory ideas in the head at the same time, is there?
Meanwhile, I agree with Dr. Rahe. Although I haven't lived in Turkey, I've worked with lots of expatriate Turks in the US, and in my experience they hold the Arabs in complete contempt.
Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Lucy Pevensie
Nickolas:
I think every poll I've seen from that region indicates majorities believe 9/11 was either an inside job, a Mossad plot, or both.
Nevertheless, it was right for Muslims to punish us that way, no? I mean, there's no problem holding two entirely contradictory ideas in the head at the same time, is there?
I think the reasoning, using the term loosely, goes something like this... "The Americans and/or the Mossad concocted 9/11 as an excuse to invade Afghanistan and Iraq and make war on Islam. But if Osama did it, well, the Americans deserved it and brought it on themselves".
Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
From what I've read most other Arabs hold Palestinian Arabs in contempt. The Sunnis and Shiites don't like each other much. I think many Saudis look down on Yemenis. The Persians and Arabs don't like each other. Etc., etc.
There is a lot of locally directed animosity in the region.
Jul '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Forget the Jews, there are Turks who believe the U.S. is behind the demonstrations? That would require a competence and a strategic sense that has been entirely lacking in the first two years of the Obama administration. The old Clinton administration has boarded the Titanic for the second two years of the cruise, but that is not necessarily a good thing.
May '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
How do you know Claire isn't one of the thirteen?
Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Nickolas
From what I've read most other Arabs hold Palestinian Arabs in contempt. The Sunnis and Shiites don't like each other much. I think many Saudis look down on Yemenis. The Persians and Arabs don't like each other. Etc., etc.
There is a lot of locally directed animosity in the region. · Feb 3 at 10:43am
Israel is God's gift to the Arabs. Without Israel, there would have been a lot more internecine wars between and within Arab countries.
Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Nickolas
Lucy Pevensie
Nickolas:
I think every poll I've seen from that region indicates majorities believe 9/11 was either an inside job, a Mossad plot, or both.
Nevertheless, it was right for Muslims to punish us that way, no? I mean, there's no problem holding two entirely contradictory ideas in the head at the same time, is there?
I think the reasoning, using the term loosely, goes something like this... "The Americans and/or the Mossad concocted 9/11 as an excuse to invade Afghanistan and Iraq and make war on Islam. But if Osama did it, well, the Americans deserved it and brought it on themselves". · Feb 3 at 10:36am
It's simpler than that. It's like when a kid puts a thumbtack on the teacher's chair. All the other kids know who did it and regard him as a hero, but if the teacher, dean of students or principal ask them who did it, they'll swear it was the janitor.
The folks in the Arab world are just not as good at keeping the truth hidden from the people in the West that they're lying to.
Dec '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Didn't that fellow T.E. Lawrence get himself wrapped up somehow in the animosity between the Turks and the Arabs?
Sep '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Aaron Miller
How do you know Claire isn't one of the thirteen? · Feb 3 at 11:42am
I believe when Don Rickles passes away, there will be a vacancy.
Feb '11
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Claire, do modern Turkish people still recall Egypt as part of greater "Turkey" before the English got involved (that's Adl. Nelson's time, yes)?
Jul '10
Re: Arab Street: Here's the Word from the Turkish Street
Aaron Miller
How do you know Claire isn't one of the thirteen? · Feb 3 at 11:42am
She's too busy cleaning out the litter box to rule the world.