Can Americans Relate to This?
Question for you.
That video is making the rounds among Turks I know on Facebook--it makes them laugh, but in a very uneasy and rueful way. I passed that on to Ricochet member Okan yesterday, saying, "We should translate this, because it really suggests a lot of important things people might miss about Turkey."
He was dubious: He wasn't sure Americans would relate or empathize. And you know, I just don't know, he may be right. So I'll ask: Do you?
I'm not going to give a full translation--basically, this is what you need to know: The slogan on the back of the van, "Ne mutlu Türküm diyene," is seen everywhere in Turkey. Wikipedia's explanation's of its significance is a bit simplistic, but good enough for our purposes:
Kemalist nationalism is an extension of the Kemalist modernization movement. It was brought against the political domination of sheikhs, tribal leaders and Islamism (Islam as a political system). Initially the declaration of the republic was perceived as "Returning to the days of the first caliphs." However, Kemalist nationalism aimed to shift the political legitimacy from autocracy (Ottoman Dynasty), theocracy (Caliphate) and feudalism (tribal leaders) to the active participation of its citizenry, the Turks. Active participation, or the "will of the people," was established with the republican regime and Turkishness rather than other forms of affiliations that were promoted. The shift in affiliation was symbolized with:
Turkish: Ne Mutlu Türküm Diyene. (English: How happy is he/she who calls himself/herself a Turk)—Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
The term "Ne Mutlu Türküm Diyene" was promoted against the "long live the Sultan," "long live the Sheikh" or "long live the Caliph."
That's the background. There are a lot of other things going on in that video too, though, that are clues to how people experience daily life and state authority in Turkey. I think it's possible to sense quite a bit of what's going on even without understanding what they're saying.
Am I right? Can you relate? Do you empathize?
If you can't, let me give you one more clue--did seeing that statue of George Washington hidden from view make you feel uneasy? Angry, even?
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Jul '10
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
The statue of George Washington being hidden from view so as not to offend participants of the rally is appalling. Well... one needs to think who would be happy to see all forms of nationalism and/or patriotism done away with. Because humanity will need to deal with that "entity" sooner or later... to stay human as we have known it.
What is taking place in Turkey is very similar. Good eye, Claire. Here's the video on youtube.
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
Okan Altiparmak: The statue of George Washington being hidden from view so as not to offend participants of the rally is appalling. Well... one needs to think who would be happy to see all forms of nationalism and/or patriotism done away with. Because humanity will need to deal with that "entity" sooner or later... to stay human as we have known it.
What is taking place in Turkey is very similar. Good eye, Claire. Here's the video on youtube. · Jan 20 at 2:54am
Oh, thanks for finding that!
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
Okan, something to stress perhaps is that this isn't just about nationalism and patriotism. Familiar to anyone who lives here will be the poor schlub who is just trying to figure out how to stay out of trouble, whatever the new ideology is supposed to be and whoever's in power--and who knows that whatever the new law is, whatever the new orthodoxy is, it's not really going to be fair, and that somehow you'll be punished by a local petty authority figure if you're not careful--although who knows what "careful" is these days or what you should do to stay out of trouble.
Jul '10
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
Very good point...
Dec '10
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
I don't know if I can relate or empathize, but I certainly understand. If I have an anti-Obama bumper sticker, I get dirty looks from some other drivers, but I don't have much fear of getting pulled over because of it.
As for understanding the new orthodoxy and trying to account for it in your actions to avoid trouble, I think everyone has to suffer with that, though depending on the society the consequences range from trivial (dirty looks from other drivers) to irritating (pulled over and ticketed) to dangerous (off to the gulag!). The U.S. is on the trivial end of that spectrum, but add to that the responsibility that gets assigned to our country - as peacekeeper or imperialists or defender or instigator - and the world seems impossibly complex and overwhelming.
I don't think Turks, in general, can empathize or relate to Americans, either. If there are problems in Turkey, some how Americans are to blame or are responsible or should take some action or must be involved at some level. If there are problems in America, I don't think Turkey feels that need to be involved.
May '10
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
The big mystery: how does "Prison Break" play into this? Perhaps they were discussing the Golden Globes.
May '10
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
From the video alone, I have no idea what's going on except that someone was pulled over for a sign on his vehicle. There's not much to relate to.
That I can understand.
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
Aaron Miller: From the video alone, I have no idea what's going on except that someone was pulled over for a sign on his vehicle. There's not much to relate to.
Really? Interesting ... It seems to me the plot of this is very obvious from the context--everyone baffled, why the hell are they pulling us over this time, the resentment they feel for the cop but also the body language (better apologize!), the total bewilderment -- the slogan they've been told all their life is the height of patriotism is now forbidden?--the cop giving them a patronizing, irritated lecture and fining them ...
May '10
Re: Can Americans Relate to This?
I believe that this is what would happen to me in Pima County Az if I were to be driving with the bumper sticker "Rush is Right", and yes I did steal that from Rush. But the fact remains that we are starting to see it in our country already. This whole notion that the politicians and pundits on the left are pushing about "Civility" is nothing but a form of Totalitarian type of behavior against people who disagree with there point of view. Either shut up or we will call you a racist, bigot, homophobe, etc. Yet they haven't stopped on their side of the isle. Calling people who wish to repeal HCR Nazis, etc.This is why we must continue to take pride in our Constition and continue to fight for it. No word police is guna arrest me I tell ya.