Weather and Revolutions
I have just woken up to yet another cold, gray, dark, foggy, gloomy, overcast day. It is April 19. I'd say I have every reasonable expectation, living as I do in a Mediterranean country, of waking up on April 19 to brilliant sunlight and a joyful riot of spring colors. Do you not agree? I should not have to put on a sweater and turn on the space heater, not in late April in Istanbul. Should there not be some hint of springtime here at this time of year?
Something happened yesterday that is quite a big deal. Yesterday, the Turkish election board ruled that 12 independent Kurdish candidates would be barred from standing in the coming general elections. This is a complicated story, but suffice to say it is big news. As one of my colleagues here put it:
fgeerdink was distracted by news of kurdish politicians banned from elections. worst pre-election news ever. tension rising, demo's to come. violence?
Well, maybe. There was much chatter on Twitter last night of demonstrations to take place today in Taksim Square. Definitely, there are some angry people in Turkey right now.
But I'm looking out the window. Everyone I know is looking out the window and thinking, "How can I get out of whatever it was I said I'd do that involves going out in this weather?" No one here feels an exuberant revolutionary spirit today.
I have this suspicion that history may have more to do with the weather than we realize.
I'll let you know later today whether my suspicions were right.
- Comment (5)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Weather and Revolutions
You obviously didn't get the Global Warming Memo!
Jan '11
Re: Weather and Revolutions
It was minus 11 with wind chill here this morning. I agree with the weather and history thing - my hyperborean ancestors must have spent long hours scheming how to escape interminable winter and darkness. Life is different when nature isn't a bountiful garden year 'round. It helps sharpen the mind.
Apr '11
Re: Weather and Revolutions
Your point is well taken, Claire, but weather certainly didn't stop the Russians in 1905 or '17. Though, of course, they were conditioned to such frigidity and had recourse to the warming benefits of alcoholic spirits, from which most Turks abstain.
As a life-long photophobe and thermophobe myself, I have been plotting a revolution against you Spring and Summer people for some time now. Unfortunately, as I only leave the house when it's pitch dark and snowing, few seem to notice when I bleat through my rime-encrusted megaphone on Main Street, advocating the development of a giant parasol to shade the town in its hot season.
Nov '10
Re: Weather and Revolutions
Just looked up the weather for Istanbul; my pity meter just isn't registering :) Looks like you are having much the same as we are going to have here today in Halifax; I'm sitting here with the windows open, listening to the birds & the light rain, enjoying a coffee, and waiting for the sun to come up...
May '10
Re: Weather and Revolutions
I don't know the ethnic dynamics of that part of the world very much at all - why are the Kurds so disliked (if that is accurate) by the Turks and Arabs?