tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post1542647368867470150..comments2024-03-27T02:20:19.265-04:00Comments on Informed Comment: Global Affairs: Erdogan and DavosJuan Colehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794922740548563607noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-61911132722886711092012-02-28T02:22:57.909-05:002012-02-28T02:22:57.909-05:00BEST interview EVER! I think I can know more new t...BEST interview EVER! I think I can know more new thing by read your article. Thanks for the posting.carry on luggage sizehttp://www.luggageguides.com/categories/carry-on-luggage-size/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-4293905880520167512009-03-08T22:26:00.000-04:002009-03-08T22:26:00.000-04:00"Anonymous" has an awful lot to say. But I think h..."Anonymous" has an awful lot to say. But I think he protests too much. To take just one example -- the one "Anonymous" calls the most important: <BR/><BR/>While Muslim identity as a prerequisite to membership of the nation is not explicitly stated as such in Turkey's Republican-era constitutions, such an equation exists both in the public's perception and in official practices. Throughout the Turkish Republic's 86-year history, official identity cards have specified the card-holder's religion -- for Muslims, the official term used until recently was "Türk-Müslüman". That equation, and what it implies (i.e. that non-Muslims are not part of the Turkish nation), has also been reflected in discriminatory state policies. <BR/><BR/>Among these was the shameful 'capital tax' (varlik vergisi) of the 1940s, when non-Muslim citizens were taxed at a rate several times that of Muslim citizens; those who could not pay the extortionate tax were sent to do brutal forced labor in Anatolia, from where many did not return. That discriminatory tax is now history (though still a 'sensitive' subject). But other invidious distinctions have endured -- a non-Muslim Turkish citizen can be drafted into the army, can even serve as a reserve officer (yedek subay), but cannot become part of the elite Turkish officer class. A non-Muslim can become a lawyer, but cannot in practice hope for appointment as a judge. And one could go on with other examples.<BR/><BR/>Admittedly, Turkey's record in this regard is far from being the worst in the region (neighboring countries, such as Greece and Bulgaria, have done worse). But Turkey's record is far from exemplary, and it's pointless to deny that fact.<BR/><BR/>At the same time, while Prime Minister Erdogan's outburst at Davos may have been undiplomatic, it would be wrong to characterize it as anti-Semitic. Israel's actions in Gaza have been widely condemned in many countries and by independent human rights organizations. The charge that criticism of the acts of Israel's government is in itself prima facie evidence of anti-Semitism is a canard that is often used to silence critiques of the Jewish state, no matter how well justified such criticism may be.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13823787115465722515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-33984023642956521602009-03-03T18:14:00.000-05:002009-03-03T18:14:00.000-05:00This article says: 'European anti-Semitism was alr...This article says: 'European anti-Semitism was already part and parcel of Turkish nationalism at the founding of the Republic and – more importantly - was woven into the fabric of a nationalism that defined Muslim identity as a prerequisite to membership in the nation even as it rejected outward religiosity. In this sense, the key issue for Turkey domestically is less anti-Semitism per se, than a general sense that non-Muslims are "native foreigners.'<BR/><BR/>This is simply not true. I wonder why you are spreading such lies. European anti-semitism have never reached Turkey in founding of the Republic as you falsely claimed. Turkish nationalism has nothing to do with anti-semitism. The founder of Turkey, Ataturk, himself invited Jewish academics who were persecuted in Germany to Turkey. During the WWII Turkish diplomats risked their own lives to save Jews from France, Greece and Germany. Turkish Jews have always respected Ataturk dearly, even called him 'our father'.<BR/><BR/>Finally and very importantly, Turkish nationalism have never defined Muslim identity as a prerequisite to membership to the nation. This is lie. Republic of Turkey defines anyone as a Turk who has citizenhip bond with Turkey no matter what religion, ethnicity, language they come from. <BR/><BR/>It looks like your article and intentions don't deserve the institution you are currently working. I suggest you to read Avigdor Levy from Brandeis, and Stanford Shaw on Turkey, Ottomans and Turkish Jews.<BR/><BR/>Once again, why are you writing such lies? What's your intention?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-42371892394227202202009-02-23T17:06:00.000-05:002009-02-23T17:06:00.000-05:00Reads like an Israeli Ministry of Information stat...Reads like an Israeli Ministry of Information statement.David Sketchleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00838032163864170821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-78089723246171426042009-02-20T15:54:00.000-05:002009-02-20T15:54:00.000-05:00"The first thing to note regarding Erdogan's outbu..."The first thing to note regarding Erdogan's outburst is that it is very much in keeping with his public persona. Erdogan's famous temper is both a remarkable tool for cowing political opponents and journalists and a fundamental aspect of his charisma, which borrows much from his urban, working class roots."<BR/><BR/>What offensive pretentious rubbish. Line on line is crude but typical propaganda. The writer's roots are far clearer and assuredly meaner than the roots so easily stereotyped. The writer's roots are in crafting apologetic propaganda. The transparency is offensive but laughably crude.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-76428867805025839532009-02-19T21:59:00.000-05:002009-02-19T21:59:00.000-05:00How typical! A Jew criticizing enemies of Israel a...How typical! A Jew criticizing enemies of Israel and ignoring the Jewish guilt. Even more importantly, he widens the discussion to criticize the Turks - by quoting 2 Jewish studies. Oy veh!lostdoggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07141792054168079109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-68725867313653600282009-02-19T21:01:00.000-05:002009-02-19T21:01:00.000-05:00It's sad to think such a misinformed view of Turki...It's sad to think such a misinformed view of Turkish and Israeli society is being propped by a U.S. institute of higher education. He deserves neither the postdoc or the this venue to spew such spurious racial and cultural ideas. Obviously this person, whoever he is, does not know the first thing about Turkish society or Middle Eastern politics for that matter. Mr. Cole, allowing such blatant and biased dissimulation to be posted on your site, which honorably stands for fairness, equality, and social justice, is disappointing. He is a charlatan at best, whose knowledge of the region is apparently commensurate with the crony appointees we so often witnessed in the last administration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-12031444268175328382009-02-19T18:06:00.000-05:002009-02-19T18:06:00.000-05:00As soon as I read the part fretting about the situ...As soon as I read the part fretting about the situation of the "Jews of Turkey" I immediately looked at the name of the author.<BR/><BR/>Yep. Jewish.<BR/><BR/>Of course Erdogan was right in referring to "Jews" rather than "Israelis." It would be wrong to blame, for example, Israeli Arabs for the Gaza massacres. On the other hand, Jews elsewhere overwhelmingly support the Jewish state, even when they disagree with its policies. <BR/><BR/>Jews suffer (or rather, benefit) from a kind of moral blindness which relativizes the suffering of others in such a way that Jewish suffering is seen as far more significant. <BR/><BR/>Here's my Middle East peace plan: let the Jews divide Israel / Palestine in any way they want. <BR/><BR/>Then let the Palestinians pick which half they want. (Note that the two population groups are more or less similar in size.)<BR/><BR/>Isn't it shameful that such a fair solution is so obviously unrealistic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-82091507568947894102009-02-19T13:21:00.000-05:002009-02-19T13:21:00.000-05:00"That being said, the trope of 'Turkish tolerance'..."That being said, the trope of 'Turkish tolerance' is more myth than historical reality...."<BR/><BR/>What arrogance and cultural hatred, here is what shameful prejudice is all about. Shameful, but the writer is obviously beyond all shame.<BR/><BR/>All this for justifying the terrifying savaging of a people by an Israeli government beyond morality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-91655935251536515532009-02-19T13:15:00.000-05:002009-02-19T13:15:00.000-05:00"Finally, I think it worth while to consider the q..."Finally, I think it worth while to consider the question of what Erdogan's outburst at Davos says about anti-Semitism in Turkey."<BR/><BR/>This is the way in which Israeli bullying works, moral concern about the destruction of Gaza and massacre of a people becomes a question of whether anti-Semitism is the issue. No, the issue is the immoral Israeli war on Gaza.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-75843289825671791532009-02-19T13:09:00.000-05:002009-02-19T13:09:00.000-05:00What a trashy trashing of Turkish values, an aston...What a trashy trashing of Turkish values, an astonishingly stupid and arrogant essay justifying the Israeli massacre in Gaza at every turn and ridiculing Turkish decency and concern.<BR/><BR/>Shameful but no surprise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2275824557999662261.post-66301091611263978482009-02-19T09:22:00.000-05:002009-02-19T09:22:00.000-05:00Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's outburst a...<I>Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's outburst at The World Economic Forum meeting in Davos</I> You make it sound that Erdogan was behaving like a spoiled child. Well I think this article is not worth the space it is being shown!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com