Mete Akyol

One of the best and most educational magazines in Turkey, ‘’Butun Dunya’’ has reached its 10th anniversary with the June 2008 issue. One hundred and sixty page magazine has many book reviews, articles, memoirs, photographs of children and reproductions of paintings of Turkish artists; this time a beautiful painting ‘’Gelincikler – The Red Popies’’ by Bekir Ustun on the back cover..

Butun Dunya was published for many years starting back in the 50s, but disappeared in the 70s. Than in 1998, the magazine was re-introduced under the leadership of Mete Akyol, a famous newspaper reporter and writer who began his career while he was a student at Tarsus American College, also in the 50s. Today, the magazine is a cultural publication of Baskent University in Ankara, and Mete Akyol is the Editor-in-Chief. In his editorial, ‘’Cıktık Acık Alınla, On Yilda…’’ Mete Akyol, writes that magazines become a part of our wealth only if it has a readership, just like the concerts or thetares if they have audiences. The magazine not only has a wide readership but also a dedicated staff who give us a tremendous joy of reading with many wonderul commentaries and articles. Thank you Mete, thank you Cigdem, thank you Gulcin, our formner Tarsus teacher Haydar Gofer and everyone who contributes to this treasure of Turkey.

Among the many commentaries, a tribute to Leyla Gencer, tells the story of  Turkey’s greatest Soprano and her achivements, whose ashes were scattered over the Bosphorous, just like the ashes of Erol Erken, a Tarsus graduate, some years back. The article by Yener Erguven, a guest writer, brought back memories of four years at Talas Amarican High School where he was a classmate from 1949-1952.  Its title, ‘’Birakmaz ki, Ayrilmak Olanakli Olsun Talas’dan’’ tells it all. Yener writes that he left Talas but Talas never left him and tells us the a story of his appointment to a village school as a tecaher in lieu of service in the military and the bond of friendship among the Talas graduates.

Engin Unsal, also a graduate of Talas and Tarsus American College and a frequent writer for Butun Dunya, tells us about his home visits in 1948 to Kozlu, near Adana, and his love of books. He is thrilled when his daughter gives him a book by  Grigoriy Petrov ‘’Beyaz Zambaklar Ulkesi’’ as a birthday present, which he had missed reading during his high school years. We learn that Grigoriy Petrov lived briefly at the Gelibolu Russian Refugee Camp which was recently honored with a monument of their own.

the aricle also tells us that Ataturk had also read Beyaz Zambaklar Ulkesi and recommended to his commanders. The book tells the story of the creation of Finland out of the years of domination by the Russians. It is interesting that the book was rirst published in 1924 in Serbian language and translated into Turkish from the Bulgarian version. The book has been recently translated from the Russian version and published by Koridor Publishing House.

Metin Atamer continues with his series, ‘’Hem Malina Hem Mihina’’; this time writing about Ibrahim Bey, a retired railroad worker. The article by Ilyas Halil, ‘’ Longing for a Country’’ tells the story of the year 1939 when he was 9 years old.

I purchased the magazine in Ankara early on June 3rd, looking for an article on ‘’Allianoi’’ and started reading it in front of the newly opened D&R store near the ‘Kugulu Park – The Swan Park’’. May be it was the impact of the articles that I had read or my old age; the photograph of a bird drinking water from a cup held by a security officer in the final page brought tears to my eyes. ‘’A photograph is worth a thousand words’’, sent by Ilyas Goker.

Yuksel Oktay, PE.

7 June 2008, Istanbul

The second day conference began with a presentation by Prof. Dr. Justin McCharty, following brief opening statements by Gunay Evinch and Kaya Boztepe. The topic of McCharty’s presentation was, “The Turks in America: the Creation of an Enduring Prejudice.” As usual, the presentation was lively with a lot of anecdotes and slide showing of caricaturs of Turks from McCharty’s new book with the same name, some dating back to 1890s, including an Editorial cartoon in the 1895 issue of the New York Times (Library of Congress Collection), the darling of Armenians who love to quote from that newspaper.

McCharty began with an explanation on the reasons for writing about the Turk: “because what I saw around me and the complete lack of understanding of the Turkish issues,” he said, making reference to the New York Times reviews. McCharty stated that if  15 books are presented on Turkey, all would be anti-Turkish, none with Turkish point of view. Then he gave many examples of name calling for the Turks, from Assassins, to Barnarians with pictuires of camels. Referring to the books and articles on Turks by foreigners, McCharty listed 3 points used by the west as to why Turks killed the Armenians:

1. Religious hatred

2. Envy of the Armenians for their superior culture and wealth

3. Racially inferior people

Also referring to a description of a Turk in the 1895 issue of the New York Times, “A standing Disgrace to the Civilzed World”, followed by stating that the bad image of the Turks in the West was created by the Missionaries and  “Americans saw nothing else except what missionaries wropte.”

Following the excellent presentation, several participants were allowed to ask questions. One lady asked as to what they shoudl do to correct the bad image of the Turks, further asking if these were included in his book. McCharty responded first by stating that he was expecting this question and put on a slide with the following points:

1. Educate Ourselves.

2. Educate Others

3. Admit Turks” Mistakes

4. Quesrtion falsehoods

5. Identify Bigotry for What it is.

Taking advantage of the 5 points on the slide, I asked a question also (after walking to the center of the hall where the microphone was) and suggested that perhaps a 6th point could be included: Build Museums. Than I briefly told about yet another Chance Encounter with a dozen 8th grade staudenst visiting WDC on a class trip.

“As everyone must have seen, a lot of young students are at the Hyatt hotel. I asked them where they were from and what they were doing in WDC. They were 8th grade students from a Middle School in Illinois and were on a class trip, all 180 of them with several teachers and parents. I asked to close to a dozen of them if they knew where Turkey was, since they were also running around the Turkish Amwerican Conference hall. None of them knew. Then I asked one of their teachers the same question, who said she was a Special Education Teacher, and she said, “Somewhere near Poland.” I told her that all she has to do is to put her finger at the center of the world on a map and that is where Turkey is.”

Then I suggested to Prof. McCharty that establishment of Museums should alos be included in the list. He pointed to Point No 2. “Educate others.” I said yes, but Museums should be emphasized.

Yuksel Oktay

To be Continued. End of Part 2.

The first day of a three day, The Turkish American National Leadership Conference – Empowering Turkish Americans, was concluded yesterday with the Ambassador’s reception at the magnificient Turkish Embassy Residence in Washington DC. Prominent members of the Turkish-American community, students from several universities in and around WDC, including three 13 year old elementary school students, and many Turks, including a young Turkish-American who drove 30 hours from Texas attended the reception. Professor Dr. Justin McCharty and his wife and many academicians and businessmen were also at the conference and the reception.

The conference has been organized by the two umbrella organizations; Washington DC based, “Assembly of Turkish – American Associations – ATAA” and the New York based “Federation of Turkish – American Associations – FTAA” with support from the “Turkish Coalition of America” and the “Turkish Cultural Foundation.” The official language of the conference and the Program book were all in English, including the presentations, except State Minister Egemen Bagis also spoke in Turkish after his presentation in English, which is to be commended. After all, this is a conference for the Turks in America and the Turkish-Americans, or, perhaps to follow the example of a speaker on the American Jews, perhaps we should refer to us as the American Turks.

The Conference was opened with a video address by the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Ahmet Davutoglu, followed by welcoming speeches by Gunay Evinch, the President of ATAA and Kaya Boztepe, the President of FTAA. These were followed by  remarks from the Arlington City Council Chairman Chris Zimmerman, the Host county, and the Mayor of Alexandria city William D. Euille. HE Ambassador Namik Tan spoke about the role of the Turkish-Americans and HE State Minister Egemen Bagis reminisced his 17 years in America before going to Turkey and entering politics and provided many advise, including a strong statement that, the Turkish-Americans should love each other.” Of course, the first requirement for this is “knowing each other.” A simple example of this is the lack of name tags for the Conference participants except for the speakers.

The first panel was on “US-Turkish Relations: Challenges and Opportunities“, moderated by Mark Meirowitz, advisor to ATAA and FTAA Presidents. Suleyman Gokce, Deputy Chief of Mission, Turkish Embassy, and Jess Baily, Director, Office of Southern Europe in the Bureau of European & Eurasian Affairs, spoke in length on various issues. Following the first question by the Moderator himself and long responses, three questions were allowed to the participants, one of which was on the Turkish-Israeli relations and the Boat Marmara incident. I asked two questions; one whether any action was being taken for the removal of the fabricated statement by Hitler on the Armenian issue displayed at the US Jewish Memorial Museum, visited by 2.5 million people every year. The second question was whether there was a Turkish Library and Museum in the US? Neither questions were responded to, but was discussed in length outside the conference room with Mr. Baily.

Yuksel Oktay’ PE

To be continued. End of part 1.

18 March 2011