Posted on 10/29/2004 7:41:07 PM PDT by freedom44
29th October marked the 81st anniversary of the Turkish Republic. A secular country that has succeeded to survive, progress and to remain loyal to the principles introduced by its founder Mustafa Kemal Pasha, otherwise known as Ataturk - the Father of Turks. A framework in which under no domestic or international pressure the Turkish authorities have compromised on.
The Turks today are celebrating and deserve to be congratulated for their untiring efforts and their love for their country. At the same time my ancient land has sunken in the darkest period of its history since the Arab invasion of Iran in 640 A.D.
Secularism, the key to Turkey's survival and prosperity has been used and mentioned over and over by those Iranian activists outside and inside Iran particularly more than ever before in the recent years. After the death of the man who introduced its concept to us - Reza Shah the Great, it was never paid much attention until his grandson reintroduced it to our daily vocabulary.
Today more than ever before Iran is badly in need of a school of thought like that of Turkey's Kemalists which could guarantee its future democracy, secularism and nationalism; if we ever achieve such noble goals! Iran needs a doctrine so that our true secularists could stand by it, otherwise, the general expression that "people themselves will be the guarantee of our future democracy", is simply naivety.
What Iran of post-Islamic terror needs are visionary, truly secular men and women with modern thoughts to mould a new foundation for a modern nation to lead a proud life among the progressive nations of this world. Iran does not need people who are typical oriental romantics. Pragmatic, realists, radicals and forward-looking leaders are what we need to bring our country to the modern age.
(Excerpt) Read more at iranian.ws ...
This is also correct, there are lots of mosques in southern Cyprus.
There is one functioning church in turkish cyprus. The rest are museums, converted into stables or mosques, filled with trash and graffiti, or simply destroyed.
The contrast between Southern and Northern Cyprus is stunning.
Southern Cyprus is recognized by the entire world, while Northern Cyprus is only recognized by one country, turkey.
Strange. I visited Southern Cyprus last summer
with my wife's family
who were forced to leave Limassol
after the partition.
I didn't see a single Turk.
They must have been away on vacation.
Ask your wife's family more details about how they were "forced".
Well
knowing that Turkish families had been shot
and thrown into bathtubs
might have been an inducement to leave.
Thanks for the article and ping.
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