There is a phrase that has been recirculated in recent days: “sword residue.”
This word is not a simple insult. It is the linguistic equivalent of a mentality carried forward from the darkest pages of history and written in blood.
When you look at the faces of those who use this expression, you don't just see a human being; you see the traces of a mentality, the reflections of a darkness.
As the poet said:
I see a roaring lion, I am not afraid.
I see hyenas, I'm not scared.
I see goblins, I'm not afraid...
But I see this face - I am afraid.
Because this face is not only the expression of an individual anger, but of a historical hatred, of an unrepressed violence.
History of a Word
“To say ”the remnant of the sword" is clearly to say:
“Those we could not destroy are still among us.”
This is not an opinion, it is a threat. This is not a criticism, but a targeting. It is an expression used for the survivors of all the historical massacres in the memory of this land, from the late Ottoman period to the Republic. In other words, this word is the continuation in language of an effort to exterminate.
Therefore, there is not a denial, but rather a confession: If a society is called “the remnants of the sword”, there has been a massacre.
Hate Carried to Today
Today, this statement is most often directed at two groups: Alevis and Armenians. It is used to denigrate people on the basis of their identity, beliefs or origins and to ensure that they are seen as enemies.
They say “We are brothers” to their faces, but behind their backs they say “Dirty Kurd!”, “Stupid Laz”, “Armenian spawn”, “Greek seed”. What about those who call them “remnants of the sword” and say “We are not racists!”?
This accusation against a journalist in the recent past showed once again how deep the issue is. It was not enough for the person to declare himself an “Oghuz Turk”, to list the names of his grandfathers and even to emphasize that “they were martyrs for this homeland”.
Because for this mentality, the identity you are born with is a “crime” that cannot be changed no matter what you do.”
So it is not about individuals; it is about different identities. And the targeted goal is the effort to maintain the dirty order.
Why Do They Hate Kılıçdaroğlu?
Because he is an Alevi. Because he defends a political understanding that walks on the dirty order. This hatred is not a coincidence; it is the reflex of those who fear losing their privileges.
Clean politics means cutting the rents, accountability means unraveling the system. Their fear is the collapse of the dirty structure they have built. That is why they target, that is why they defame. But the truth does not change: The dirty order is collapsing.
Unforgotten and Unforgettable
The massacres in this geography did not only remain in history; they continued to live on in memory and language.
Dersim, Malatya, Maraş, Çorum, Sivas, Gazi neighborhood... Each of them are painful reminders of what this language of hate can lead to.
These are massacres that are relived not when they are forgotten, but when they are tried to be forgotten.
Responsibility of Language
The darkest moments of a society are revealed not only by the crimes committed but also by the reproduction of those crimes in language. Expressions such as “sword residue” carry the violence of the past into the present and normalize it. It prepares the ground for new enmities. Those who use this language do not just talk; they call for and organize hatred.
We will not be silent
We recognize this language. We know what these words have caused in the past. That is why we will not be silent. We will not allow any people, any belief, any identity to be targeted. Because equal citizenship can only be established by coming to terms with this language of hate. Justice is not only about confronting the past; it is about cleaning the poison of the present.
Last Word
This is a call. It is a call to be the common voice of those who defend life against those who normalize hate. It is a call to defend human dignity and the will to live together.
The real issue is to stand against this darkness. In this country, we have to grow life with dignity, not hatred.