As we passed through Taksim Square last night, we witnessed an atmosphere in which the Republic Monument gained meaning through the words of Atakan Sönmez and Pera Palas through the assessments of Ali Turan.
Mr. Atakan presented a very principled and valuable perspective on how “winning” oriented, result-oriented politics produces decay in the long run. Those who understood understood; those who didn't didn't understand again.
Because in our country, issues are often discussed in terms of the perpetrator, not the act. The approach that focuses on the person obscures the essence of the issue and renders the truth invisible.
One of the most recent examples of this is the debate over the possible defection of Mesut Özarslan, the mayor of Keçiören, to the AKP. The issue is not only “he already had right-wing roots”, “he was from the IYI Party”, “he was Meral Akşener's companion” to superficial justifications, such as the ""no" of the "no", is a serious weakness of analysis.
Unfortunately, this disease is still alive in the left jargon:
“They've been milked for all they're worth.”
The inability to get rid of this simplicity is itself a problem of mentality.
In Ali Turan's words, the issue is precisely this:
“The body won't accept it.”
This observation is both historically and currently very true.
Even the late Yaşar Nuri Öztürk could not survive within the CHP. He was an original theologian who did not compromise on his ideas despite being lynched by conservative circles. Today, names like İhsan Eliaçık, Cemil Kılıç and myself are also in the party most of the time. “secondary” is subjected to such treatment. I beg your pardon: “Stinging tail” we can't get away from being treated like this.
On the one hand “right-wing origin” and on the other hand, the expectation of votes from that group...
This contradiction feeds public opinion:
“The CHP will not accept it.”
Today, if a name like Mansur Yavaş, who resonates with right-wing voters, is still not fully embraced in the party layers, how will the CHP claim the votes of these voters?
More importantly: If the elections are won, the possibility that these names will be purged at the first opportunity does not reassure anyone. One does not stay where one does not feel belonging.
In the high-dose and fanfare atmosphere of the program, these vital observations of Atakan Sönmez were not visible enough. However, the moral decay produced by pragmatic, win-oriented politics is one of Turkey's most fundamental problems.
The existence of a CHP member who switches to the People's Alliance is of course a problem. But when that person passes “everything has been cleaned” is a bigger problem.
When a few drops of dirt get into a glass of water, it cannot be drunk. Adding Zamzam to it does not purify the water. Zamzam is not to cover the filth, but to add blessings to what is clean.
There is a subtle decorum in Anatolian wisdom: Some people who cannot stop drinking do not drink Zamzam, so as not to be disrespectful. This is a sign of morality.
Today “bear-like” by the virtue of people who are scorned, “muttaki” the difference between the hypocrisy of those who appear to be.
Politicians who fail the sincerity test are punished by the electorate. The example of Muharrem İnce is the clearest indication of this.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's vote was the highest in CHP history after 1950. Nevertheless, the abuse meted out to him did not go unrequited in the eyes of the nation.
A government that openly drinks raki and fish during Ramadan and drinks at the graveside is not allowed to “principle” to give a lecture.
It is not possible for those who read Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk only in the way that suits them and those who are uncomfortable with his world of beliefs to get votes from the right-wing base.
Today, Ecevit and Kılıçdaroğlu “thief” who says, "I am a man of honor"? People will give an honorable man his due, but it is important to appeal to the soul.
Vefa is the name of a neighborhood in Istanbul. Unfortunately, it is like a patched fabric in the CHP. A solid dress cannot come out of this fabric.
If the tailor tears the fabric even more with his scissors instead of smoothing it, there will be no customers in that shop.
The shepherd who fails to protect the flock invites the wolf.
This impasse cannot be overcome without a change in mentality, without sincerity, without creating belonging.