From: sadi@physics1 (Sadi Turgut)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek
Subject: Re: Turkish Sentiments or "Aw, shucks, we lost an empire"
Date: 28 Sep 1992 04:35:52 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
NNTP-Posting-Host: physics1.berkeley.edu

In article <Bv82FH.IEo@news.cso.uiuc.edu> ptg2351@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Panos Tamamidis ) writes:
>sadi@physics1 (Sadi Turgut) writes:
>
> Mr. Turgut, you should be informed that we have placed our dictator and
> his clique to prison for life.  Perhaps, it is time to inform the group how
> Turkey has treated her last dictator, namely gen. Evren.  Could you please
> explain this thing to the group, or are you going to swallow your tongue?

 Why are you so eager to see people 'swallowing'? I see that you are
forcing me to defend the things that I don't usually defend or to face
the challenge of swallowing my tongue. First of all, I don't see the
relevance of your question to my previous article. But, it is easy to
guess what urged you to reply in such a way. I guess you already
gave your answer. Why not state it explicitly. Maybe, you can even
tell us if he was elected president by popular vote. Under such
circumstances, the position is sacred in my country, and not much
can be done. (I have doubts about the case in Greece when I remember Dr.
Sadik Ahmet.) A year ago, coalition government tried to replace Ozal,
but met with failure. (Even though he was elected by the parliament.)

> Of course, it is stupid to suggest that every Turk desires an empire or
> a fascist junta.  I personally wish Turkey was 100 times more democratic
> and advanced than it is today.  However, there is a clique that controls
> politics in Turkey.  When newspapers suggest that a military junta is the
> best thing for Turkey, then I feel very sorry for Turks.  Every person who
> is supposed to be educated, i.e. people like you, should fight for the
> democracy in Turkey.  

 Well, good news for you Tamamidis. This "suggest" part is your invention.
You don't have to be sorry anymore. One thing that 1980 coup achieved is
a public consciousness against military interventions. So, every now and
then, when the situation seems negative, the press starts to speculate
about a possible coup, and of course squeezes the government. The last
coup came at a time when terrorism surrounded the whole country, while
the government was unable to prevent this because even the police
force was divided in itself. This was the main justification for the
1980 coup. So, when the government once again becomes unable to prevent
the mass terrorism, there may appear some oppurtunists who are ready
to use a similar justification. The mission of the press is to keep
the government alert, and to intimidate such oppurtunists. Of course,
in such a case being paranoid is helpful. :-) ( Don't get too happy, this
is the only case paranoia is justified. :-))

 Well. This is a small analysis of Turkish politics for you. Tell me,
are you happy now?

>> Sa`di the barbarian
>-- 
> *> Panos Tamamidis

 Seems like you like the way I signed my article. (I think.) In my
opinion, Greeks see this word as derogatory. But, for me it
should be nice, since it comes from our dear neighbors.

 Sa`di the Barbarian
Xref: sparky soc.culture.greek:9454 soc.culture.europe:8764