Protests In Turkey: A Socratic Dialogue Between Ataturk, Lenin, And Ma

[Era Might]

Protests in Turkey: A socratic dialogue between Ataturk, Lenin, and Machiavelli

 

Full article at the link:

 

http://isaacdanielreport.com/protests-in-turkey-a-socratic-dialogue-between-ataturk-lenin-and-machiavelli/

 

 

 

Ataturk: I just saw your tweet, Machiavelli, about the goings on in my beloved Turkey. Have you just come from Istanbul?

Machiavelli: Yes, Ataturk. How serendipitous to find you back here in Florence.

Ataturk: I have come on business, Machiavelli, to a summit actually, to petition the European Union to admit Turkey once and for all. Turkey is the bridge between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Surely, Machiavelli, you recognize its strategic advantage.

Machiavelli: Quite right, Ataturk, quite right. But these protests are giving your country a bad name. Prime Minister Erdogan had best be careful, or things could go badly for him.

Ataturk: It is not as serious as all that, friend! Turkey is a solid democracy. I should know, I set down the principles myself: Nationalism, Secularism, Statism, Populism, Republicanism, Revolutionism. In other words, Ataturkism!

Machiavelli: I admire your political legacy, friend. You transitioned Turkey from the Islamic Ottoman Empirewhich ruled from 1299 to 1922, and you founded the secular Republic of Turkey, which today is about the 17th largest economy in the world. But I am reminded of a piece of advice I once gave: “Men will sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.” You are undoubtedly Ata-Turk, “Father of Turks.” But your people are almost all Muslims, even though your secular government tried to rid Turkey of Islam. Can an Ethiopian change his skin, or a leopard his spots? Excuse me, is that Lenin there by the fruit stand?

Edited June 6, 2013 by Era Might

[Chestertonian]

Protests in Turkey: A socratic dialogue between Ataturk, Lenin, and Machiavelli

 

Full article at the link:

 

http://isaacdanielreport.com/protests-in-turkey-a-socratic-dialogue-between-ataturk-lenin-and-machiavelli/

 

Looks like a Peter Kreeft book.

[4588686]

I don't think that there are many Turks who lake awareness of the fact that the military has traditionally been a bulwark against forces it sees as threatening to secularism.

[4588686]

I guess I was left wondering what the point of the article was other than the author wanting to convince his audience, I'd say unsuccessfully, that he's clever and thoughtful.  Maybe it went somewhere eventually but my eyes glazed over and I have up about 2/3rds in. 

[Gabriela]

I didn't know your mom was tight with Ataturk and Lenin.