A lesson to be learned by all of us here in the US about what is happening to Ataturk's once secular democratic Turkey.
I have often remarked how privileged I am to be a part of the Turkish-American community here in SoCal. Tomorrow, August 30, is Turkish Independence Day. Yesterday, all of the ATAASC chapters gathered to celebrate the importance of the day, just as we all gather to celebrate the importance of the 4th of July.
But, did you know that in Turkey celebrations are being suppressed this year? Erdogan, in his march toward his Islamic caliphate, is removing all vestiges of Ataturk and everything that Ataturk stood for.
I think about all my Turkish friends (especially my husband) here in the US who are trying to absorb the cold hard reality that they have lost their homeland. No one that I spoke with yesterday has any hope that this horror will somehow go away and things will be the way they used to be. They are concerned, as hubby and I are, for our families that are still in Turkey. I asked one of my friends why don't the 50% who are against what is happening, do something about it? His answer was that it has gone too far. Erdogan now has complete power. Anyone who opposes him is arrested.
Could that happen here? Yes, I think it could. But, only if we allow it. Think about how, after 9/11, everyone flew the American flag - on cars, trucks, homes, businesses, schools... any place we could. Fast forward to today. We are being discouraged from flying our American flags, singing our National Anthem, saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Why? Because it is offensive to some groups of people. Are you mad about that, or do you even care?
Think about this for a moment. Think about all the things we take for granted here that are slowly being chipped away. Think about all the things that the progressive left is pushing us to accept. Think about the fact that at some point, it will be too late to do anything about it. And think about what kind of America you want for your children and grandchildren.
Just think about it.