[**claire**]

Financial times

Above the blackboard in every classroom at the Hasan-Ali Yucel high school there is a poster of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of Turkey, alongside the words of the national anthem and a statement by the former leader addressed to the nation's children. There are pictures of him on the corridor walls and his bust greets visitors at the door.
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So when a British member of the European Parliament was reported this week to have said that Turkey should abandon its cult of Atatürk before it joins the European Union, it generated a heated response among Turks, including youngsters such as the 526 pupils who attend this school in the fast-developing Ankara suburb of Balgat.

“If they have opinions like this, then Turkey should not join the European Union,” says Alp, a 16-year-old who, like nearly every pupil at the school, has ambitions to be a teacher.

Kemalism, the ideology of nationalism and self-reliance developed with the founding of the republic in 1923, “is the path Atatürk drew and we need to follow his path because people who follow his principles are successful people”, Alp says.

In a straw poll a little later, only about half of the 20 pupils in this Turkish literature class raise their hands when they are asked whether Turkey would,or should, join the EU.

Full article can be read here

[belgianguy]

funny, europe never asked the UK to abandon its Elizatbeth II cult.

[kusrose]

Don't remember Ireland having to denounce the 1916 Rising Leaders either. Or Michael Collins etc.

[Umit]

They actually not saying abandon of Ataturk cults, they say "Please dont join to EU"...

[Shannon]

I wouldnt worry too much, not all nations and people think this way! Also it would be good to remember that when Ireland first tried to join the EU (A long time before it was called the EU) we were vetoed by Russia who did not want us in Europe! Several Nations have had obstacles to overcome, Turkey is having many more than most!
But Europe will be good for Turkey, for its economy and for Umit who will no longer have to work 18hours a day as this is illegal in Europe

I bet that will make you happy Abi

[skindvg]

Originally Posted by Shannon

But Europe will be good for Turkey, for its economy and for Umit who will no longer have to work 18hours a day as this is illegal in Europe

For the economy, if EU will be good for Turkey, why customs union damages our economy? Economic benefits should be above all for a country. There is a statemnt of Bush, he says "America's benefits comes before all including the humanrights". That means, they can attack rutelhessly to other countries for their economic benefits. So how can I be sure what do the EU administrators think about us? Thinking that EU will develop Turkey is non-sense for me.

And for 18hours work, our people should work more to attain the development standards. After that we can render it illegal. It's illegal in EU because EU countries are allready developed. Dig? How was the rule before the industrial revolution?

[ben]

Ataturk seems a great man from the brilliant documentry I saw on the history channel not long ago. If the EU was run by people like him the world would be a better place .The euro MP sounds a right muppet !

[KLL]

he was a great person... he is beyond what it is told or written in history. as a soldier, he had a brillant carrier but as a human, he was more far of this. because of his major reason to be a good commander was his life, loved ones and his country. when you face with his memories, and tales, you understand how he values the humanity and mankind. he was able to see future, he had the insight. he always told to people who are following him to save the peace. and only fight for your life if only your entity is in danger.

he founded a turkish air association in begginings of last century. there were female turkish pilots in 30' ! he was open minded in very desperate situations of this little planet and europe. I respect him in my heart and i belive if all understand what he means, i am sure all will respect too.

[Voycey]

Fairh and reverance for a leader such as Ataturk should be admired rather than shunned - I like the fact that turkey has a founder -it gives focus and to have someone that children can look up to can never be a bad thing!

[mike]

agree with you ******* Ataturk is held in high esteem,he changed so much in turkey i think it is hard for anyone who is not turkish to fully understand why they still love this man nearly sixty years after he died ,i know how much my wife and family think of Ataturk and you have to say this british member of the european parliament must be an ignorant person to have commented on something he or she must know little about.