Fruits of Dialogue

Last Updated on Friday, 23 June 2006 13:44 by Hüseyin Gülerce Friday, 06 May 2005 05:00

The previous evening, there was a program that was watched with tears on Samanyolu Television: Fruits of Dialogue A group of people from various regions in the United States of America was invited to Turkey, to have an idea about our country. They expressed their impressions, opinions, determinations and feelings after the 10-day trip from Sanliurfa to Konya, Istanbul to İzmir. They had such sincere, clean, good moods and styles that it was impossible not to be influenced by.them. These were the fruits of dialogue and tolerance. It is necessary to congratulate the administrators at Samanyolu Television for the program which hit the slanderers, who claimed that being together with Christians and Jews was harmful and dangerous in their faces, and more importantly, explaining how significant dialogue and tolerance were, in spite of everything.

However, those who really should be congratulated, are the nameless heroes of the voluntary movement and the esteemed Fethullah Gulen, who precipitated the resurrection soul in these heroes with love.

Now, of course, I certainly can guess how millions, within this volunteer service, called the "Gulen Movement," see that this movement is being deeply understood by others outside and its humane essence is being grasped as a source of hope and excitement. Seeing that no steps taken so far have failed, the interest shown, meetings, visits and efforts that may seem small have a "butterfly effect," this without any doubt, is a value in the name of the continuity of the metaphysical tension.

(The "butterfly effect" is the phenomenon whereby a small change at one place in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere, e.g., the effect of butterflies flapping their wings in the Amazon might turn into storms in the oceans).

What had influenced a few American intellectuals? Which attributions of the lovable bouncers captivated them in the US, hosted them in Turkey and those of the teachers and students they talked to in the schools of love influenced and fascinated them? They answer with the help of seven words: Love, sincerity, humility, politeness, generosity, altruism and humanitarianism. In other words, it is the language of the moods

It means that there won't be any heart, whose throne we will not be able to sit upon, as long as we have the ability to represent our beliefs and main values.

I personally determined these views while watching "Fruits of Dialogue": Turkey is wrongly portrayed abroad. The movement of volunteers has formed a real Turkish lobby in the entire world. The negative image of Muslims, especcially in the United States and Europe, will be erased through dialogue.

Inviting those abroad, who are interested and providing them the opportunity to visit Turkey after a while, is very very difficult. The most influential thing for these people is our beauty that we in deed are not very aware of. You may look at the expressions related to the Azan (Muslims' call to prayer):

"I remember the moment when I first heard that sensitive call. We were in Istanbul. We were just under a minaret. It was like the Azan had penetrated everything. It was coming from very deep. It also influenced me very deeply. It was clear that it had a mystical part. I was left dumbstruck. It was shocking These noises were not like the ones that you can hear in the streets."

Students and teachers at schools they visit influence them as well:

"The children are happy, friendly and kind; they are willing to talk. The tenacity, happiness and joy of a child is united with education, and it is an ideal match There is something in these children already. It is obvious that they epitomize a variety of values. There is morality in their actions and they are full of life. They are active as well as good-mannered, thoughtful, generous and joke loving. We realized that their teachers have set an example for them on how to behave. I believe that these students with their values will change the world. Gulen's schools may change the world. I wish we could build a few more of these schools in the United States "

ZAMAN