A World Brand: Turkish Schools

Last Updated on Thursday, 22 June 2006 17:33 by Ekrem Dumanli Tuesday, 22 November 2005 05:00

A few days ago I found a book left on my desk. A kind note from Eser Karakas was attached to it. The title of the book read, "Baris Köprüleri" (Bridges for Peace).

The subtitle was, "Dunyaya Acilan Turk Okullari" (Turkish Schools: Windows Opening to the World). Three important names figured on the cover: Toktamis Ates, Eser Karakas and Ilber Ortayli.

While talking about Turkish Schools, adding further definitions or descriptions are no longer necessary. Just the name suffices: Turkish Schools. All over the world, schools merging the love of Turkey with love for humans and uniting Turkish language with world literature are everywhere -- and they are called Turkish Schools. In fact each one of them has its own appellation. Each has its own executive board. Each is subject to the statute of the country it serves. Yet they all share a common name: Turkish Schools! We have before us a global brand of Turkey in education.

Think about it, how many establishments does Turkey have which can regarded as global brands? How many world brands do we have in business, arts or sports, in the shade where we can take shelter at some corner of the world, and which can assuage our longing for home even in the remotest countries on earth? I wish there had been many! I wish we had such brands so we could joyfully say, "This is the work, effort and success of our people," as the dozens of firms which give pride to the Americans, make the Italians happy and cheer the French.

Turkish Schools are Turkey's schools, however, they have for long gone beyond Turkey's horizons. These schools have never been racist; they propagate Turkish cultural amenity through love for humans. They transform inter-cultural dialogue from a literary game into a living reality. Today in Central Asia, Balkans, Africa, Europe and America there is an outspoken social reality: Turkish Schools. Considering their bright pupils, altruist professors and generous donors, we discern their worth better with each passing day. Turkish Schools are a brand which grows every day with their supporters and the prayers that open their hearts for the cause of peace in the world, and which harvest the flowers of love as they grow.

The Turkish nation knows the great hope Turkish Schools represent. For this reason they do not spare their support for these schools. They certainly resent the assumed enmity by some against these schools, but they put up with it. For they know that these schools are a boon not just for their nation but for the whole of humanity, an invaluable one to boot. The public closely knows Fethullah Gulen, who from the very beginning encouraged the opening of these schools. During the long years of preaching, sermons, conferences and conversations Gulen has always focused on the love for humans and love of country. He never had expectations concerning himself, nor could he. These schools cannot bring prestige to any particular person anyway. Gulen had one concern and one cause: For this chaste nation to play a constructive and peaceful role in the world power balance.

It's good that he thought this way! While those who get their strengths from strifes are hovering in the deepest valleys of identity crisis, Fethullah Gulen is remembered through the efforts he encouraged, and now receives praises from the unprejudiced.

Ufuk Publishing should be wholeheartedly congratulated for preparing the book entitled, "Barıs Kopruleri." It thought very well in collecting in one book the interviews and the articles of many valuable figures on Turkish Schools. Such illustrious people spoke or wrote about them: Bulent Ecevit, Mehmet Saglam, Gunduz Aktan, Ilber Ortaylı, Kemal Karpat, M. Ali Kılıçbay, Eser Karakas, Halit Refik, Ali Yasar Sarıbay, Mehmet Altan, Yılmaz Oztuna, Suleyman Seyfi Ogun, Gulay Gokturk, Cengiz Aymatov, Niyazi Oktem, Mumtaz'er Turkone, Unit Meric, Naci Bostanci, Ali Bulac, Nevzat Kosaoglu, M. Niyazi Ozdemir, Busra Ersanli, Serif Ali Tekalan, Faruk Tuncer, Ali Fuat Bilkan, Yasin Aktay and Sahin Alpay.

Ufuk Publishing has put the numeral "1" on the cover. I immediately say, it should publish a second volume as well, so that how these schools bring happiness to every social circle is grasped and everybody can say, "This is Turkey's world brand, we should build more brands."

ZAMAN