Yesterday marked 2,560 years since Confucius was born.
If Confucius, who has guided humanity for centuries through his teachings and philosophy, were alive today and living in Cyprus, what might he say about what is happening?
Are you curious?
Read on!
Christofias’s Will!
In his speech at the 64th United Nations General Assembly, Greek Cypriot Leader Dimitris Christofias raises concepts beyond those previously agreed. He conveys them to those at the General Assembly in these words: “We aim to re-establish the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, make it a common homeland for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, and transform the unitary state into a federal state consisting of two autonomous regions.”
Contrary to Christofias’s words, before beginning negotiations, the leaders adopted the understanding of “a federal solution based on a bicommunal, bizonal structure and political equality.” Turkish leader Talat raised this point in these words: “The federal solution will have two constituent states of equal status: the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot constituent states. This is the framework both sides have agreed on.”
Having listened to both sides, the wise man Confucius summons Christofias and reminds him of these historic words: “Will is such a valuable quality that even if an army is left without a commander, a person cannot be left without will. A person of will is consistent in their actions.”
Governance
Confucius goes to the front of Parliament because of the strikes and protests in the country. The Prime Minister welcomes him, and at a joint press conference he says: “The secret to being a good administrator is to avoid four mistakes and put five good principles into practice. The four mistakes are: punishing without giving advice (cruelty); judging success without teaching (rudeness); being lax in administration while setting limits (ill intent); and being stingy when distributing employee benefits (acting like a bureaucrat). The five good principles are: being generous without being wasteful; working without resentment; being ambitious without greed; being at ease without arrogance; and being respected without being intimidating.”
Achievements
After attending the Government’s press conference titled “100% achievements in 100 days,” Confucius hears the information presented and then says: “A superior person acts before speaking, and then speaks according to their actions.”
Confucius responds with a smile to the questions, “What did you mean, Mr. Confucius?” He says this and leaves the room: “Silence is a faithful friend that never gives a person away.”
I will be carrying out my military service for the next month, so I will continue when I return to my writing.
As a final word, I would like to quote Confucius once again.
“The well isn’t deep; the rope is short!” says Confucius. May you never lose hope…
Be mindful of your surroundings, keep them clean, and please be respectful in traffic! 95 percent believe the Greek Cypriot arguments---5.11.2009 Stop lamenting that we have failed to tell the world about what is happening in Cyprus!
We have failed to explain the historical course of the Cyprus problem and its current state to anyone but ourselves…
We haven’t explained it!
Did we not think it necessary?
Then why do we complain, saying, “Nobody understands us” and “The world believes the Greek Cypriot arguments that distort history”?
Why am I saying this?
Let me explain…
To carry out my military service, I spent 21 days with a full five thousand D.A.H.T.ER٭ from every corner of the world at the 58th Infantry Private Training Regiment in Burdur.
The five thousand people I am referring to do not live in Turkey!
Among them are people with careers, such as businesspeople, professors, politicians, and media professionals.
And, sadly, 95 percent of the five thousand people I am referring to believe the Greek Cypriot arguments.
That is because, in the countries where they live, publications serving the Greek Cypriot arguments are produced under the influence of the Greek Cypriot lobby. Since we have ignored them and failed to inform them, the views they have formed on this issue are shaped by those publications!
However, based on my experiences in Burdur, I can say that they have feelings about this issue that trouble them, a sense that something is wrong. That unease awakens when you try to give them information about the issue, and they immediately listen closely. They know that what they are told in the countries where they live is wrong...
But they are looking for the truth…
If we take into account the four call-up periods in Burdur, between 18,000 and 20,000 Turks from all over the world go there each year to carry out their military service.
Yet for years, we have made no effort whatsoever to inform our fellow Turks who work all over the world, have successful careers, and are right on our doorstep…
What a shame…
It is a shame because, if we had provided this information up to now, our fellow Turks would know that the publications produced under pressure from the Greek Cypriot lobby are not true, and they could also pass this information on to those around them.
Today, I experienced something that overshadowed everything I have described above.
The questions I asked a university student I gave a ride to in my car, and the answers I received, left me completely hopeless.
I cannot say that this student, who is in the final year of law school, knows much about the Cyprus problem. Imagine: this student has lived for four years in a country where the world’s most prominent problem is unfolding, yet has no understanding of the Cyprus problem…
We have not even been able to explain this issue to young people who come to our country to study…
We haven’t explained it…
“They” have not been curious, learned, or researched!
How we got to this point is not important!
Frankly, researching the reasons would only add to the time already lost.
From this point on, in light of these facts, we need to take action to eliminate this ignorance. The way to do so is clear: launch an intensive information campaign!
Not knowing what to do about this in the age of communication must be synonymous with incompetence…
Hope to see you on Tuesday…
Be mindful of your surroundings, keep them clean, and please be respectful in traffic!
٭ D.A.H.T.ER means “Private Subject to Foreign-Currency Military Service.” Under the laws of the Republic of Turkey, any male Turkish citizen with a work permit abroad for three years (1,095 days) can fulfill the military service he is required to perform as a D.A.H.T.ER for 21 days in exchange for a specified fee.