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LETTERS | FEBRUARY 9, 1998 VOL. 151 NO. 6 |
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Letters TURKEY TODAY
I read with interest your cover story "Turkey on the Brink"
[Jan. 12]. Turkey's problems affect its relationship with both
NATO and the European Union. The difficulties, however, are
self-inflicted, their main cause being the use of the military
as guardian of democracy. The Turkish state, as it now stands,
is neither democratic nor secular. The recent efforts to keep
Refah, the main Islamic political party, from gaining power will
make the Turkish military responsible for the tensions that are
sure to follow. The political influence of Islamic parties
should not frighten Western policymakers. Islam has high ethical
and moral standards of business conduct. The Turkish military,
on the other hand, is viewed with suspicion. An Islamic party in
power in Turkey will not necessarily make the country less
democratic or an uncertain ally for the West.
The exclusion of Turkey from membership in the European Union
could turn out to be the fatal political decision of the decade.
Integrating the border state into Europe would offer a unique
chance to weaken the Islamic strongholds in Turkey. However, the
E.U.'s uncompromising stance may strengthen the voices in Turkey
that picture the E.U. as a "Club of Christians" plotting an
onslaught against Islam. In a Turkish theocracy, the situation
for dissidents and ethnic minorities will not improve. However,
as a fully integrated member of the E.U., Turkey would have no
choice but to dedicate itself to upholding "civilized" European
habits.
Your article underestimated the role of civilians and civil
groups in protecting and sustaining the democratic and secular
principles of this country.
Turkey does not need to be Germany's rival. However, it is the
target of German ambitions because its strategic location
provides access to energy sources, especially in the newly
developed Caucasus region. The deliberate rejection of Turkey by
the E.U. puts the Turkish reins in German hands.
Islamic fundamentalism is not a way of life demanded by the
Turkish people and forbidden by the military. The Islamic Refah
party, which won only 21% of the votes in the last general
election, represents a minority in Turkey. Refah's success in
that election was a reaction to economic difficulties during the
past decade that were believed to have been caused by liberal
parties.
Since 1928, the Turkish Republic has opted for secularism, which
is enshrined in its constitution. Political Islam is a threat,
as the dividing line between "moderate" and "radical" is
unclear, especially when it comes to human rights, particularly
the rights of women. If a "stable, secular, democratic" Turkey
is "vital to Western interests," then the West should stop
supporting religious mobilization, and support secular efforts
at modernization and development.
The great majority of Turks cherish Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's
secular institutions and yet are still devoutly Muslim. The two
things are not contradictory, hence no conflict looms on the
horizon. One wonders why such a militaristic image was portrayed
for a country ruled by democratically elected civilians. FINDING ASIAN SOLUTIONS
How sincere can Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin be about the
U.S.'s taking a more active role in aiding hard-pressed Asian
nations [Jan. 12]? Isn't this the guy whose links to an
investment bank that underwrote Mexican bonds came under
scrutiny after he mobilized the financial rescue of Mexico that
included $20 billion from the U.S.? By destabilizing foreign
currencies, Rubin and his ilk have done more to propagate human
misery than the worst despots. They charge high interest rates
to foreign countries, knowing that the U.S. taxpayer will aid
those nations and, failing that, the International Monetary Fund
will impose austerity measures that ensure more poverty.
It could be argued that China has an interest in destabilizing
Southeast Asian financial markets. The Chinese government
planned for years how to successfully neutralize the Trojan
horse of Hong Kong. Like perestroika, the accession of Hong Kong
threatened to influence the stability of the Chinese communist
regime. Even if it amounts to billions of dollars, the price the
Chinese will pay for destabilizing the financial markets in Asia
will, in their view, pale in comparison with the strengthening
of the political stability of the Chinese regime. The master
plan and its effects on the region could very well be the plot
for John le Carres next book.
A letter from a reader complained that IMF loans would cost the
U.S. billions of dollars [Jan. 12]. It's worth pointing out that
the European contribution is nearly equal to that of the U.S.
Moreover, applying import duties on goods from the "spendthrift"
countries, as the reader suggests, is not the best way to solve
U.S. balance-of-trade problems. And we should not tamper with
the IMF's aim of creating "favorable investment conditions for
financial institutions." The IMF economists are sent to help the
countries in difficulty, to assist them in finding their place
in an expanding global economy. I'm not naive enough to believe
that all the IMF moves are unselfish, but experience has proved
there is no single perfect solution. GIVE SMOKERS A BREAK?
For California to outlaw smoking in bars is ludicrous [Jan. 12].
It is one thing to ban smoking in restaurants, public buildings,
malls, stadiums, hospitals, but in bars? Cigarettes and alcohol
go hand in hand. The tavern, pub and bar have been smoke-filled
environments for centuries. C'mon. Give us smokers a break! I
bet the next thing we'll hear is that people who go outside to
puff a cigarette are polluting California's air. I'm sure glad I
don't live there.
The land of the free is spooked about smoking. Europe gladly
offers U.S. smokers a safe haven for their sweet vice. After
World War II, the Brits and Americans not only introduced us to
the delicious taste of Virginia tobacco but also educated us in
freedom, tolerance and open-mindedness. Maybe our former
teachers need some re-education. ANOTHER KENNEDY DEATH
Michael Kennedy was an expert skier, and his death was not the
result of reckless behavior [Jan. 12]. I was one of several
fathers participating in the ski-football game the day of the
accident. I would certainly not have played with my 11-year-old
son if there had been any evident danger. None of us were told
not to play by any official of the Aspen Skiing Co. Ski-patrol
members invariably skied behind us to complete their afternoon
sweep, and ski-lift personnel routinely ferried our ski poles to
the bottom of the mountain. Michael was the best all-terrain
skier I have ever seen. He was skiing at a moderate speed on a
well-lit and well-groomed intermediate slope, playing a game
with his children, something many of us have done without
incident for nearly 20 years. Like all sports, including ski
racing and ski jumping, ski football has an inherent risk, but
Michael's death was far from reckless; it was a tragic accident.
Skiing is a hazardous sport, and the last hour before the lifts
shut down is the most dangerous. Legs are tired, vision is
impaired and judgment can be poor. The expert skier knows this.
The Kennedys should never have been allowed to play their game.
This death was not just another Kennedy tragedy; it was an act
of sheer stupidity.
Four pages about the death of Michael Kennedy is far too much.
Although this person had done good deeds, that doesn't make him
special enough to get this type of coverage. I know the Kennedy
clan is the closest the U.S. has to a royal family, but the rest
of the world could hardly care less. WOODY ALLEN TIES THE KNOT
Your short piece on the marriage of Woody Allen and Soon-Yi
Previn [Jan. 12] said Mr. Allen is writing an off-Broadway show
for Ms. Previn. This so-called news, based on nothing more than
an item published in a New York City newspaper, is totally
erroneous.
And so now Mia Farrow is Woody's mother-in-law?
COVERS ON ATATURK
With reference to the article about your poll to elect the most
influential people of the 20th century [Jan. 12], which involved
astonishing support for Ataturk, I would like to correct a
mistake. The first time Ataturk's image graced your cover was
not Feb. 21 1927 but March 24 1923.
RAGE ON THE ROAD In response to our story about aggressive drivers [Jan. 12], Edward C. McDonagh of Amherst, Mass., recalled a letter he wrote to us almost 35 years ago in which he said, "The car has become a secular sanctuary for the individual, his shrine to the self, his mobile Walden Pond." As McDonagh is the first to admit, it's a different world today. "The car and its drivers have become mobile anarchists," he ruefully mused. "The Sunday drive, taken solely for pleasure, is just a dim memory." Maintaining a belligerent approach was Miami's Roberto Botero, who confessed, "Yes, I am one of those monsters hurtling down the fast lane at 115 km/h, swerving to miss the 'jerk' cruising along at 95 km/h, after having signaled him for a quarter of a mile to move over. We don't need to bond with our fellow drivers; we need for them to know the rules of the road." Blaming highway angst on the inefficiency of our transportation infrastructure, Drew Poulos of Scottsdale, Ariz., asked, "Where is Star Trek technology when we need it? As long as we continue to convey ourselves with antiquated bits of metal on asphalt, road rage will continue. Until we change, get out of my way!"
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