Category: News

Greeks, Turks and Armenians

How do Greeks, Turks and Armenians feel about each other’s countries?

I feel sad. Deeply sad.

We could be a great! A united superpower, if we had stood together and haven’t killed each other in hundreds of thousands.

Yes Ottomans mistreated Armenians, mistreated Greeks but they certainly mistreated Turks too.

In the end it was Turkish Kemalists who pulled the rug under the Ottoman Sultanate, It was us who destroyed the caliphate. We finished the work which we all Greeks, Armenians and Turks started together in the first place. I am talking about the Young Turk movement.

Yes we forced the first constitution together. Here Turkish, Greek and Armenian leaders signing.

Our great endeavor was hijacked and sabotaged. Minorities sought their own independent small and weak countries. Organizations got corrupted, people sought personal glory. We were led to slaughter each other by the imperialistic powers.

Even after such brutality, all of us Greek, Armenian and Turk we still miss our collective songs, cuisine, our neighborhood. When outside in a mixed nationality Turks and Greeks always find each other. Its always the Greek guy who laughs when the other stare confused by the lame ass naughty joke the Turk makes.

Greeks were the great intellectuals and traders, Armenians were the great craftsman and artisans, Turks were the farmers, herders, great soldiers.

Divide and Conquer was at its best.

Today we would have none of the worries, State would be much more secular with strong and healthy non-Muslim population. We would have no conflict in the Mediterranean. Caucasian region would be secure. None of the tragedies would have happened.

Here is a song which the lyrics are adopted by Bülent Ecevit. Here the songs goes like

Sıla derdine düşünce anlarsın (When you get home sick you understand)
Yunanlıyla kardeş olduğunu (You are brothers with the Greek)
Bir rum şarkısı duyunca gör (When you hear a Greek song, You will see )
Gurbet elde İstanbul çocuğunu (A fellow child of Istanbul, alone in a foreign land)

Türkçenin ferah gönlünce küfretmişiz (We swore in open hearted Turkish)
Olmuşuz kanlı bıçaklı (We feuded)
Yine de bir sevgidir içimizde (But its love that is in our hearts)
Böyle barış günlerinde saklı (It surfaces in times of peace)

Bir soyun kanı olmasın varsın (Let a clan not be about blood)
Damarlarımızda akan kan (The blood that is running through our veins)
İçimizde şu deli rüzgâr (The crazy wind blows inside)
Bir havadan (İs of the same air)

Bu yağmurla cömert (Generous is the rain)
Bu güneşle sıcak (Warm is the sun)
Gönlümüzden bahar dolusu kopan (Our hearts full of springs)
İyilikler kucak kucak (Goodness is aplenty)

Bu sudan bu tattandır ikimizde de günah (From this water, from this taste is the sin for both of us)
Bütün içkiler gibi zararı kadar leziz (Tasty as sin, as all the harms of drinks)
Bir iklimin meyvasından sızdırılmış (Distilled from the same fruit of this climate),
Bir içkidir kötülüklerimiz (Our evils are one drinks)

Aramızda bir mavi büyü (A blue magic between us)
Bir sıcak deniz (A warm and gentle sea)
Kıyılarında birbirinden güzel (With coasts as beautiful as any)
İki milletiz (We are two peoples)

Bizimle dirilecek bir gün (One day together we will resurrect)
Ege’nin altın çağı (The golden age of the Aegean)
Yanıp yarının ateşinden (Tomorrow the new fire will burn)
Eskinin ocağı (The old oven)

Önce bir kahkaha çalınır kulağına (First you will hear a familiar laughter)
Sonra rum şiveli türkçeler (They you will hear Turkish in Greek accent)
O Boğaz’dan söz eder (He or She speaks about the Bosphorus)
Sen rakıyı hatırlarsın (And you remember the Rakı)

Yunanlıyla kardeş olduğunu (You remember you are Brothers with the Greek)
Sıla derdine düşünce anlarsın (When you get homesick)

December 23, 2022
Season’s greetings from ITU

Season’s greetings from Istanbul Technical University

Dear Colleagues,

As we are approaching a new year, we are in great excitement. I am proud to announce to you that 2023 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of Istanbul Technical University (ITU). To highlight this landmark year, we are organizing a series of events including conferences, seminars, concerts and sports activities, publishing books and documentaries. One of our main goals, in this respect, is to bring together our students, graduates, academics, employees, and stakeholders from all around the world to celebrate such a special milestone. I, therefore, warmly invite you to join our celebrations!

As it is well known, bees are the major pollinators of our ecosystem. As a university identifying itself with bees, we continue to pollinate science and technology with more than 250.000 graduates in every part of the world. We are working hard to embrace more and more students each year from diverse countries, making international collaborations with many universities, and striving for the best for the education of our students.

ITU is an institution that guides the engineering education of the future. As a strong partner of the European Engineering Learning Innovation and Science Alliance (EELISA), we are defining a common model of the European engineer for a bright and sustainable society. Connecting campuses from different European countries, EELISA also aims to bring the state-of-the-art research to our students. As a research-intensive university, we contribute to this goal with excellent pioneering research projects recently funded by the European Research Council (ERC). Our academics are shaping the future of engineering with these projects involving our graduate and undergraduate students.

I sincerely wish that the New Year brings health, success, and peace to all my dear colleagues, their families and countries. ITU is always open to new collaborations in order to transform our world into a more sustainable environment.

Prof. Dr. İsmail Koyuncu
Rector

December 23, 2022
F-16, F-22, F-35, and Eurofighter Typhoon?

What are the main differences between the F-16, F-22, F-35, and Eurofighter Typhoon?

F-16 : the lightest of the bunch. Single engine multi-role fighter in several generations of upgrades. Nearly 5,000 built. Single air intake underneath the fuselage and one vertical stabilizer along with the main wings and horizontal stabilizers. It probably has the smallest combat radius while having a maximum ordnance load of 17,000 lb. It’s likely the slowest of the 4 as well. Avionics vary by generation but some are getting very advanced upgrades for a light fighter design. A new one will cost you at least $30 million.

EF-2000 : Second smallest of the bunch and there have been over 500 built. Twin engine multi-role fighter with dual intakes under the fuselage and a delta wing configuration with forward canards and 1 vertical stabilizer. It can reach Mach 2 and supercruise. It is getting an AESA radar upgrade to keep its avionics up to par with others. It has some low-observable considerations in its design but is limited. Its combat radius is a little bit better than the F-16 depending on the ordnance load of which it can carry 19,800 lb total. A new one will cost you around $119 million.

F-35: 2nd largest of the group. Single engine multi-role fighter with air intakes on the sides with conventional wings, horizontal stabilizers and two angled vertical stabilizers. It uses extensive computer modeling for low RCS and also has the most recent RAM (but economic) technology so far. It has an extensive ECM suite, situational awareness system and AESA radar with extensive abilities. It can act as a “mini AWACS” and helps to manage and coordinate the battlefield. It carries a limited strike and air-to-air mix of ordinance internally (about 5,700 lb) and can also carry 15,000 lb of ordnance externally. Its combat radius depending on the variant is as good or better than the previous two with just internal fuel and although not a design requirement it can supercruise in sprints of up to 150 miles. A new A variant will cost you under $90 million, B (VTOL) variant around $115 million and the C (naval) variant around $107 million. There have been over 350 made with plans for close to 3,000 across several countries with the US ordering over 1,000.

F-22: the largest and most expensive of the group. A twin engine fighter with wings similar to the F-35’s, it is primarily an air dominance fighter with some secondary strike capabilities. It was was designed with an all-aspect attention to RCS reduction and is the hardest to spot on radar or IR of the bunch. It also is utilized as an intelligence platform analyzing and collecting/intercepting signals. Its AESA radar received an upgrade with the abilities of the newer F-35’s radar. This gave it the improved abilities with the ground strike function added as well as upgrades to include battlefield situational awareness management. Its ECM hardware allows it to recognize, triangulate and guide air-to-air missiles without ever turning on its radar. It was the first to achieve supercruise and flies over mach 2. It can do sprints of at least 100 miles in supercruise. It’s intercept range varies on the use of supercruise but can be the furthest of all the jets on internal fuel. It can carry a full air-to-air load of 8 missiles internally or carry 20,000 lb of external ordnance. A new one would have cost about $150 million but the US won’t sell them to anyone. Only 180+ were made and there are no plans for more.

December 15, 2022
TURKEY REALLY SHOCKED ME

Joe tells about his shocking journey to Turkey

Turkey is often misrepresented in western media and I want to share with you my experience of how this country really shocked me and changed how I travel and see the whole world.

HELLO THERE:
I’m Joe, relatively new to YouTube but really excited to be a part of this community. I live small and sustainably in my home on wheels (a lovely van called Freyja) and from time to time out of my backpack (I have not named the backpack yet). On this channel, I bring you along on my travel journeys off the beaten track where I try to show you the beauty of untouched nature and wander into places where most tourists don’t dare to go.

December 15, 2022
We invite you to be PEACEFUL, not HATEFUL

We condemn the Producers of the movie Smyrna and their supporters and organizations

“War is murder unless unless it is based on legitimate grounds.”
M. Kemal Ataturk

There is a part of the sentence that describes the movie SMYRNA, which will be in theaters nationwide in the UK on December 4th, and in the US on December 8th, for one day only. That part of the sentence reads: “moving drama about an elderly Greek American woman whose family diary recounts the Turkish occupation of the cosmopolitan city of Smyrna in 1922; where Greeks, Turks, Jews, Armenians, and Levantines once lived together harmoniously.”
That should actually read like this: “ “moving drama about an elderly Turkish woman whose family diary recounts the 1919 invasion of the cosmopolitan city of Smyrna by the Greek Army, who committed atrocities against the civilian Turkish population in the villages and towns, where Greeks, Turks, Jews, Armenians, and Levantines once lived together harmoniously.”

The advertisement for the film is historically incorrect, describing a “historic film about the Turkish occupation in 1922”… “The historical events and facts” clearly show that the occupying side was the Greeks, not the Turks. The Ottoman Empire was occupied and partitioned by the Allied Forces following its defeat in World War I….IZMIR (Smryna), which has been under Turkish rule beginning in 1081, and part of the Ottoman Empire since 1426, was invaded by the Greek Forces on May 15, 1919. The idea to occupy İzmir came from then British Prime Minister of the time, Lloyd George, with the suggestion of Greek Prime Minister Elefterios Venizelos; after The Ottoman Empire, suffering defeat, signed the Mudros Armistice Agreement at the end of World War I.
Article 7 of the Mudros Armistice Agreement specified that the allied forces had a right to occupy any strategic location in the event of a threat to the security of the allies. Using Article 7 as an excuse, Great Britain, France and USA came to an agreement and decided for the occupation of Izmir by Greece, on behalf of the Allied Powers; even though they did not have the right to do so! There was no event that would endanger the security of the Allied Forces in İzmir… Despite this, the occupation of Izmir by the Greek Army happened on May 15, 1919; violence and massacres took place with the cooperation of local Greeks, in and around Izmir. The Armistice of Mudros was abolished with the signing of Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923; following the Turkish victory in the War of Independence. Even though the Greek occupiers tried to conceal massacres on local Muslim populations; testimonials of British, American, Swedish and Canadian officials in the British archive documents clearly reveal the facts. And there are books written about the historical facts by unbiased Greek historians.

But the most powerful confirmation of these facts came from a very unexpected source; the person who came up with the suggestion to invade Izmir; The Greek Prime Minister Elefterios Venizelos himself! In 1928, Venizelos changed his attitude and made attempts to start a friendship with Turkey and the founder of the newly established Turkish Republic, Atatürk. As a matter of fact, he nominated his old enemy Atatürk for the Nobel Peace Prize on 12 January 1934. And, In 1981, the centennial of Atatürk’s birth, the memory of Atatürk was honored by the United Nations and UNESCO by declaring it that year “The Atatürk Year” in the World. These two extraordinary facts are clearly enough to show the worldwide acceptance of the great Turkish military leader and peace-loving statesman Atatürk, and the injustice and oppression that was once committed against the Turks. His old enemy, Venizelos, admitted Greece’s past mistakes against the Turks; The United Nations, on the other hand, told the world that there is no other peace-loving leader like Atatürk. He is the only person worthy of such recognition by UNESCO

How could this be possible if he was the commander of a cruel and murderous army as described in the movie SMYRNA?

Although the Greek and Turkish peoples went to war due to political problems and went through very difficult times, their common cultural and artistic values have brought them closer together over the centuries. We, as the followers of the legendary world leader Ataturk around the world; with the awareness of the enlightenment that Atatürk brought to the Turkish people and the philosophy of peace he wished for all humanity; and with respect for Venizelos’ great step for friendship, condemn the producers of the film Smyrna and everyone and every organization who supports such productions by distorting historical facts for the sake of their political ambitions. We invite you to be PEACEFUL, not HATEFUL.
Atatürk World Platform-AWP

December 15, 2022
Stray animals of Turkey
Today Istanbul holds an unusually large population of stray cats. They are often well taken care of by the city’s population. How old is this tradition, is it due to Turkish or Islamic culture, or does it date back to Roman times?

Today Istanbul holds a usually high population of stray cats, and are often well taken care of by the cities population. How old is this tradition, is it due to Turkish or Islamic culture, or does it date back to Roman times?

Is looking after stray animals due to Turkish or Islamic culture, or does it date back to Roman times?

It is easy to check. There are a couple of countries who claim heritage of Turkish, Islamic or Roman culture. For example, how good the countries such as Italy, France, Germany or England who were heirs of Roman Empire, take care of stray cats? Or how good the countries such as Morocco or Iran which are prominently Muslim Majority countries treat the animals? Do they differ from other Turkic states such as Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan in regards of animal rights?

A quick research on internet tells it was not a Roman tradition. You may check following articles.
- Ritualistic Cat Torture Was Once a Form of Town Fun
- 1677: Londoners burn live cats in wicker pope – Past Peculiar
- The Golden Bough/The Fire-Festivals of Europe
But we have some well-documented information about animals of Turkish History. For example, there was an occupation in Ottoman for the people who fed stray animals which called “mancaci”. Manca means cat & dog food.

Mancaci would feed the stray animals with the donation money of animal-lovers.

Not just cats or dogs were fed, but wild animals such as wolves. In winter months, necessary meat had been left for them, so they would not attack people or wouldn’t come to settlements.

Not to forget feeding birds

Of course only feeding them is not enough. They also needed some institutions. A cat hospital in Uskudar, Istanbul, a bird hospital in Dolmabahce, Istanbul. And another one in Bursa, solely for the storks (Gurabahane-i Laklakan) since 16th century.

Animal-loving also shows itself in architecture as bird-palaces since 15th century.

They were even included in pious foundations and wills. For example Bayezid Foundation had spared annually 30 gold for feeding birds among other things. It was/is also common to put water cups for birds in graveyards.

The first official regulation in the world regarding animal rights?; The Imperial Degree of Ottoman Sultan Murat III, dated 19th March, 1587 stated that “It was forbidden to overload animals such as horse or mule more than their capacity. And necessary care should be given about feeding and caring animals. And those who do not comply with the provisions would be punished.”

Deserved a retirement: The Cattle, which pulling cannons during wars, were retiring with a salary, when they got old. Retired animals were living in a farm which specifically established for them since 1654.

Animal holiday: An imperial degree dated 2nd October 1856, reminded people that it was forbidden by law, on fridays, to use horses to carry goods as well as ride them. Fridays were holidays for the horses since they were working remaining six days of the week.

Asking permission to kill ants: It is well known story that Suleiman the Magnificent asked his Sheikh al-Islam, whether it was ok to kill ants, which searing fruit trees in palace gardens. (The answer was: No, it was not ok!)

Many foreign traveller such as German Hans Dernschwam (1542), French Jean Thevenot (1656), Lamartine, Guer and British Ambassador Paul Ricout mentions about animal hospitals and pious foundations for animals which they had witnessed in Istanbul.

In the 17th century, the traveller Jean du Mont wrote that “For Turks, it is a crime to kill animals such as cats, dogs or horses which were not fed for their meats.

Also Busbecq (1554) writes in his travelogue about a Venetian merchant who was taken to court by Turkish people because he had nailed a bird to his door while it was alive.

Dogs came to Istanbul with Turks and they were always part of street life. However not all stories are pleasant. In 1910, a French Company which used dogs for the perfume and chemical industry applied Coup D’etat Government (Comittee of Union & Progress) of Ottoman in order to buy these dogs. They signed a deal. However, when news heard there was an uproar. Using dogs in experiment was unthinkable for most Turks, that’s why they protested.

Yet, coup government did not care. When stray dogs had been gathered on a ship, animal lovers raided the ship and saved the dogs. However, poor creatures been forcefully re-gathered. And this time there were guards who were ensuring their captivity. Then, it was decided that dogs could wait in a deserted island instead of a ship.

While 80.000 dogs were staying in a deserted island, French company declared that they backed off from the deal. All dogs died from hunger and thirst.

Official name of the island was/is “sharp” (sivri). However from then on people started to call that island as “scapegrace” (hayırsız ada). People also believed that, the earthquake of 1912 and many other following misfortunes befell on them due to this unheard cruelty towards these voiceless, innocent creatures.

This heartbreaking and disgraceful event still vividly remembered by people.
December 13, 2022