The young and dynamic prime minister of England has a son, Euan, who has just turned 16.  Recently, Euan passed out in a public square in London after getting drunk and was taken to the police station where he concealed his true identity. This event drew a lot of attention in many countries as well as in Turkey. The most interesting aspect of the incident is that when Tony Blair and his wife went to the police station to testify, they quietly listened to the harsh warning the police officer gave to their son and went home. Another point that is special is that Tony Blair did not cover up the event. The British press’ comment on the incidence is as follows: “This will not reduce Blair’s popularity on the contrary, will increase it; this event shows that the prime minister is one of the common people and is treated equally under the law.

Are there this kind of occurrences in Turkey? Yes there are...
The president stopped his car at the red light like an ordinary citizen.
Erdal Inonu waited on the line for a city bus and gave his seat to an older person.
Ecevit has been very sensitive about using his official car, and so on.

But there is an incident, a behavior that you don’t know and you may not believe it when you read it. Because of an end-to-end pileup on the Bosphorus Bridge drivers are taken to the police station.  Testimonies, police reports, paper work...The whole procedure goes on until midnight. The officer asks the occupation of the last person to be questioned, the answers is very interesting: “I am a member of the Grand National Assembly.”  The officer was left open-mouthed; he was pretty surprised.  This is not a dream and it happened here, within our borders. The above mentioned person is currently at the National Assembly, he is the consultant to the Assembly chairperson, Yildirim Akbulut. And even though he lives in Istanbul, he does not demand anything from the state including his roundtrip air fare.

Man is choosy in every situation.  Even enslaved, he uses his right to choose.  Certain things other than birth and death give man the right to resist.  But there are individuals who avoid practicing these rights.  Their virtue is hidden in their hearts.  What is being told here is the way of those who haven’t settled in the world in worldly conditions.  These types choose not to exist instead of existing.  They live simply and die that way too.

Humankind needs people like them, what do you think?  These individuals have life styles that are beyond their high positions.  Do you see that they are exemplary models of hope  for the rich as well as the poor?
I wrote this to bring a fresh breath to the vicious cycle we are in and to mention those who leave their marks as they go.
I wanted you to know.

İstanbul - 13.7.2000
http://afyuksel.com