The ship meeting the waves

The phrase in the title appeared in the brochure prepared for the event organized by the TKP in Ankara on Sunday, February 1: "Like ships meeting the waves, the TKP IS CHALLENGING!"

We followed the event together with 12punto's esteemed writers and staff, Mustafa Büyüksipahi and Bahadır Selim Dilek. Bahadır Selim Dilek penned his views on the event in his February 3 article at 12punto with his usual elegant style.

The hall, which has a capacity of over 3,000 people, was so full and enthusiastic that it spilled over into the foyer area. It was evident that a great deal of effort and time had been spent on the event. The performances, the songs sung by the choir and the soloist, and the visuals prepared with the support of artificial intelligence were all in harmony and contained content that clearly conveyed the intended message.

The challenge mentioned in the event invitation was made with a magnificent display of strength.

Kemal Okuyan gave an extemporaneous speech that lasted about an hour. He shared the struggle the party has maintained from the period it took its current name to the present day in chronological order. His speech about the past 25 years also served as a summary of the AKP years.

He touched upon important issues such as upholding the 1923 Republic and its revolution, approaching the Kurdish issue based on citizenship and class rather than ethnic differences, and staying away from the lines of the CHP and DEM. He underscored the necessity of the unity of republicans, Kemalists, and socialists, and how important the masses he defined as "domestic fuel" are. He also very clearly explained his party's stance on the presidential election. It was highly significant that he specifically pointed out the person/profile they would not support if they did not field their own candidate.

Okuyan described the path to be followed for the struggle under current conditions and the importance of unity within ideological consistency.

The entire speech can be accessed via the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aqJXxZcObw

The words ship and wave are words that have meaning for me. The sea holds an important place in my life. Beyond my personal interest, the chosen words are extremely meaningful.

There are huge waves coming towards Turkey. Reactionism, hostility toward the republic, impoverishment, plunder, separatism, and moral decay...

When there are big waves at sea, you must not take the waves from the side; you must enter the wave head-on.

Similarly, in the situation Turkey is in, one must meet the waves by steering the ship into them and challenging them. One must fearlessly express and defend the truth and the ideal.

Contrary to those who say "we are all in the same boat," we are certainly not in the same boat as those who say this. There is no place on our ship for enemies of the republic, the corrupt, separatists, or those chasing personal gain.

The crew of our ship consists of enlightened, progressive, republican citizens. The Turkish Revolution of the 1920s and its leading cadres, primarily Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, were anti-imperialists. They were independence-minded. They were aware that there could be no nation or republic without secularism. If there had been no public ownership and planning, we would not have a republic today, even if it has been hollowed out.

More than 100 years have passed since the founding of our Republic. Today, all we have left are hollowed-out institutions and concepts. The way to go beyond regaining what we have lost and moving it further forward lies in unity, organization, and struggle.