What does 'not mixing politics' mean?

Since learning about the fire that occurred at the hotel named Grand Kartal in Bolu, we have been on a search for someone to blame. Depending on our voting preferences, we chose between the municipality or the ministry. In all such events, for half of society, the government is to blame and responsible, while for the other half, it is the opposition.

As far as I could follow, there was no collective reaction, except for a few demonstrations where a small number of people gathered and protested the government.

In contrast, following the accident at the train station in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia, in November 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people, demonstrations involving tens of thousands of people continued for days across the country, and officials were called to resign. At 11:52, the time the accident occurred, people stopped walking and driving their vehicles, holding regular daily protests. Similarly, it is well known how widespread and harsh the culture of criticism and protest is in society in Greece.

It is difficult to say that we have managed to be partners in joy and sorrow, which is one of the prerequisites of being a nation. Furthermore, we are unfortunately behind the societies I have given as examples when it comes to sharing in pain and demanding accountability.

Why do we frequently experience disasters whose causes are negligence, carelessness, and potential intent, and why can we not properly hold those responsible accountable?

There is a tacit agreement between parties and voters. We choose candidates who will "take care of our business." There is a transaction. I will vote for you, you fulfill my requests that are against the law, and I will give you my vote—that is, authority—so that you can have the lion's share of the pie. The licensing authority held by local governments is the best example of this.

The number of unionized workers in Turkey before 1980 is higher than the total number of unionized workers in 2024. If our current unions were truly strong, wouldn't they go on strike at a hotel where the lives of employees are put in danger right before our eyes, and wouldn't they make life miserable for the employer? I wonder how many of the employees at the hotel that burned down in Bolu were unionized, or if there were any at all?

Besides the union organization of employees, can we say that today's non-governmental organizations, bar associations, professional chambers, and unfortunately universities are a tool of pressure on the government?

How many of us can say with peace of mind that judicial bodies can conduct serious investigations and trials regarding ministries, municipalities managed by the ruling party, and state institutions that act in a way like a party organ?

We have public administrators who say they intervened in events like earthquakes or fires with the approval of so-and-so.

When you move away from secularism and science-dominated thought, all that remains is fatalism and resignation. The reason you die in a mine is not a lack of occupational safety, but a metaphysical concept called 'fıtrat' (divine destiny).

"Such events are above politics, do not mix politics into this" is, in my opinion, the greatest of crimes. From birth to death, throughout our lives—including education, work, and social life—everything is political. The major accidents we experience, which are murders if you ask me, are actually political. We are living the consequences of political choices.

The goal of those who utter this sentence is to keep the real problem out of sight. This discourse exists to ensure that there are people who, while I do not doubt they are sincerely saddened by those who died 300 meters underground, see themselves as belonging to a different class than that miner simply because they work at a desk and earn a relatively higher wage.

The moment I hear the phrase "do not mix politics," my mind translates the sentence as "do not disrupt our order."

Note: After this article was written, Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation from his post.