Have you ever grown a tree?

They were walking in the garden of the Çankaya Mansion.

With them was the landscaper, Mevlit Baysal. A very old and wide tree blocked the path they were walking on.

One side of the tree extended toward a steep ridge, and the other toward a pool. He leaned against the part on the pool side and crossed to the other side.

Of course, this person was Atatürk.

At that moment, Mevlit Baysal immediately jumped in:

-“If you command it, we will cut down the tree immediately, Pasha,” he said. Atatürk looked at his face for a moment and then gave this answer;

-“My friend, have you ever grown a tree like this in your life that you would cut it down?”

***

He was in Ankara.

He called the agricultural engineer Tahsin Coşkan to his side. He took him to a swampy piece of land.

- "I want to build a forest farm here, with all expenses coming out of my own pocket," he said.

The engineer replied;

-"Pasha, this land will consume your money; nothing will grow here," to which Atatürk said;--------“Tahsin, examine it with the authorities and bring me an official report about this place.”

Tahsin Coşkan left. But he was insistent. He went, examined it for days with the authorities, and when he finally brought a report signed by the officials stating "Nothing will grow here," Atatürk, who had already started the work and made significant progress, gave him this answer;

“This is the land of the motherland; it cannot be left to its fate.”

***

It was the summer months of 1930.

Atatürk came to his farm in Yalova. The farms were organic production centers he had built to serve as an example to the villagers. He encountered a gardener trying to cut the branches of the great plane tree right next to the mansion.

- “What are you doing?” he asked immediately;

-“We are cutting the branches that are affecting the mansion, Pasha. The tree's branches are pressing against the roof and wall of the building,”

Upon receiving this answer, Atatürk saw that this would not do. And he immediately issued his instruction;

- “The branches will not be cut; the mansion will be moved!”

***

Today, the country is burning, forests are burning, trees are burning.

There are no planes to put them out.

That is insistently not being purchased.

However, the fake world leader can buy himself 7 private jets.

He even goes to Friday prayers by helicopter.

Does he care that trees are burning, forests are burning, the country is burning?

Of course not.

But shouldn't one ask;

Have you ever grown a tree?