Treason and decay

The most important virtue of Turkish society is its characteristic trait of living with honor, dignity, and head held high in every aspect of life.

If a life was taken, a heart was broken, or an injustice was committed against one of our citizens, the people would put everything on the line; they would consider every injustice and oppression as if it were done to them personally and would demand accountability. Taking pride, working hard, standing by the oppressed, and rebelling against every injustice were the values that made us who we are.

If someone committed theft or resorted to corruption, even if it were their own child, they would say it was 'worthy of death.' If they even coveted a single penny of the state, they would disown them, and they would be ostracized by society. But what about now?

What has happened to us? On one hand, social decay, and on the other, political decay... Ultimately, moral decay!

Never in any period has this society remained so silent in the face of corruption and theft, nor has it stood behind it like this; it has not only stood behind it but has become accustomed to it. Even further, it has reached the point of accusing those who fight against corruption and theft of 'treason'.

Wherever we touch in society, it is falling apart at the seams. Why did we not notice this much decay, or why did we not react? In a society where everything is about money, decay and collapse become inevitable; they are replaced by monetization.

The result: How many years did it take us to reach this state? We need at least four times that amount of time to return to how we were before.

Social decay is not an event unique to today; it is the result of conscious or unconscious neglect and error spread over a long period. In fact, when a society collapses and politics decays, there is no loud noise; on the contrary, the collapse is silent. The first thing to disappear is not the economy, but moral rules.

Decay begins when people stop asking, "Is it true?" and start thinking, "Is it useful to me?"

We only need to look at education in this process; education is its mirror. An education system based on rote learning, devoid of science and critical thinking, produces individuals who are obedient but take no responsibility. Such individuals notice injustice but do not object; they see corruption but normalize it. At this point, decay is no longer individual; it has become institutional.

Another sign of social collapse is the personalization of justice. When the universal principles of law are replaced by the question, "Who is it being applied to?" society loses the idea of a common future. In this situation, living together is replaced by the mentality of "every man for himself."

The most dangerous stage is when hopelessness becomes a virtue. When the phrase "It won't get better anyway" becomes widespread, the collapse is complete. Because what keeps societies standing is not perfection, but the belief that they can be reformed.

Social and political collapse is not destiny. Every collapse also carries within it a process of reconstruction. This process begins with morality becoming a public value again, with merit being rewarded, and with the individual saying "we" before "I."

In conclusion, social and political decay in our country has not progressed through a sudden break, but through normalized exceptions. The permanence of the state of exception, the instrumentalization of law, and the shifting of the public sphere on moral grounds are the fundamental dynamics of this process.

Loyalty has replaced merit, and treason has replaced obedience. The privatization of morality has replaced social and public morality.

We must now ask, "What should we do?" and "How should we do it?" and question ourselves. We have the strength to emerge into the light again; as long as we believe and do what is necessary. And if we must pay a price, let us pay it without hesitation.

There is no other Turkey.