Daron

Mr. Acemoğlu, our pride and joy who received the Nobel Prize and the son-in-law of a famous former minister of ours, has offered conceptual approaches regarding the Modern Turkey founded by Atatürk.

He has stated that the Ottoman State administration remained behind before the World War.

As an ordinary academic, it is certainly not my place to criticize a Turkish scientist who has made us proud by winning a Nobel Prize.

It is also unacceptable.

However, those who have lived abroad for many years and remained far from intellectual circles cannot quite grasp the evolutionary process of Kemal's Turkey.

I see this problem not only in Acemoğlu but in many academic colleagues who have lived far from their roots for many years.

Yet, I am as sure as I am of my own name that if Mr. Acemoğlu, my esteemed professor, were to visit Turkey from time to time and be a guest not only at the tables of the 'Second Republicans' but also at our tables, his ideas would change.

Anyway, I will not prolong this further; let me both respond and conclude my article with the words of Mr. Acemoğlu's peer.

This is the speech given by John F. Kennedy on the anniversary of Atatürk's death, 12 days before he was shot and killed on November 10, 1963.

“I am honored to commemorate Atatürk on the 25th anniversary of his death. The name of Atatürk brings to mind the historical achievements of one of the greatest minds of this century; his leadership that inspired the Turks, his power of comprehension in understanding the modern world, and his courage as a military leader.

Giving birth to a country from a sinking empire is admirable as his and the Turks' success. And since that date, the newly founded Turkey has proudly declared and maintained its independence. There is certainly no similar example to the birth of the Republic of Turkey and the radical changes realized by Turkey and Atatürk since that date.

Atatürk also showed determination in maintaining peace with America, with whom he was traditionally friendly. Once, with a feeling that seemed to foresee the future regarding the democratic administrations of the two countries, he said: We are friends now, we will be closer friends in the future.

The foundations of our current close alliance were strongly laid by the independent and free administration in Turkey established by Atatürk.

I am proud to state that the USA is on the side of Atatürk's country, and that we are on the side of this alliance that binds us to this country, to Atatürk, and to the principles he established in his country.

I respectfully salute this great man on the anniversary of his death.”