The Turkish People Passed the Test

The world has experienced two major wars in the last 100 years.

Empires and industrialized states shed blood on the front lines with their own people.

Especially in the second one, cities were devastated. The capitals of the European continent became unrecognizable. Not a stone was left standing. One hundred times more people died compared to the first. Civilians, in particular, suffered damage on a scale never before seen in history.

Now, it is being written and discussed that a third one has begun. This time, they are fighting by proxy. They are making the poor and the destitute fight.

The people of Anatolia have also had their share of these disgraces. They spent the energy they should have used for production on wars.

They died, were left disabled, could not be fed properly, went hungry, could not access education, and were constantly in tears and left hopeless.

Despite all this, they always maintained their character, their honor, and their morality.

Even though they are mercilessly criticized and the opposite is claimed in social settings, intellectual debates, and at dinner tables.

How can I write this so clearly? Did I conduct an exam to know this? Are my feelings making me say these things?

Or is my overly emotional and nationalist mind making me write these lines?

No.

I am writing all of this based on a statement recently given by Mr. Sani Şener, the chairman of TAV Construction.

I wanted it to be on the record.

What does Sani Şener say in his statement?

He recounts what they experienced during the July 15 coup attempt. Şener describes the night when the Turkish people took to the streets to protect and defend the Republic of Turkey, their final state, stormed the airport operated by TAV Holding, and apprehended the coup plotters.

He states that in the chaos of thousands of people defending their homeland at the airport, not even a single piece of gum went missing from the duty-free shops.

There were no reports of loss from the sections containing expensive brands. No one touched the million-dollar watches or jewelry.

Their eyes saw nothing but the future of their homeland.

They entered the airport barefoot and left as veterans, still barefoot.

Let this be a notice to those in social circles who say, "Nothing will come of us."