What's It to You, Mr. Dallama!

Before diving into the subject, let me provide a note for readers who might think the word “dallama” in the title is a curse or an insult:

According to the Turkish Language Association’s (TDK) Great Turkish Dictionary, this word has seven meanings:

One: The act of branching out (in the sense of dividing a subject into branches...)

Two: Fool, simpleton...

Three: Daisy...

Four: Oak wood.

Five: A thick, long tree branch cut and dried to cover roofs.

Six: Cutting only the ripe grapes in a vineyard, not the unripe ones.

Seven: A scarf wrapped around the neck or head.

Now let’s return to our story, and you decide in which sense I used this expression for the “Mr. Dallama” who is the subject of this article:

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Hatice Çakır, a CHP Council Member of the Samsun İlkadım Municipality, read the poem “I Am a Republic Woman” at the Council meeting dated November 1, 2023, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey...

The poem, written by Gülseren Akdaş, goes as follows:

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“I exist in the struggle of life, bravely and honorably,

I cannot remain silent before saying my final word.

I am a republic woman,

I walk on the path

Drawn for me by my Atam (Atatürk), no one can turn me back.

I am a republic woman;

I have the will to walk, with principles in my hands.

I was born secular, I will die secular,

The Republic is my light.

I reached bright days with it.

No veil, no chador...

How could I betray you, my Atam?

I live the struggle for bread, freedom, and equality,

Shoulder to shoulder with my man.

I cannot forget the past, my Atam.

How could I forget Nene Hatun, Fatma Nine,

Gallipoli, Dumlupınar, Anafartalar?

My homeland, every inch of which is watered with blood,

I am a republic woman.

I stand tall, no one can bring us down.

Death is nothing to me, like thousands of martyrs.

Rest easy, my Atam, your works,

No one can destroy them without destroying us.

I am a republic woman.”

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While Hatice Hanım was reading this poem from the council podium, MHP Council Member Cemalettin Kola began shouting from his seat:

“You ill-mannered woman, you ill-mannered, immoral woman, expose your calves too, wear a miniskirt!”

Well, well...

The poem mentions Atatürk, Nene Hatun, Fatma Nine, Gallipoli, Dumlupınar, and Anafartalar...

So, since she is neither Greek nor British, which part of this poem bothered Mr. Dallama?

Which expression could he be labeling as “ill-mannered, immoral”?

What part of the poem makes him overstep his bounds with words like “expose your skirt”?

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I don’t know for sure, but I can guess:

It must be the line, “I was born secular, I will die secular”...

Because the word “secularism” alone is enough to drive the bigots living in this country crazy!

But what is it to you, Mr. Dallama?

Just because you were born a fool and will die a fool, must everyone else be a fool like you?

We were born secular, we will die secular; do you have anything to say about that?

You say to Hatice Hanım, “Expose your calves too, wear a miniskirt!” because she read these words from the podium...

So, what is your advice to the men who defend secularism?

What should we expose?

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They have really gone too far, friends.

Because elections are approaching, they have started to trample on our human dignity and become completely ill-mannered just to grab a seat.

But our patience has a limit too!

If you respond to insults with politeness, it does not elevate you; it only encourages the foul-mouthed person even more...

Let them see and understand now; if they continue to obsess over the skirts and calves of modern Turkish women...

Modern Turkish men also have other sufficient material that might interest them!

Come on, Mr. Dallama...

If you have the guts, come and mess with us too!

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A special note to the Honorable Judge who will hear the lawsuit that Mr. Dallama will file against me due to my expressions in this article:

In this article, I used the word “dallama” in its third meaning in the TDK Dictionary.

Furthermore, I said “Mr.” (Sayın)...

I hope that while making your decision, you will take this good intention of mine into account and, in the event that I am sentenced, grant me a “good conduct reduction”!