Lycia and Sumud

"My Anatolia, my ancient Anatolia." We use this phrase from time to time. Even if the word "ancient" (kadim) sounds old, it sounds pleasant to our ears. "Ancient" is used to mean something whose beginning lies in the depths of the past, extending far back, having no predecessor. As we excavate Anatolia, the past deepens. Şanlıurfa's Göbeklitepe has taken human history beyond twelve thousand years.

Anatolia is an ancient land that has been a homeland to many communities and where many states have been established. 

We live in a geography where the world's first struggle for freedom and democracy took place. Today, we continue to work tirelessly for a more advanced democracy and for a free country. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel and his organization hold rallies and actions for democracy twice a week. Why, for what reason? Is it not for the effort to create a freer and more independent country?

Two events led me to write this article. The first is the SUMUD (those who remain in place despite constant attacks) heroes who set out to reach Gaza and support the freedom struggle of the Palestinian people, who are willing to die for their peace and homeland; they are the passengers of the SUMUD Flotilla. I sincerely congratulate each one of them. 

The second is the Köyceğiz reunion of the 1976 graduates of the Ege University Faculty of Medicine, of which I am also a member. To support this meaningful struggle for freedom, we visited two neighboring ancient cities, which are important cities of Lycia. It was our trip to Xanthos and Patara, located within the borders of the Kaş district of Antalya.

Patara is a community that risked collective suicide for its independence, where the first struggle for freedom in history took place. Xanthos and Patara have witnessed this twice. 

Xanthos, which fought against the Persians, is an ancient Lycian city that served as the administrative and religious capital of Lycia during certain periods. The people, who fought against their enemies until the very last moment, burned their women and children as a last resort so they would not be enslaved by their enemies, and then, having developed such a reflex, they fought until their final moments and committed collective suicide. 

The Lycians committed collective suicide for their freedom twice, once against the Persians in 545 B.C. and once against the Romans in 44 B.C.

As Nâzım Hikmet said: "The point is not to be taken prisoner, the real point is not to surrender."

Lycia is also a country and community that developed and sustained the world's first modern democracy based on the will of the people. The Ancient Lycian leagues, living in a geography stretching from Antalya to Köyceğiz, were a community that placed the first ballot boxes before them and made administrative decisions by bringing together the delegates and representatives they elected in what was also the world's first parliament building.

As someone born and raised in the lands of Lycia, the land of lights, I thank my esteemed fellow townsman Op. Dr. İbrahim Uysal, who brought together 50 of our medical doctor classmates. I also sincerely congratulate our physician friends who are lovers of democracy and freedom for participating and supporting this meaningful visit.

When Özgür Özel says, "My candidate is by my side" or "I want the ballot box in front of me...", he is continuing the "freedom and democracy" struggle that has been carried on since Ancient Lycia. And he is continuing it successfully... 

The struggle for freedom and democracy will sooner or later prevail. We will overcome all obstacles with the "National Will," which is the greatest pillar of the motto of a fully independent Turkey. 

Freedom and democracy are woven into the genes of these lands. They cannot be changed or prevented.