Reading books is a virtue...

Years ago, I received a call, an invitation, from Erdal Özarslan, a retired healthcare worker and X-ray technician with whom I had struggled for a common cause. A message popped up on my mobile phone via WhatsApp, the popular and indispensable communication tool of recent years: "We had opposed the privatization of the brand-new X-ray devices belonging to the public at the İzmir Alsancak Salih İşgören State Hospital, which were being handed over for next to nothing. In 2015-2016-2017, we stopped this giveaway with your contributions through the press conferences you held at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM)."

"I have retired," he wrote. "I am at the 7th İzfaş İzmir İzKitap Fair. I would be very happy if you could come. I would like to sign my book and present it to you."

I set off for the İzmir Fair to see and meet that patriot, whom I had never met in person for years, but with whom I had fought against looters, profiteers, and opportunists.

I wanted to visit the 7th İzfaş İzKitap Fair, which I had seen advertised on billboards in many districts, stops, and visible places in İzmir. This desire was reinforced by the invitation I mentioned above.

On Wednesday, April 22, as I entered through the Lausanne Gate towards noon, I asked the smiling staff at the first white-tented İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Publications stand where the NGO stand was. One of our young women who recognized me invited me, saying, "Welcome, Deputy. Please, let us offer you something..." I thanked her and conveyed my question. She directed me, saying, "The NGO stands are in the blue-tented area near the September 9 entrance gate." I thought to myself that the book stands were spread from one end of the fair to the other. I was very happy. Thinking that there were hundreds of stands and thousands of books here, I dove into the midst of the stands and books. The stands and books were arranged so beautifully that it was as if spring flowers had bloomed all over the fair. I congratulate the organizers and those who contributed.

I visited most of the book stands, sometimes chatting and sometimes browsing through the books. As I bought books, my bag began to get heavy.

Finally, I reached the blue-tented NGO stands. I was just about to ask for stand number 27 when I saw Turgay Mutlu, a writer, poet, and fellow townsman from Muğla, who is a former head of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ADD) in Yatağan. Mashallah, he has produced quite a few books about Muğla. He presented them to me one by one. He made a large package by setting aside one of each. He created a collection including "The Mythological States of Love," "Ahiler," "Don't Just Call It a Donkey," "Meyistan," and other books, handed it to me, and saw me off.

I encountered quite a few writer and artist acquaintances before finding stand number 27. Sometimes greeting and sometimes chatting, I reached the "İzmir Writers' House" stand.

I found Erdal Özarslan by asking around and met him. He was very happy to see me. He introduced me to his fellow writers at the stand.

It was noon. Our writers and poets were trying to get by with a meal of simit (bagel). The state of retirees, especially writers, is obvious! What else could it be...

We talked about the protection of the brand-new X-ray devices at the hospital and our efforts during the years of union struggle. He explained how they stopped the giveaway and brought those devices back into public use.

I said, "Erdal, your efforts in those years were very important. You prevented the giveaway of those very valuable X-ray devices, which were purchased with taxes paid by the public, for next to nothing. However, during the 23-year AKP government, we could not protect all the gains of the Republican era. It is obvious how they sold and destroyed our surface and underground wealth. Now they are trying to sell our bridges and highways as well. We have hit rock bottom. I wouldn't be surprised if this country falls into a gray zone in terms of its international economic and financial situation soon. Will we fall into foreclosure or a new capitulation as long as the AKP is in power? An environment is being prepared where those with thick mustaches will launder the black money they bring back to our country, out of the 500 billion dollars they have smuggled out of our country to date. They are also trying to drag our country's reputation through the mud. Sooner or later, we will put a stop to this bad trend. We will achieve this by increasing the number of good people like you. We will continue to increase our hope for bright tomorrows."

As the simit, tea, and conversation session ended, we did not neglect to take a photo.

As I was leaving the stand, they had prepared a collection from the publications of the non-profit but productive "İzmir Writers' House Association." Erdal signed his books "My Heart Will Always Ache" and "1975-1985 Memoir-Story," which includes the "Queue" story section.

Other fellow writers at the stand, Kadir Urgan (Hayyam) and Cemile Ceren, added their books "Chain Necklace" to the package. Writer Kemal Gürbüz, who is from Sivas but lives in Ortaca from time to time, also signed and presented his book "Love, Hope, Affection, and Rebellion; Hospital Memories of an Attendant." He also helped me carry dozens of books to the September 9 gate of the fair.

On the way to the gate, we greeted Hüseyin Yurttaş, one of the honorary writers of the Book Fair. We had a short chat.

On the way out, I participated in a survey about "reading books" at the IYI Party stand.

My late father used to say that no harm comes from those who write and read books.

Wishing you an increase in the number of your books and good friends...

Prof. Dr. Nurettin DEMİR