Stress and Love...

The march from the First Parliament to Atatürk's mausoleum, Anıtkabir, organized by the CHP in Ankara for the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day celebrations, is a routine march that has been held in previous years as well. When I heard that the Ankara Governor's Office had banned it for some flimsy reason, I decided to go to Ankara.

Before setting off, a day earlier, I called Recep Özgen, known as the Postman. I told him I wanted to see my apple orchard in Seydikemer Seki and then head to Ankara. "I want to join the march too," he said. He turned his participation into a slogan, saying, "Wherever there is action, there is Recep." Let me underline that our Recep is a different Recep.

I set off early in the morning in my car. When I arrived in Seki, the day had broken. The sun was about to emerge from its hiding place behind the mountain. The apple orchard was decorated like a bride. Like a newborn baby. Fragrant!.. The enthusiasm of spring was on the branches of the apple trees. Everything in Seki is in bloom, preparations for the future are continuing rapidly. The negative experiences, the frost events in nature, inevitably lead to stress for agriculture and society. Especially after the frost event that occurred in 31 provinces across Turkey in recent weeks, Turkish farmers have experienced great stress.

I asked if the apple orchard was insured. They told me it was insured against hail. Veli Avşar, a farmer with years of experience who looks after my apple orchard, said on the phone, "The apples are really beautiful this year, we are preparing for the future."

After walking around the garden, I got into the car with Mr. Recep and we set off for Ankara.

We were listening to music between our conversations. Music is truly very important on long journeys. It keeps a person's mood, that is, their morale, high. As we talked about this and that, in the middle of a conversation, a song by Gülşen came on the radio channel. "Love everywhere." I told my travel companion, "Hush now, let's listen to this song."

How nice to be valued

Does it matter after breaking up?

The era has turned upside down

And didn't I die and pine away a little too?

...

Come on, tie my hands and arms

Imprison me in a room for a lifetime

If you can manage, restrain me

My fire is very big, oh

...

Now come and see me

Am I still standing in my place?

Love in the country, love in the world

Love everywhere from now on...

...

Is there love everywhere in the country? Or is there stress?

"Isn't love a stress in itself?" crossed my mind.

Stress is everywhere: in the field, at school, at home, in the garden. Stress has taken over everywhere in the country. Stress means tension.

Tension affects our emotional, mental, and physical lives in our daily lives. It leads to an increase in hormones such as cortisone (cortisol) and adrenaline. An increase in stress hormones in the blood raises blood pressure. With excessive high blood pressure, it causes the vessels to "snap" at the weakest point of the body. It causes new involuntary events. The closest example is what happened to Istanbul Deputy Mr. Sırrı Süreyya Önder. The stress he experienced during the peace process and what happened to him were at the top of the news. The weakest and thinnest part of the aorta, the thickest and most important vessel in our body, burst. He is still in intensive care after a major and very long surgery. Not only his family but all of Turkey is praying for his recovery.

The picture that Turkey is experiencing, which is increasing day by day these days, is similar to this. Stress and tension are everywhere, about to burst at any moment. If politics does not find a way out, the tensions experienced could put our democracy in a difficult position.

What happened when the march was banned in Ankara? With a magnificent turnout, we paid our respects and love to Atatürk at Anıtkabir in the darkness of the evening. "There! That's it." Neither were the roads blocked nor was there any pushing and shoving.

Today there is a big rally in Mersin! In the words of Chairman Özgür Özel, "a protest action against detention and lawlessness..."

With the strength and energy we receive from Atatürk, the stress experienced in our country will surely end one day. As Gülşen sang, we will experience freedom, peace, and happiness all together with "love everywhere." Time is shaping the future, just like a sculptor patiently carving stone one by one. Yes, "Everything will be beautiful."

Prof. Dr. Nurettin DEMİR