“We Are Not Saying It Shouldn't Be Paid,” Mr. Minister, We Are Saying “It Shouldn't Be Expensive”

As I write this article, a piece of news flashes across the screens,

They didn't let the rector of the great Istanbul University into a hotel.

The university, for its part, is trying to defend its rector's rights on its corporate website.

This rector is not someone appointed from another university, that is, from the outside; he is a true son of his own university.

He spent years and his entire academic career at Istanbul University.

One of those we call from a deep-rooted university.

From the university founded by professors who fled Nazi persecution.

The university that raised our Nobel Prize-winning professor, Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar.

In this recent period where we constantly look down on newly established universities, there is the university we call ancient.

It is beyond comprehension.

A university founded by Abdul Hamid in 1900 under the name Darülfünün-ı Şahane.

An institution that took the name Istanbul University in 1933.

Anyway, that is not our topic,

Let us get to our point; we are struggling to at least postpone these bridge toll hikes for another year.

While struggling, a very strange film I watched in recent years came to my mind.

Das Experiment.

A 2001 German production

26 people take on the roles of prisoners and guards for a psychological experiment.

As the experiment continues, events become complicated and spiral out of control.

The actor playing the guard exerts unimaginable pressure on the prisoners. 

The subject in the role of the guard in the experiment commits acts of torture that ordinary prison guards would never do.

It makes you say, “What a guard.”

Watching the film also brought to mind films about the slavery era in America in 1776.

The greatest torment to the slaves was not inflicted by their white masters, but by their fellow slaves who held a small amount of privilege.

This film came to mind when I heard the Minister's response to the issue of price hikes for bridges and roads that we had written about previously.

“Let those who have the money pass,” the Minister said.

We built those roads for the wealthy.

“Let those who don't have the money fend for themselves,” he implied.

The Minister and I attended the same schools.

He graduated from the KTU Department of Civil Engineering 7-8 years before I did.

We have older acquaintances who know him well. 

They said he is very well-liked.

Given the praise I heard, I couldn't help but feel that the Minister's statements might have been misreported.

Like everyone else, the Minister was born in a village far from the center of Trabzon, in Sipsin, just like us.

His father did not have a regular income either.

“From hazelnut harvest to hazelnut harvest, from tea season to tea season.” Whatever God provided.

From his facial features and physical build, I get the impression that he did not grow up in any great wealth.

When the scholarship was deposited while I was a student, 

(May God preserve our State, the scholarship provided by the state was a lifesaver alongside our limited pocket money)

it is doubtful that one ate more than 150 grams of Akçaabat meatballs with plenty of bread.

We would order 100 grams, and 3-4 of us would share the piyaz (bean salad) we ordered for the table.

That's how it was back then, 

Even the friends around us who had money wouldn't eat 200 grams of meatballs while everyone else was eating 100 grams, so that the others wouldn't crave it or feel bad.

And most of the time, the one who was better off would pay for the piyaz.

Anyway, let's not get off topic.

Mr. Minister,

The last 2 weeks 

It seems it is impossible to stop the price hikes.

Postmodern economic activities do not even allow for a delay, let alone stopping the hikes.

Something like the “Public Debt Administration” (Düyun-u Umumiye) that bankrupted the Ottoman Empire.

While the public was crushed under taxes, the palace, which took even the barley for the cow in the barn as tax—the only asset, source of livelihood, and sustenance for their children—would eat and drink in luxury.

While they were feasting,

The people would say;

Ottoman with the loose trousers,

Ottoman with the broken saddle,

Neither sowing nor reaping,

But sharing in the eating, the Ottoman.

so they would say.

It appears that, 

The new generation “smart in its own way but mentally autistic” calculation models do not, and cannot, take the citizens' demands into account.

And it falls to us to pay the bill.