‘Value is born from human labor’

It has been 3 years since the master of Turkish theater, Ferhan Şensoy, departed from this world. May he rest in light... He continues to be with us, and will always be, through his art, his works, and his social stance.

I would like to share with you these words of Şensoy regarding his love for the theater and his refusal to give up on this love despite everything:

“My father had said, ‘Son, I am not against you doing theater, but have a profession; you can do theater on the weekends.’ I thought, ‘What does that mean? Like doctors who write poetry on the weekends! They aren't poets!’ I couldn't say anything; I just swallowed my words. Theater is a job performed six days a week, with tours on the seventh, and rehearsals lasting for weeks. And yet, years later, theater became something that could only be performed on weekends, with its audience gradually dwindling. Last year, I wrote in my diary: 'How absurd that my father turned out to be right after all these years!' (…) The word 'artist' has started to be used loosely. If it were up to the media, everyone is a 'famous artist' (!). Theater is a love, and I am one of those who do this work with love. I know I am in the minority, but I am not all alone. Even if my father turned out to be right, I will not give up on my love!”

Days When We Need to Understand More…

In August, we celebrate the anniversaries of days that hold a very important place in the Turkish nation's struggle for independence. The war that began with artillery fire at 05:30 in Afyon on August 26, 1922, and continued for 5 days and 5 nights, is the symbol of our rebirth from the ashes. The Turkish Army, under the command of our Eternal Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, cleared our lands of invaders with the Great Offensive and led our nation to independence. The Great Offensive and the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief were concluded with victory on August 30, 1922. Then, on September 1, Gediz; on September 3, Emet and Tavşanlı; and on September 9, beautiful İzmir were liberated from enemy occupation.

Happy 102nd anniversary of the decisive blow dealt to the representatives of imperialism on Anatolian soil. We are in days when we need to understand the value of this historic victory even more. In days when we need to understand the importance of independence and freedom for a nation even more…

“Peace at Home, Peace in the World”

Thousands of people lost their lives in World War II, which began with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1936. In our country, September 1 is celebrated as “World Peace Day.” Atatürk’s words, “Peace at Home, Peace in the World,” who said, “Unless the life of the nation is in danger, war is a crime,” should be a guide for our foreign policy. With this statement, Atatürk advocated not for a passive pacifism, but for the peaceful resolution of the country's foreign policy issues. He aimed for development on its own feet in an environment of social peace and security within the country, and to be a reliable and respected country abroad.

Today, we are on a September 1 World Peace Day in the shadow of Israel’s oppression and massacres against the Palestinian people.

The crimes committed, regardless of whether they are children, the elderly, women, or men, have been committed against all of humanity. This crime against humanity must be stopped immediately!

Our greatest wish is for tomorrows where children laugh and people live in justice, peace, and tranquility.

Book: Which History, Whose Strategy

Ufuk Saka, an academic and author who served as the Deputy General Manager of SEKA—which met our country's paper needs but was closed down by the AKP government—showed the courtesy of sending me a signed copy of his book titled “Which History, Whose Strategy.” I would like to thank my dear brother Ufuk Saka, whom I have known for years and who has never compromised his stance in favor of our country's independence, justice, and rights in the books he has written (3 books had been published previously), his columns, and his speeches at conferences and panels. In his book, he questions what the contemporary global civilization, created by global capital, offers to the great humanity...