Who decided on these 'National and Spiritual' values, my friend?

Anyone who is bored picks up their instrument,

And then starts to curse and swear…

What is it, they say? It doesn't align with our National and Spiritual values.

You would think we have any values left!

Haven't all our values been ground to dust?

There is no meritocracy, there is plenty of cronyism. There is no word on child brides, no word on harassing sheiks, no word on public property being handed out, no word on foreign mafias running wild in the country, no word on illicit gains, no word on shady tenders.

But for everything that doesn't fit the criteria they set themselves, they hide behind 'National and Spiritual values' to justify all kinds of insults, sanctions, and punishments…

They have made sentences starting with “Does not align with our National and Spiritual values…” a mantra.

Who decided on these values, my friend?

Did you decide them as you pleased? Did you ask the nation?

Everything that doesn't fit your lifestyle does not align with our National and Spiritual values! Instead of saying openly, “We exclude everyone who doesn't think or live like us,” they invented this cliché.

Whatever they don't like, they launch a lynching campaign by saying “It doesn't align with our National and Spiritual values.” Their trolls on social media also throw wood on the fire to create an agenda.

Our National and Spiritual values are virtues like helping others, not stealing or committing crimes, protecting the young, not betraying the country, not pilfering, and showing respect to people and all living things, and being tolerant.

But all you can think about is sexuality.

Why, in this country, the state's official television channel TRT issued an official statement apologizing to the public just because a woman's breast was visible while she was jumping for joy during a national match.

Most recently, the President of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), Ebubekir Şahin, warned that music and video clips containing excessive sexual content, slang, and profanity must be brought into compliance with “broadcasting principles.”

In his statement, Şahin said, “It is mandatory for the relevant broadcasters to immediately address the aforementioned content, which is contrary to our traditions and against our beliefs, social and cultural values, and to bring them into compliance with the broadcasting principles contained in our Law No. 6112. Otherwise, the authority of our Supreme Council within the framework of the law is well known. It is extremely important that this warning we have issued is taken into consideration with sensitivity, and that music videos that do not align with our national and spiritual values are subsequently reviewed meticulously.”

In other words, he didn't like the music videos!

Last night was the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games. TRT broadcast the ceremony in Paris live. The performances included homosexuals, erotic costumes, and marginal shows.

If the RTÜK President wasn't watching a TV series at that hour, will he impose a penalty on the state channel that broadcast these images in accordance with the values they themselves determined?

Most likely, TRT will apologize with an official statement for the second time!

Meddling has become our job. Because we have nothing else to do!

They decide on our behalf, saying “National and Spiritual” values, how we should dress, what we should eat and drink, when we should get married, how many children we should have, what we should watch, and what we should listen to. Their own opinions become National values.

As Turgut Uyar said in his famous poem ‘Balance’ (Denge):

Your red is red, I believed

Your purple is purple, I believed

Your God is great, amen

Your poem is a proper poem

And its smoke is a bonus...

You know everything best. You are the most moral, you are the most hardworking. You also determine the National and Spiritual values, but for ‘God's sake,’ stop upsetting our balance now.