Your grandfather was either a soldier of Mustafa Kemal or...

For days, there has been a nonsensical debate in Turkey!

Following the graduation ceremony at the Military Academy, young lieutenants drew their swords after the official ceremony and chanted, "We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal," which has become a subject of debate...

How can it be such a degradation to live on the lands of the Republic of Turkey and feel ashamed of being a soldier of Mustafa Kemal?

What kind of corrupt character does it take to attack young officers who declare themselves his soldiers?

It is worth reminding those who have forgotten: In the War of Independence, your grandfather was either a soldier of Mustafa Kemal or...

Or he was an occupier, a traitor who collaborated with the invaders.

So, those who are against being a soldier of Mustafa Kemal are enemies of this state, this republic, and Turkey.

While even the sensible members of the Osmanoğlu family express their respect and loyalty to Atatürk, it is impossible to understand the prominent figures who join a debate started by a few "unknown" trolls on social media.

My brother, if it weren't for the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal, your name would not be Hasan or Hüseyin today, but George or Dimitris.

While it is thought that the conservative government has an issue with Atatürk, and it is a matter of debate that state officials have made it a tradition not to commemorate Atatürk or attend ceremonies on special days, AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik made a statement regarding the lieutenants.

Çelik said, "Interpreting these images as 'a message was sent to Erdoğan, a message was sent to the government' is a matter of reviving the old tutelage mentality. Furthermore, it is unacceptable to insult the lieutenants while trying to respond to these. Our experience is clear. Our attention is high. Democratic oversight mechanisms are being operated in the strongest way possible; nothing can be allowed. When they say 'they drew swords against the government' based on the images, we see that their goal is to revive the old elements of tutelage. These lieutenants were trained for the future of our country," thereby both appearing pleasant to his voters who criticized the images and standing up for the young officers.

The most unbelievable dimension of the matter was the comment by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli. It is in the name: Nationalist! But there are certain values that lie at the foundation of being a nationalist. One of them is being a Kemalist. Why, you ask?

The Great Leader, who is the founder of the last Turkish state established in history, is above all political parties and all offices and positions. Therefore, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, the savior of the Turkish nation and Anatolia, Mustafa Kemal, should be a subject beyond debate for every nationalist.

But interestingly, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, in the written text he released, lashed out at everyone again with the flowery sentences of his advisors.

Bahçeli stated, "An oath other than the legal oath should not be covered up or hidden with the name of the Blessed Atatürk. It is imperative that the second oath incident, which overshadowed August 30, occupied our country, gave hope to adversaries, and excited the exploitation lobby, be clarified in every respect."

In his statement, Bahçeli listed phrases such as "guided extras, an externally linked operation mechanism, destructive ambitions, a front of sedition, malicious goals" and asked the following question: "However, it is an open fact that immediately after the official phase of this year's graduation ceremony was completed and the President, along with the military and civilian officials, had departed, more than 300 lieutenants drew their swords and chanted another oath, and ultimately, harmful and vulgar polemics have been produced around this for days. The first question that must be asked is: What is the purpose of the aforementioned oath that has occupied the political and social agenda and is being 'autopsied' in the media every day? Who or who decided on this? How should the meaning and purpose of the need for an oath expressed by some of the graduating officers following the legally determined oath be interpreted?"

The answer is simple! This is not a second oath. It is an expression of the young officers' enthusiasm and loyalty to Atatürk. This is not a slogan of the CHP or any other political party, nor is it an alternative oath as you claim.

This is the embodiment of a sentiment expressing the loyalty to the Republic of all patriots—officers, civilians, AKP supporters, CHP supporters, and MHP supporters—who love their country.

Being a soldier of Atatürk is not a situation to be questioned. In the War of Independence, children, women, and imams were all soldiers of Atatürk. On the contrary, forgetting that we exist thanks to those soldiers is a behavior that should be questioned.

Fortunately, there is still a nation today that carries that spirit.