Censorship at November 10 ceremony in Ankara: Vice principal's speech cancelled

The November 10 Atatürk Commemoration Ceremony held at the Ege Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School in Ankara's Mamak district has come to the fore due to low student participation and the cancellation of the vice principal's speech. While the low number of students attending the ceremony in the school's conference hall drew attention, another even more controversial development occurred due to the intervention of the school principal.

In line with the Ministry of National Education's decision to start the mid-term break on November 10, the Atatürk commemoration program at Mamak Ege Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School was held on November 7.

However, only 3 to 4 classes were able to attend the ceremony at the school, which has approximately 680 students. The vast majority of students were unable to participate in the commemoration event. This situation led to criticism that the event did not receive sufficient attention.

VICE PRINCIPAL'S SPEECH CANCELLED

According to the report by Veryansın, the speech prepared by Vice Principal Sinan Karakurt was cancelled during the ceremony by School Principal Ferat Kaya. The phrase "the address is not appropriate" was used as the reason for the cancellation.

Here is the cancelled November 10 speech:

“Today, I would like to start with a few lines that describe Mustafa Kemal Atatürk:

I am thinking of Mustafa Kemal;

He has mounted a red horse with flaming manes

He is crossing high mountains, vast seas.

His golden hair is waving in the wind,

His blue eyes are shining brightly,

I am thinking of Mustafa Kemal;

On the burnt, destroyed battlefields

He is creating epics that the world has never seen,

Armies like mountains are coming behind him

Every soldier is like Mustafa Kemal.

I am thinking of Mustafa Kemal;

Worth more than all the heroes who have ever lived

He rules the endless skies

Mounted on a red horse, with a drawn sword

He is running from victory to victory.

Dear youth,

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has run from victory to victory for this country, for this nation. Today, we are here to commemorate his perseverance, his faith, and his determination.

Today is a day to commemorate and understand Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The way to understand Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is to read about him, to read.

Dear youth, Atatürk addresses us as follows:

‘Seeing me does not necessarily mean seeing my face. If you understand my thoughts and my feelings, that is enough.’

We must act with the awareness of these words. Today our hearts are heavy… but it is the duty of all of us not only to commemorate Atatürk, but to understand him and keep his legacy alive.

With these feelings, I would like to end my words with a poem I wrote dedicated to the Great Leader.

Exactly 87 years ago,

On a November 10,

You bid farewell to the Turkish nation.

We could not embrace you,

We could not kiss your hands…

But we embraced your ideas,

We embraced your path.

We are smitten,

With a pair of blue eyes,

With your blonde hair,

With your foresight,

With your saying ‘Peace at home, peace in the world.’

We are smitten,

With your trust in the youth,

With your saying ‘Sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation,’

We are smitten with your Republic, your greatest work.

I commemorate the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with respect, longing, and gratitude. I say may the path he drew be your path.

I offer my respects and thank you.”