Atatürk’s Stance

A stance is important.

Members of the Republican People's Party (CHP) are certainly not looking for a leader like Atatürk. Because they know that a leader like Atatürk will never come to the world again.

But at the very least, they seek someone who will lead the Republican People's Party to read Atatürk. They want them to take him as an example. For instance, they want them to think like Atatürk and display a stance like Atatürk. This is their most natural right.

So, what kind of stance would Atatürk display?

Let us explain the situation with an example.

In 1916, while Atatürk was the Commander of the 7th Army, he had fallen out with the Commander of the Yıldırım Army Group, German Field Marshal Falkenhayn, and had resigned.

Both of them were in Aleppo.

The matter reached Istanbul, and Minister of Defense Enver Pasha sent Cemal Pasha from Istanbul to Aleppo to resolve the issue.

On the morning of October 6, the train carrying Cemal Pasha was about to enter the Aleppo station. Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to the station to welcome him. Governor Bedri Bey was also at the station.

While waiting for the train, Governor Bedri Bey and Mustafa Kemal Pasha began to pace slowly on the platform.

They were chatting as they walked.

At that moment, the station bell suddenly rang. This was the signal that the Commander of the Yıldırım Army Group, Field Marshal Falkenhayn, had arrived. A short while later, Falkenhayn entered the station with a proud air, with his aide-de-camp and bodyguards behind him, and headed toward the platform.

Seeing them arrive, the Governor and Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who were walking, turned toward him respectfully. Although an Army Commander is superior to a Governor in wartime, Mustafa Kemal Pasha did not walk in front out of respect for the Governor. They walked 50-60 steps forward and approached Falkenhayn side by side. Naturally, Falkenhayn first extended his hand to the Governor. He shook hands, and then he was supposed to extend his hand to Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who was standing next to him, to shake hands. But Falkenhayn did something intentional. He did not let go of the Governor's hand. He kept shaking the Governor's hand to avoid shaking hands with Mustafa Kemal Pasha.

He was both continuing to talk to the governor and not letting go of his hand.

In his own mind, he wanted to belittle Mustafa Kemal Pasha. The bodyguards, aides-de-camp, and some groups from the public were also watching the event. Upon this move by Falkenhayn, Mustafa Kemal Pasha did not back down at all. He immediately stopped his respectful stance and clasped both his hands behind his back. Just at that moment, Falkenhayn extended his hand. But this time, Mustafa Kemal Pasha did not shake it. He immediately turned his back. He put both his hands behind his back and began to pace back and forth right in front of Falkenhayn. This move was an expression that a Brigadier General like Mustafa Kemal did not care about a Field Marshal like Falkenhayn, who had served as Chief of General Staff for the German Army.

Many things could have happened at that moment.

The great Field Marshal could have gotten angry, shouted, his bodyguards could have arrested him, and an incident could have occurred. Everything was possible. But Mustafa Kemal Pasha did not care at all. Would the man who defeated the seven great powers at Gallipoli be afraid of Falkenhayn and his men?

The summary of the matter is this;

Pay attention to your stance in your meetings with Erdoğan or anyone else.

Because that stance does not belong to you,

It belongs to the Republican People's Party, which Atatürk presided over.