The Minister of Education, historical consciousness, and the War of Independence

The Minister of National Education—known as the Minister of Education (Maarif Nazırı) in the Ottoman Empire and as the Minister of Education (Maarif Vekili) during the period of the Assembly Governments—cannot help himself when it comes to Atatürk and the Republic, given his background. He reveals his stance immediately. One should take it as natural. We are not surprised. 

His latest invention is to use the term "National Struggle" (Milli Mücadele) instead of "War of Independence" (Kurtuluş Savaşı) in textbooks. 

In reality, we are talking about a distinguished gentleman whose academic life was mentored by Mümtazer Türköne and whose path was cleared by a presidential decree that removed the 3-year professorship requirement so he could become a rector. Why should we be surprised? 

We say this is proof of the Minister's understanding of rights, law, justice, competence, and merit. We smile and move on. 

Our subject is not the minister, and certainly not the Minister of National Education. It is those who look but do not see. 

Those who are curious know that no state—especially no serious, ambitious state—and no nation with historical experience, national sensitivity, and ideals, or the ability to establish a state, plays with the historical memory or the national conceptual framework of its society. It does not attempt to change or make them forget. It protects its language, culture, literature, art, epics, music, and architecture. It defends them. 

Let us recall that in the recent past, Turkey witnessed the name of the Ergenekon Epic, which has a very important place in history and mythology, being tarnished by being given to a terrorist organization. When the name of this important epic in Turkish history becomes the same as that of a terrorist organization, it is not difficult to guess who is most pleased by this. It is also not difficult to understand what kind of social engineering, psychological warfare, and fifth-column activity this is the product of. It is not impossible to grasp which foreign powers and intelligence agencies across the ocean are behind this. The address is clear. That address is the USA. 

The Minister of Education, by removing the "War of Independence" from school textbooks, thinks he is returning to the essence. 

The UK, Greece, and Armenia are likely the most pleased by this initiative. By doing what no other Minister of National Education in the last 100-plus years—including those from the AKP—has thought of, the minister wants to break new ground in his own way.  

Will he achieve results? Of course he will not. 

Because nations with high historical knowledge and historical consciousness do not turn to look at ministers who do not know what they are looking at.