Leggings or Shalwar?

Between 2000 and 2004, I served as a faculty member and professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harran University Faculty of Medicine in Şanlıurfa. One of those years, it was the coldest days of winter. The late Prof. Dr. Himmet Karazeybek said, "...let's go to Karacadağ in Siverek this weekend. We'll ski, look around, and come back." I asked him curiously, "Is there snow in Şanlıurfa? I've never heard of skiing there." He piqued my interest by saying, "The best skiing is done at Karacadağ." Our late professor loved to travel. He admired Şanlıurfa and had a special interest in it. 

We said, "Off to Karacadağ" with my car and reached the top of the mountain after a 1.5 to 2-hour journey. Snow had accumulated quite a bit on the roads and at the summit. What did we see when we arrived at the ski area? Most of them, young and old, were skiing in shalwar (traditional baggy trousers). I don't recall if there were any women among them! It was such a sight; like sailboats on the sea, the crotch of the shalwar—or potur—stretching backward due to the wind made us smile at the quite amusing image. We recorded those scenes with our cameras. They didn't have ski suits or leggings, but they were skiing away in their shalwar. We also skied with our professor. I don't remember now if we had ski suits or leggings. We definitely didn't have shalwar.

My dear Governor of Ardahan, you have stirred up these memories of mine. If you had ridden a bicycle in shalwar instead of leggings, you would not have lost your seat today.

I asked the artificial intelligence that is fashionable these days what leggings are and what they are used for. Look at what it says.

"Leggings are a type of lower-body garment that hugs the body, usually produced from a blend of flexible Lycra, nylon, or polyester. They provide complete freedom of movement, increase athletic performance with their sweat-wicking and breathable structure, shape and tone the body, and offer comfort in daily elegance.

The intended use and features of leggings vary according to their design:

Sports Leggings: Support muscles during exercise, keep the skin dry by wicking away sweat, and prevent chafing with seamless models.

Push-Up Leggings: With special weaving technology, they make the abdomen, hip, and glute areas look tighter, fit, and more shaped.

Thermal Leggings: Provide ideal insulation for outdoor activities and winter sports in cold weather by retaining body heat."

The story is long; as far as I have learned from the press and my fellow MP friends, Constitutional Law Professor Serap Yazıcı Özbudun, who was elected as a CHP MP for Ardahan despite many suggestions and efforts to keep her off the list by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, made quite an agenda in Parliament with her actions. Was it out of jealousy? She brought the governor who wore leggings to the parliamentary agenda, though she could not sufficiently explain the reason. It is hard not to be surprised by this mind-boggling and agenda-setting incident by an MP who transferred to the AKP ranks as soon as she was elected.

The Governor, who was also a close colleague of the previous Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, became a victim of Parliament. Neither the President nor the Minister of Youth and Sports could stop it. The Minister of Health could not even make a statement saying, "Leggings are health. They should be in every home."

One should not dismiss leggings, which can also be worn by those with restless leg syndrome and varicose veins in their daily lives to get rid of foot and leg pain.

My suggestion to the esteemed Constitutional Law Professor is to wear leggings, which can be preventative against varicose veins, and shout out the problems of the people of Ardahan from the Parliamentary podium.

Oh my people, what days have we come to. My people, who are forced to choose one of the options placed before them!

Democracy must first be integrated into the grassroots, among the people, and spread. As a contemporary individual of Atatürk, one of your primary duties, dear MP, should be to keep our country away from reactionary ideas.

Oh Ardahan, oh! It didn't suit you at all. The Atatürk silhouette in Damal will look at you angrily. It feels to me like it will give you a real scolding with its gaze. Next year, one should go to watch the Atatürk silhouette in the Damal district between June 15 and July 15. 

In the meantime, I would like to convey my greetings and love to the hardworking and beloved mayor of Ardahan Province, Faruk Demir. Ardahan is one of our provinces that must absolutely be seen and visited.

I hope that such incidents and news will not be on the agenda under the government of the new party to be established under the leadership of Özgür Özel... 

I wish you many healthy days in leggings.

Prof. Dr. Nurettin DEMİR