Response to Alan
Reader comment on item: Is Turkey Going Islamist?
in response to reader comment: What if the conventional wisdom of our leaders is wrong on Turkey?

Submitted by SULTAN (Turkey), Oct 19, 2005 at 10:54

Dear Alan,

European people dont want to see Turkey in the EU. Only %35 is supporting,and %55 dont, the rest didnt decide yet. When this reality is known by every body, why do you people panic that we will join to EU and destroy your beautiful culture. we will not be apart of EU and your governments can not disregard their peoples opinions.We can begin adopting your laws and after 10 or 15 or 20 years you make a referendum and can say 'we are sorry our people dont want you,bye bye'.so simple.

Do you think that in Turkey there is a great desire and people want to jump into EU whatever the price is.when the Turks learn what really EU is and that we may well lose our Turkish identities. in the long run I gurantee you that EU membership will be overwhelmingly rejected by the turks also.

All of us know that Turks couldnt be assimilated in Germany since 40 years now. Besides beeing muslims also being a Turk makes it almost impossible to integrate into western culture. so everybody knows that this is a game and that we never can be a European.Turks either have no dream or desire to be a european.

However we want to improve our life standards, human rights, economic growth very much. we have no oil and other great natural sources. turks work hard,and are very passionate people.We can individually succeed. But we dont know how to live and work together. For hundreds of years until just 80 years ago we didnt have any science,any economy,any industry no written press but only military power. So we still are far behind from the civilised word.we need a lot to learn from you.

On the contrary of what your people think your leaders are thinking very intelligently.EU is showing to the muslim world that they can talk with a muslim country. And having a powerful, islamic neighbour Turkey will be a good thing in every aspects.

But EU people are very short sighted and dont want to be a world power. and they will not.without Turkey EU cant be an alternative to USA in the long run. Just to the opposite of what you say EU also will go down economically and be old peoples land in the future without turkey. But this is your choice and we have to respect it. We Turks must think of our future, not yours.

today both Turkey and EU will benefit from this dialog.Because EU knows that Turkey will not be taken in,they will not give much money to Turkey. So there is nothing to be scared of my friend.

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