Some thoughts on peace

By Ahmet Abidin Ozbek:

Ultimately, all of us want to live in a peaceful world. But I am skeptical about our peace hopes. The most difficult challenge is: How we can end conflict and construct peace while segregation, ignorance, hatred and intolerance prevail? If these negative features affect our entire society,  how we can say that everything is alright and we don’t need to worry about the future? Can we say peace is actually coming and that people will enjoy life? Or that our economy is going well, reform has been implemented and people are happy? We don’t have to worry about our kid’s future or their mental health? Nobody will worry anymore because they are safe?

That’s our wish but the reality is different. As Krisnamurti said: If there are still institutions or state bodies in existence to divide society, you cannot eliminate violence or discrimination. The structure of the state itself becomes the enemy of the people. As he thought: “People are will become enemies of each other because of their race, ethnic background, religion, political opinion or other differences”.

Turkey is a prime example of a country where these scenarios apply. So many individuals and organizations are talking about a peace process but I am unsure who dares accept what this really involves. While some parts of the state talk about peace or reform, simultaneously other parts violate human rights. One of the most harmful situations, of course, concerns minorities and, in particular, the Kurdish nation. The ongoing conflict and assimilation politics since the 1920s (and even from the Ottoman times) have cost many lives and caused social, economic and even ecological damage. On the other hand, opposition groups – our own people – are sometimes almost as much responsible as the state’s brutality.

For permanent peace, we must get to the root of the problem and develop empathy between the responsible parties. Let me clear here. If the militaristic myth of the Turkish state or the feudal structure of the Kurdish people is not ended, peace will be a utopia. We should revamp all our traditions, religion, faith, nationalist or ethnic political views, ideologies, opinions etc. for the cause of ending conflict and creating lasting peace.  If we don’t understand the value of life, killing or sacrificing ourselves for death will be always be easy. We have to kill our hypocrisy in our daily lives.

The Turkish military is privileged and men are obliged to serve the war machine. So, how can anyone support the Turkish military and also talk about establishing peace? Ironically, the military has always said they are the only ones to truly protect democracy and secularism. But the military (Kemalism) itself has destroyed peace and it became one of the wealthiest institutions  (for example, OYAK) in Turkey.

Most of the government budget is divided between religious affairs, the interior department, the military, singers,TV shows or soccer clubs and other unknown expenses. Why is there less money for education, science, health, libraries or any intellectual activities? This means those state institutions are more important than health, education, science … and eventually peace and equality.

It is the same scenario today with the AKP government party. How we can talk about secularism or humanism or even religious freedom while one of the richest and most biased of institutions is based at Ankara, namely the ‘Presidency of Religious Affairs’? The budget provided for the Sunni Hanefi Islamic organization exceeds most other organisations’ budgets. Is this for religious freedom or rather for the Turanic desire called Turkish-Islamic synthesis? Is there any budget left for the Alevis, Christians or non-believers? I will leave the answers for the readers.

If we cannot change the system radically, our hopes for secularism, humanism, peace and equality for all citizens will be delusional. Those institutions or tyrants are like vacuums, sucking up all the budget whether it be for war, hatred, radical nationalism, religious fundamentalism or personal pleasure for the elites. But never for the well-being of society.

I would also like to comment briefly on our Kurdish nature. Yes,  I am Kurdish Alevi and I support my people’s rights forever. However, I am looking with my humanistic outlook at the problems and I believe we can find different solutions. Yes, there is no doubt that all the guerrillas of the PKK are our people, our blood. But we must accept that the guerrillas have also – as well as the state – violated human rights, democracy and internal structures. The fatal strategies of the past are the results of our feudal perspective or insanity. I say feudal because, in the 21^st century, we can’t solve problems with a trail of blood, revenge and hatred. Enough is enough for everyone.  Of course freedom is very important to taste, but the more important issue is how we can get it. The truth is that killing will not create solutions for anyone. If we love peace we must improve our empathy. Piero Ferrucci said: “Emphathy is the best means of improving any relationship. Empathy is what is missing most, and what would most help resolve age-old dangerous racial problems and prejudices”.

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