Comments on: A Turkish Friend’s Viewpoint

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 11 May 2005 05:16:00 +0000

Thanks, C. Gizem!
The mosque/shoe advertisement post wasn't actually inherently critical. Because it did not conform, it was perceived to be critical.

Litmus, yes, you are correct. Freedom of thought and rational debate are more central values. Diversity is just a result. Bring it all on!

PS: your link to my blog at aegeandisclosure.blogspot.com is outdated.

By: Litmus

Litmus — Tue, 10 May 2005 18:59:00 +0000

Although it might sound pedantic at first, I would say “strenuously defending freedom of thought” rather than “promoting diversity of thought”, if only because i see the lack of diversity not as a cause but an effect. The main cause is our education-by-information-accumation approach that is severely deficient in critical thinking. At the core there is a persistent inability to abstract the argument in order to see its faults and virtues. often times this lack of abstraction leads to arguing the opposite position in different contexts (division of cyprus vs unity of iraq). If we solve that, this would in turn lead to diverse thought. the main danger in promoting diversity for diversity’s sake is that it may not solve the problem at the root.

By: C. Gizem

C. Gizem — Tue, 10 May 2005 00:35:00 +0000

Joe, I think it was good of you to copy the letter, so we can read the reaction of one of your Turkish readers ! even if your criticism is not welcome for part of your Turkish public, I enjoy reading your comments of what you see in Mersin with your Australian - or western view point.

If you were only writing positive comments, it would be uninteresting. Besides, I don't think that comparing an advertisement for alcohol in front of a church with another one of a naked woman in front of a mosque is valid, as wine is part of a church service anyway...

Keep the debate open !
Cheers,
C. Gizem

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 09 May 2005 03:00:00 +0000

Litmus, I believe the Turkish education system has to be modified to promote a greater diversity of thought. I would like to see that!

By: Litmus

Litmus — Sun, 08 May 2005 17:09:00 +0000

this is our classic knee jerk reaction, “if you don’t like it leave” response. Gosh Joe, what’s with all your interesting commentary? why don’t you just put out a bland touristic brochure page, like every other sane person? What’s amusing is that nudity near a mosque is not even something inherently bad (probably quite the contrary when you want to see how well different belief systems are tolerated).