What Is Turkey All About? Or, Turkish Flies Fly Fast

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Turkish Flies Fly Fast

We stayed for two nights in a five star Turkish hotel on the Agean Sea.  One afternoon prior to dinner I was trying to use their wireless internet connection in the lobby. (Technology failed again.)  The doors of the hotel were wide open to the sea as it was a beautiful  and warm day.  But flies were everywhere.  I pride myself on my ability to kill  flies bare handed but I kept missing.  I focused more on the task and mostly kept missing the flies, and had to come to the conclusion that Turkish Flies Fly Fast.  Some things you just have to observe for yourself.

What is Turkey all about?  Some things you just have to observe for yourself.  Many people in the states have fear-based impressions of Turkey .  Our understanding of Turkey, past and present, is grounded on very limited experiences and knowledge and impressions that make Turkey an unattractive destination and an undependable ally and a spiritual protagonist.  Personally, I was most interested in the possible role of Turkey, very much a Muslim AND democratic nation, as an alternative to Islamic States where Islamic law (sharia)  is enforced, often oppressively, on everyone. 

Conclusion, thus far:  Turkey is a modern, secular, democratic, and economically prosperous country that may, we can hope, be a powerful example to other Moslem countries about how Islam can be both vibrant  and democratic.  Turkey, at least the western half of the country where most tourists go, is safe and has an exciting history and is historically a unique meeting place of cultures and religions.  In the midst of the current global economic  crisis, Turkey has the second fastest growing economy in the world.  It’s commitment to democracy and to religious freedom is intense among most of the people.  That commitment has a symbol, in the founder of the modern Turkish nation, Ataturk (Father of the Turks), who reminds the Turks how important mutual respect and tolerance are.    There are definitely forces that would subvert the country’s commitment to democracy but over and over again I have spoken to people who are determined that their country will remain free of dogmatic religious influence.  By being a strong ally to Turkey, by visiting and making friends,  by letting go of fear, we can support the forces for freedom.

We ran into some amazing symbols of religious tolerance and mutual respect in Turkey.  A few days ago we visited the site of the ancient city of Sardis, one of the twelve cities mentioned in Revelation.   One of the buildings, a treasury, had fallen into ruin as the result of an earthquake.  In 200 A.D., when persecution was still severe against the Christians and Jews.Someone had carved a series of symbols into one column.  These symbols may be hard to see in the photo but they were very clear  in person.  Growing out of a Jewish Menorah was a Christian Cross and beside these on the left side was an olive branch, then as now a symbol of peace.  In a Roman City, 170 years  after the crucifixion of Jesusmsomeone seemed to be saying the known world, “Peace requires tolerance and respect.”  Our faiths grow out of each other and we must respect our common origins and shared beliefs.

Islam and Christianity and Judaism grow from the same tree.  That tree is Abraham who taught us all to believe in One God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, the Merciful One, Giver of every good and perfect gift.

Let there be peace on earth among all of God's chldren, nations and peoples.