"An Appropriate Commemoration Worth of a Great Leader and Reformer" Voice of the Atatürk Society of America

Voice of OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ATATÜRK SOCIETY OF AMERICA | SUMMER 2006

"An Appropriate Commemoration Worth of a Great Leader and Reformer" Voice of The Atatürk Society of America

4731 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20016 Phone 202 362 7173 Fax 202 363 4075 E-mail [email protected] www.ataturksociety.org

Executive Board President Timur Edib Vice President Filiz Odabas-Geldiay Treasurer Members Mirat Yavalar Bulent Atalay Secretary Nilufer Culha Ilknur Boray Ferhan Kilical Board of Trustees Hudai Yavalar, Chairman, Founding President Adm. William J.Crowe Jr. Prof. Ali Dogramaci Prof. Talat Halman Prof. Suna Kili Hon. Greg Laughlin Dr. Andrew Mango Hon. Richard Perle Orhan Tarhan, Past President Prof. Behram Kursunoglu, Former Trustee

Recipients of Atatürk Awards Peace & Democracy Award Senator Robert C. Byrd Richard Holbrooke Adm. William J. Crowe Jr. Secularism & Democracy Award The Turkish General Staff ASA MISSION STATEMENT Orhan Tarhan Science is Guidance Award The Atatürk Society of America (ASA) is an independent non-profit organization founded Prof. Behram Kursunoglu in Washington DC in 1995 with the objective of promoting Atatürk’s political legacy. Universality of Civilization & Peace ASA understands Atatürk’s political philosophy to be: Award Sovereignty belongs to the people. People alone administer people. Public sovereignty Prof. Bernard Lewis cannot be shared with any other authority, including a religious authority. Dr. Andrew Mango Rational education ensures absoluteness of public sovereignty rationality in politics. Education & Modernization Award Science leads to progress. Doctrines, including religious ideologies, hinder progress. Prof. Turkan Saylan The contemporary civilization is the common heritage of mankind. All nations must participate in it through progress. The universality of civilization means peace at home Magazine Design by and peace in the world. Sitki Kazanci Published Quarterly by the Atatürk Society of America, 4731 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington DC 20016. ISSN 1544-0966 Towards this objective the ASA organizes scholarly lectures, provides research fellowships, POSTMASTER: The Atatürk Society of America, 4731 Massachusetts develops a resource and reference center, and makes representations regarding the impor- Ave. NW Washington DC 20016 Application to Mail at Periodical Postage Rates is Pending at tance of Atatürk’s political philosophy for international prosperity and peace. Washington DC and addititonal mailing offices. Articles related to Atatürk or his priciples are welcome and should be accompanied by the name, address, and resume of the author (not to be published). Articles are accepted only in an electronic format. Copyright 2006 by ASA. Printed in the U.S.A. 2 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 From the Chairman

“Atatürk belongs not only to Turkey but to humanity” *

Hudai Yavalar Chairman, Founding President

lanco Villalta, Vice Consul, and son of Argentina’s Consul-General in Istanbul, became the first biographer of Atatürk in the world. He spent five intense years Bin Turkey, from 1930-1935, where he met the founder of the country on several occasions. After years of observing the man and his actions, he wrote “At atü r k belongs not only to Turkey but to humanity.” Even 125 years after Atatürk’s birth, the civilized and democratic world is still talk- ing about the leader, his philosophy, and the applications of his ideas to the Middle East and elsewhere. We witness leaders of countries around the world discussing Atatürk and his leadership with inspired optimism that secularism and democracy is still applicable today more than ever. This means that Atatürk years ago foresaw the challenges we would be facing today, and prepared his country and its people for these developments. He also provided an example for newly established countries around the world struggling to establish independent states. How is it that a person who died in 1938 clearly saw the dangers and trappings of mixing religion with government, and established a secular democracy, which was viewed as an impossible challenge since the crumbled Ottoman Empire was a theoc- racy for six hundred years? He anchored the newly independent country to the West, and changed the lives of millions of people. As Speaker Gingrich said on May 19, the man was a genius. Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Lloyd George was quoted as saying “The centuries rarely produce a genius. Look at this bad luck of ours that a great genius of our era was granted to the Turkish nation” after the allied forces were resolutely defeated in Gallipoli. John Kennedy, as President noted Atatürk’s leadership qualities with “The name of Atatürk reminds people of the historical successes of one of the great individuals of this century, the leadership that gave the inspiration to the Turkish nation, farsighted- ness in the understanding of the modern world and courage and power as a military leader. It is without a doubt that another example can’t be shown indicating greater successes than the birh of the Turkish Republic and ever since then Atatürk’s and Turkey’s broad and deep reforms undertaken as well as the confidence of a nation in itself.” If we look at the Middle East we can easily see the root of existing problems which Atatürk brilliantly foresaw. Secularism is the key ingredient for countries with majority Muslim populations to provide democracy, human rights, and western values to their people. Atatürk’s value is appreciated more with each passing day. We established ASA in 1995 to better promote Atatürk’s political legacy and contribute to freedom and peace. The May 19, 2006 event held in the Cannon Caucus room featuring Speaker Newt Gingrich who spoke more like a historian than a politician, made important contributions towards this effort and toward furthering U.S.-Turkish understanding. continued on page 4

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 3 continued from page 3

The event was broadcast in Turkey on at least two television stations, CNN Turk and TRT. In addition, it was covered extensively in newspapers. I want to thank Speaker Gingrich for accepting the invitation to speak and Chairman Bob Livingston for making it happen. Ambassador Ferguson of New Zealand took time out of his busy day to address the audience. Greg and Linda Laughlin donated a flag flown over the capitol, and ATA-DC President Pelin Aylangan and ASA President Timur Edib made excel- lent presentations. Congressmen Ed Whitfield and Robert Wexler invited their colleagues to attend the event, saying it is essential to learn the historic lessons of Atatürk’s successful transformation of Turkey and apply the lessons learned to our efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world. Congressman Tom Lantos submitted a statement for the first time ever in the Congressional Record to commemorate Atatürk’s birthday, He noted that he told Pakistani President Musharraf that if he followed Atatürk’s vision, he would put Pakistan on the road to Coming to the Assemly for the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly ( November 1, 1936 ) progress. Sincere and heartfelt letters were sent for the occasion by President Necdet Sezer, President George Bush, and President Pervez Musharraf, as well as Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand.. We must not forget those that volunteer for ASA, we would not be able to accomplish our goals without them. I am proud that ASA is a bridge of understanding between the U.S. and Turkey. In the legacy of Atatürk, who believed that all can be overcome with hard work and dedication, we look forward to working together in the future to accomplish those goals. The uniqueness of U.S. democracy also shined through on that day, where a historic and glamorous room in the U.S. Congress was made available to commemorate a leader who lived and died so far away so many years ago. While we are proud of our Turkish heritage, as founder and Chairman of ASA I am grate- ful to the American people for creating and nurturing an environment where we were welcomed in the U.S. Congress. Sincerely, Hudai Yavalar

* Quote from Blanco Villalta Atatürk and Sabiha Gokcen ( November 17, 1937 )

4 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 President’s Comments

Dear Friends

Timur Edib President

s I conclude my first year as the President of the Atatürk Society, I can only say that I am enlightened and thankful for your support of our Society and of Atatürk’s ideals. During this last year, I have witnessed a sincere affection, admiration, and Arespect for the life, work, and vision of Atatürk that words can not begin to describe. This year I have witnessed world leaders, statesman, academics, and our youth, born over one hundred years after Atatürk, perform amazing acts of selfless giving and support for our mission of furthering Atatürk’s principles. Without a doubt, the highlight of this past year was our commemoration in the Caucus Room of the United States House of Representatives of the 125th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s birth. There are no words to describe how impressed I was as an American to see that the only Superpower in the world, the protector of Democracy, was willing to have the People’s House graciously offered for our Society to honor Atatürk’s vision of world peace. First, our keynote speaker, Mr. Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, gave us all a history lesson about the genius of Atatürk’s strategic thinking and vision. Then, we listened as Ambassador Ferguson of New Zealand reminded us of the compassion and humility that Atatürk bestowed on humanity. In short, I can only say that thanks to our distinguished speakers and our hon- ored guests, our event can only be described as an extraordinary tribute for an extraordinary man, leader, statesman, and visionary. I sincerely thank Congressman Ed Whitfield and Congressman Robert Wexler and their staff for allowing us the use of the Cannon Caucus Room, and I would like to give a personal thank you to Mr. Robert Livingston, who was the keystone in making our May 19 event happen. While there were many people that gave of themselves without having to be asked, and I thank each and every one of you, I would like to give special recognition to Mr. Cengiz Ozcan, who with a smile on his face took care of all of the forgotten chores and details to make our event run smoothly. I would also like to thank Congressman Tom Lantos for introducing a resolution to the United States Congress in honor of Atatürk. I am very excited by what we have done so far this year, and I am working with my Board to plan future events. Many of you have asked why is the Society not doing more programs and activities. The simple answer is that it costs money to have activities, and for us to continue furthering our mission we need your help. Next year will be the 80th Anniversary of Atatürk presenting his vision in “Nutuk,” and while we have many programs we would like to organize to honor this event, we are limited by our operating budg- et. Without your membership dues and donations, we will have neither the moral support nor the finances to continue teaching the world about Atatürk and his vision for world peace as we would hope. Our membership dues amounts to less than one dollar a week. We do not actively seek your donations because many of you give willingly and selflessly without our asking and I thank you. In closing, I again thank each and everyone of you for your sincere support. I am truly thankful for you allowing me to be the President of this Society, and I hope to be able to continue to work with you to spread Atatürk’s vision and principles for world peace. Please enjoy your magazine, and then share it with as many people as you can, and together we can make a difference in making our world a better place.

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 5 August 30, 1922: Further Steps Towards Statehood ugust 30 is celebrated nationwide in tions. Although Greeks were better there was anything he could do for him, to Turkey to commemorate the victory equipped with machine guns, field guns, which he responded that his news should Aof a group of Turkish soldiers num- and transport, their positions north of be sent to his wife in Istanbul. (1) bering 60,000 led by General Kemal Afyon near Kutahya were also broken, so From Usak he went to Izmir where he Atatürk over the 350,000 Greek soldiers led they could easily be surrounded. learned that the allied Consuls were willing by General Hatzianestis. Mustafa Kemal had split the allies to negotiate with him. The city was surren- The decisive victory in the Battle of through skillful diplomatic moves, so that dered, and the Greco-Turkish war was over. Dumlupinar near Afyonkarahisar in Turkey the French and Italians supported Turkey, These events laid the foundation for the was the last fight in the Greco-Turkish War and diplomatically isolated the pro-Greek Lausanne Treaty to establish the Turkish (1919-1922), which is part of the Turkish British. Republic on October 29, 1923. This was fol- War of Independence. Greeks were astounded when the front lowed by a series of political, legal, cultural, On August 25 the Turkish forces were line, which was supposed to be impreg- social and economic reforms undertaken preparing to attack. They reached the sum- nable, fell that same day, while Afyon fell between 1922 and 1938 and transformed mit of Koca Tepe in the middle of the night. within 24 hours. the lives of millions of people. The seem- At 5:30 the next morning, they began their The troops marched forward, entering ingly impossible undertakings which assault by artillery which maintained its Afyon, while Greek army was forced to changed the alphabet, promoted human intensity for three hours. retreat towards Asilhanlar, a mountainous rights and elevated women, Europeanized The Greek army scrambled in confusion, region. Turkish law and society, drew praise and hurriedly taking up arms, but no match for On August 30, the six Greek divisions admiration from world leaders and served the Turkish infantry that poured through which had been encircled tried to escape as an example for other countries. the ruins of what was once their fortifica- through a narrow valley called Kizilca, but Turkey into the only democratic free instead found themselves market oriented country with a majority trapped, suffering roughly Muslim population in the Middle East. 50,000 casualties. Although Atatürk was known for his vic- The armies then split, tories in battle, on March 16, 1923, he stat- with the larger group ed “I am not in favor of dragging the nation marching towards Izmir, into war. War should be the last resort. and the rest against When taking the country into war, I should Eskisehir. not have a troubled conscious. We can Kemal Atatürk entered enter war against those who tell us ‘we will Usak on September 2, where kill’ and answer ‘we will not surrender or the surrendered Greek die.’ In addition, when people are not faced Commander Tricupis was with danger, war is a crime.” brought to him. Atatürk On the first anniversary of Victory Day stood up, shook his hand, in 1924, addressing the crowd in Ankara, and invited the General to Atatürk reminded the nation ” There sit down, later offering them should be no doubt that the new Turkish cigarettes and coffee, while state’s and young Turkish Republic’s foun- discussing the machinations dation was strengthened here. Its existence of the conflict. He told his was guaranteed here. This memorial will opponent: “War is a game forcefully remind those who want to covet of chance. You have done the Turkish nation that they will face the everything possible for a sol- same reaction as that on August 30th; fire, dier and man of honor. Fate bayonet, strength, and determination” is to blame. Do not be dis- couraged.” He also asked (1) From ATATÜRK by Jorge Blanco VIllalta, the Greek Commander if Turkish History Foundation Press, Ankara, 1991.

6 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 Atatürk’s famous command To the Turkish Grand given to the Turkish Army on National Assembly Armies! September 1, 1922 after the Dumlupinar Victory. At the great Afyonkarahisar-Dumlupinar field battle you destroyed in an unbelievably short time the actual fighting units of an oppressive and conceited army. You are proving that you are worthy of the self- sacrifices of our great and noble nation. The great Turkish Nation that is our protector is right in being certain for its future. I am following and observing closely your proficiencies and self-sacrifices on the bat- tlefields. I will carry out constantly and without ceasing, my duty to be a vehicle of our Nation’s appreciation concerning you.

I ordered the front command headquarters to make suggestions to the commander-in-chief headquarters.

I request of all my friends, that they advance by taking into account that they will enter other field battles in Anatolia and I request that they continue to demonstrate, as though they are racing with each other, their mental powers, heroism and patriotism. The Armies! Your first target is the Mediterranean. Forward!

President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal September 1, 1922

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 7 ASA News

Speaker Newt Gingrich Speaker Gingrich, ASA President Timur Edib and ASA Founder and Chairman Hudai Yavalar jointly cut the cake especially in honor of Atatürk's Birthday. ASA Celebrated Atatürk’s 125th Birthday The event was held in the historic and majestic House Caucus Room with a large audience consisting of diplomats, Members of Congress, congressional staff, U.S. government representatives, ASA members, and others.

n May 19, 2006 Atatürk by Turkish President Necdet Chairman Livingston recalled tem and recognized his Society of America (ASA) Sezer, U.S. President George the days of building a accomplishments. Ocelebrated Atatürk’s 125th Bush, and Pakistani President Republican coalition with the Speaker Gingrich’s sincere birthday with great fanfare and Pervez Musharraf. He then featured speaker, Newt and heartfelt remarks regarding joy. The event was held in the introduced former Chairman Gingrich, and highlighted Atatürk’s legacy received a historic and majestic House of the Appropriations Speaker Gingrich’s contribu- standing ovation from the Caucus Room with a large Committee, Bob Livingston. tions to the U.S. political sys- crowd which was mesmerized audience consisting of diplo- by his insight and observations. mats, Members of Congress, His inspirational presentation congressional staff, U.S. gov- was delivered from not only a ernment representatives, ASA politician’s point of view, but members, and others. also through the eyes of an The audience participated in educator and student of history. one minute of silence to honor Listeners remained breath- the victims of the May 18 less as he used the power of attack on the Turkish State imagination to take the audi- Administrative court. The ence back to 1881, and the event was inaugurated by ASA world into which Atatürk was President Timur Edib who born. He then carried them emphasized the importance of through the changes the world the celebration. Mr. Edib read Hudai Yavalar presented Speaker Newt Gingrich with an award in commemora- underwent, the First World letters of congratulations sent tion of his contributions to publicizing Atatürk's legacy. War, the tragedies, and the suc-

8 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 8 ATA-DC President Pelin Aylangan Linda Laughlin, wife of former Congressman and ASA Advisory Board Member Greg Laughlin, presented a U.S. flag which had been flown over the Capitol in commemoration of Atatürk's Birthday.

cesses of the time. At the end, letter sent by Prime Minister on this land they have become ASA Board Member came everyone shared Speaker Helen Clark. He ended his our sons as well.” from Turkey and thanked ASA Gingrich’s view that Atatürk remarks with the words etched His remarks were so mov- for the certificate presented to was indeed a remarkable leader on the placards in Gallipoli, ing, that some of the members him. that sought modernity, secular- “Those heroes that shed their of the audience were unable to Certificates were presented ism and democracy for Turkey blood and lost their control their tears. to long standing ASA members not for personal gain, but for lives…there is no difference Bill Ali, President of Turkish for their outstanding support the benefit of the new country’s between the Johnnies and the American Veterans Association and contributions to the organ- citizens. Mehmets in us where they lie recalled the experiences of ization and its mission. Linda Laughlin, wife of for- side by side in this country of Turkish Americans in the Speaker Gingrich, along with mer Congressman and ASA ours…Having lost their lives Korean War. Turgut Burakreis, ASA President Timur Edib and Advisory Board Member Greg ASA Founder and Chairman Laughlin, presented a U.S. flag Hudai Yavalar jointly cut the which had been flown over the cake especially prepared for the Capitol in commemoration of event in honor of Atatürk’s Atatürk’s birthday. birthday. ASA Chairman and Founder The day culminated with a Hudai Yavalar presented reception providing an oppor- Speaker Newt Gingrich with an tunity for members and speak- award in commemoration of ers to interact and analyze the his contributions to publicizing event. A slide show chronicling Atatürk’s legacy. Atatürk’s life in pictures was Pelin Aylangan, American shown during this time. Turkish Association of DC The event, which was cov- President provided an example ered by television stations as of the opportunities provided well as print media in Turkey, by Atatürk for the country’s contributing to the debate youth. regarding secularism, democra- New Zealand Ambassador to cy, and civil society. the United States Roy Ferguson Let us all work together to chronicled the Gallipoli cam- build a better and more hopeful paign of 1915, recalling future in the footsteps of Atatürk’s leadership, and read a Bob Livingston Atatürk’s vision.

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 9 PRESENTATION BY SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH “When Bob Livingston told me I had this opportunity to come and to speak about the extraordinary life of Atatürk and his meaning, not just for Turkey, but for the world, I was thrilled to be allowed to do so.”

want to take you back, and Czarist Russia, the removal of ern world. And when after after I gave the speech about you can use the phrase Kaiser Wilhelm. And yet early the war the Ottoman Empire the importance of Atatürk, he I125th anniversary, but I in his life, he would begin to was disappearing, he was has never been better received want to take you back for just a have these experiences. faced with an enormous deci- anywhere in the world. People minute or two since I did teach Remember that he is 33 sion, and I think, again I want were just so nice to him. But I history, to 1881, because I years old when the First World you to place yourself in what was fascinated as a young col- think sometimes when you War begins, and it is not at all is still a very young man at lege teacher and before that as deal with these great figures obvious, everybody expected that point, someone who at 37 a graduate student because who transform life for mil- in August of 1914 that it or 38 years of age is suddenly Atatürk has two extraordinary lions, it’s easy to forget how would be a three month war. saying, all of the leadership insights that he then allows to really big the change was, and It would be over quickly. And around me is collapsing. All guide his heart and his head. for them how lonely it must yet it drove on for four years. of the old rules are dying. And very often people have have been. A hundred million people And there are really two insight and then they forget The world into which died. It was capped by a world choices. There was a choice to them because they are too Mustafa Kemal was born was a wide epidemic of flu which we create a classic military des- frightening or too hard, or totally different world. It was a called in the U.S. the Spanish potism and to preside over they mean well, they are words different world in technology. flu. It was a worldwide something which I argue you up here but they are not It was a world before electric influenza which killed more saw happening in Iraq during actions down here. And the lights, a world before tele- people than had died in the that period, something you insights are actually contradic- phones. I have two grandchil- four years of war. And at that saw happen in Egypt, some- tory. Bear with me, and those dren who are four and six, so I point, as one of the most suc- thing you saw happen in many of you who are Turkish correct don’t try to explain to them cessful generals, the general I places where strong men me if I get my understanding that there was pre-television would argue, and I think most seized power with a self-per- of history wrong, because they and pre-cell phone, pre-black- historians would agree, was petuation of their own agenda, seem to be in the opposite berry, because that would be the decisive figure in the something which has plagued direction. unthinkable, and they couldn’t Gallipoli campaign. That it much of Latin America for the The first is he is going to imagine it. But you and I was his leadership, and I’m last century, where we get very modernize the people, not just know here is a young man looking forward to the New strong people, but they don’t modernize the government, growing up in a world totally Zealand Ambassador’s com- apply their strength for the not just modernize the elite, different from the world he ments because in a very real good of the country. They but he’s going to think through will leave at the end of his life. sense, it was Atatürk’s leader- apply their strength to the and then implement, carrying And it was a world which had ship, his toughness, his direct- advantage of the elite. an entire great people into the an empire which had been ness, his ingenuity, his energy, And he looked around and modern world in terms of edu- around a very long time and and drive which enabled the he had two I think key cation, the entire effort to turn that occupied a tremendous Ottomans to stop the British, insights which are extraordi- the whole country into a class- amount of territory. And there Australians, New Zealand and nary. Many years ago when I room so that literally in a mat- was no natural reason as a French, allied landing on the first became Speaker I think I ter of a year people were writ- young man for him to think peninsula. shocked the Turkish ambassa- ing differently, moving into the about the notion that the And yet in the very process dor because I was such a big modern world. The elimina- Ottoman Empire would disap- of successfully defending his fan of Atatürk. I remember at tion of the fez. pear. There was no natural country, he was studying the the time I was wonderfully When you start interfering reason for him to contemplate modernity of his opponents, received, and when one of my with the very things people the collapse of European civi- he was learning what was nec- associates Dr. Stephen Kinzer wear, you are in the heart of lization, the disappearance of essary for success in the mod- was able to visit Turkey shortly challenging their entire life.

10 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 And yet he is carrying an argu- als, the people. recentered the government in towards self government, ment that this is the cost of So on one level, he is this Ankara to recenter the heart towards productivity, and modernity. If we’re going to be remarkable example of bring- of the Turkish highlands so towards modernity. It’s very a modern people, if we’re ing together and carrying an that Turkish people would seldom you get both. going to be strong enough to entire nation into the future at look in at themselves and not Sometimes you have people protect ourselves, and I rank a moment when it was not be constantly looking at the who, in the effort to grow, peo- him with Deng Chou Ping’s obvious. Remember, Turkey Mediterranean and constantly ple are too weak, and, there- (phonetic sp.) great speech as it had become at the end of looking towards Europe, fore, the whole thing falls across southern China when the Ottoman Empire, had lost because he understood that he apart. And you could argue in he said, he didn’t say commu- all of its external provinces, it had to unite these great a sense that was the great crisis nism was over. He couldn’t had lost many of its sources of streams, the populist and the Shah faced in Iran late in have said that. He said at one wealth, it had been through a national sentiment of being his career, that he didn’t know point, “I don’t care if it is a long and debilitating war. Turkish with the meaning of how to balance these two, how black cat or a white cat as long to both modernize and nation- as the cat catches the mouse.” alize simultaneously. Now what he was saying to Now what was the result? the Communist cadres was if The result was first of all free enterprise can build a fac- something he could not have tory, that’s good. If commu- predicted in 1918, the rise of a nism can build a factory, that’s coherent modern nation of good. And there’s actually a people who were proud of big bridge in southern China both their heritage and of their where they have these huge future, of a people who gov- statues of black and white cats erned themselves, who have when you drive across the elections, who fight over bridge because all of a sudden power in precisely the way that Deng Chou Ping was liberat- we in this country believe God ing the Chinese from the endowed all of us with the straitjacket of Maoism saying, right. if we are going to live in the And to set a little bit of deli- future, we have to be prepared cate territory, let me say that for change. when the Turkish Parliament The other great moment could not give permission for when this also happens is the American Fourth Division when the Meijing restoration to go through Turkey, I wasn’t occurs in Japan and a small shocked because we had not group of generals, the people won the argument in the at that time were about hearts of the Turkish people, Atatürk’s age, in their early and the newly elected govern- 30’s, would then guide Japan ment of Turkey in a democra- for 40 years. And from 1868 cy had 93 percent disapproval. to 1925 was one of the great Like I say to people, in the moments of modernization. Speaker Newt Gingrich modern world it’s not good And in my mind, you can see a There was no reason to believe being Turkish to become enough to have our ambassa- direct parallel. These are peo- that out of this you could sud- modern, democratic, and dor talk to their ambassador ple who are saying, for us to denly create a great new advanced. And that is genius. and our secretary of state talk survive, our country has to nation. But what made it truly his- to their foreign minister. If we become strong. For our coun- And secondly, and this is toric wasn’t that he under- can’t win the argument in the try to become strong, it has to often misunderstood by peo- stood it. It was that he then hearts of the people in a free become modern, and for the ple who are in the rarified spent the entire rest of his life society, you cannot expect the country to become modern, world of academics or politics. living that out; that he both government of a free society to the people have to live in the To carry Turkey to the West, imposed his will when he had carry it through. modern world, not just the he moved the capitol East. It to, and he patiently grew to Just as in Germany, bureaucrats, not just the gener- was very important that he capacity of the Turkish people Schroeder won the election in

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 11 part because the German peo- make the transition to free- us apart. And the truth is if in memories of history and draw ple said “no”, we don’t want to dom, because there’s some- the long run we are to win the upon the facts. go through that. And so you thing magic about how war on terrorism, and if in the But there’s a second reason. have to have some respect for Atatürk reached out, personi- long run we are to help all the There are some young people the very traits that Atatürk was fied the future of Turkey, and Middle East in becoming here today who may learn to creating, a modern country, got the Turkish people, con- democracies, the road to a dream of a bigger future for but a country that’s a democra- vinced the Turkish people to great deal of that will be themselves, and they learn that cy where people do matter, invest their hopes in his through Turkey and will be they, too, can play a role in and where people have to courage and to invest their side by side with the Turkish solving problems, and helping wrestle with their own lives, fears in his leadership and people. the people, and having a better they have to make many deci- therefore to move in a 25 year And so I felt when Bob future. And in that sense I sions about the kind of future period into a better world. called and offered me this think that Atatürk is a model they want, the kind of life they One of the byproducts of chance that this was a great that every young person in the want, the kind of opportunity that was that when the Cold opportunity and time for the world should study fully as they want for their children War began, Turkey resolutely United States. I don’t get much as we would encourage and their grandchildren. sided with the West and was a many invitations to go to the them to study Washington and And so I think when we very key player in containing local Rotary Club and explain Lincoln, and fully as much as gather today for this kind of the Soviet empire for 44 years. the central role of Atatürk. It’s we would encourage them to event, you’re celebrating more It’s easy to forget how hard this something I’ve studied, I’ve study the other leaders who than a man, although whether was, how long a process this thought about, I’ve tried at spent their lives trying to bring one argues Washington or was, how much pressure there times to learn from. I’ve tried people into the modern world, Lincoln, it’s not a bad league to was sometimes to back down. to see in what ways we can to help them achieve suffrage be in. This is certainly I think My father fought in the learn to do things better and and give them a chance to live a man who ranks with the Korean War, and always felt more effectively by studying in freedom and safety. great modern nation builders permanent affection for the how he did it. And I com- So I look forward for many of the last 100 years. A man Turkish brigade, which was so mend each and every one of years to come to work with you eminently worth of study for heroic, and so competent and you for taking the time out of and to work with the people so anyone who would like to proved its capabilities so beau- your life today for two rea- that together Americans and solve the problems of sub tifully, standing side by side as sons. One because it is good Turks can create a better future Saharan Africa, anyone who part of the Alliance. to celebrate who we are and working towards the kinds of would like to solve the prob- Today, despite occasional where we came from. It things we want our children lems of democracy in the Arab arguments, the fact is that strengthens, those flags matter, and our grandchildren to expe- world, anyone who would like there is so much more that people are bound together by rience. to try to help the Chinese binds 2.758"er that can push emotions that draw upon the Thank you very, very much.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TURKEY'S NEW MILITARY “ Just as you protected and saved LEADERS the country in its most critical and difficult moments from tyranny, ASA congratulates the three of the disaster and misfortune and from Turkish military who began their enemy occupation, I have no doubts tenure on August 30, 2006. that in the prosperous period of

Chairman of JCS today's Republic, with military tech-

General Yaşar Büyükanıt niques equipped with all the modern

weapons and implements, that you Chief of the Land Forces will carry out your“ duties with the General İlker Başbuğ same loyalty. -- Ke m a l At atü r k Chief of the Gendarme Forces 29 October 1938 General Işık Koşaner

12 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 AMBASSADOR FERGUSON'S SPEECH “I hope that the message that I am about to read you from our Prime Minister, the Honorable Helen Clark, will make it clear why the great founder of modern Turkey has an important place in the history of my country.” The Prime Minister's statement is as follows.

r. Edib, President of Atatürk Society, Mr. MYavalar, Chairman of Atatürk Society, the Honorable Gingrich, the Honorable Livingston, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is an honor for me to be here today at this commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the birth of a great statesman. I guess some of you at least are wondering why the Ambassador of New Zealand is here. I hope that the message that I am about to read you from our Prime Minister, the Honorable Helen Clark, will make it clear why the great founder of modern Turkey has an important place New Zealand Ambassador Roy Ferguson in the history of my country. The Prime Minister's statement row beach at what is now born; for New Zealanders, for sons are now living in our is as follows: called ANZAC Cove, evokes Australians, and for Turkey. bosom and are in peace. “May I convey greetings to the memories of the enormous Between the peoples of New Having lost their lives in this members of the Atatürk courage against a valiant foe Zealand this ancient land of land, they have become our Society of America on the cele- led by a brave and brilliant Turkey there grew a profound sons as well.” bration of the 125th anniver- young patriot named Mustafa respect that has flourished into These words are engraved sary of the birth of Kemal Kemal. our warm friendship today. on the memorial to the Atatürk. For New Zealand and other That spirit of reconciliation ANZAC soldiers that stands Kemal Atatürk will always allied forces, Gallipoli was a with friendship was inspired today on the Gallipoli have a special place in history military defeat. But it was a by Atatürk’s famous words: Peninsula. They also appear as that remarkable soldier who time of great personal sacrifice “Those heroes that shed on the Atatürk Memorial at the led the defence of his country and bravery on both sides. their blood and lost their entrance to the harbor in our on the Gallipoli Peninsula and Over the eight grueling lives…you are lying in the soil capital city, Wellington. They who went on to found the months of the Gallipoli cam- of a friendly country. recognize that true greatness as modern Turkish republic. It is paign, the opposing forces Therefore rest in peace. There a leader comes not only from not only in Turkey that this came to know each other - and is no difference between the courage on the battlefield but great statesman is remembered. there evolved respect for the Johnnies and the Mehmets to also from the ability to forge For New Zealanders the tenacity of the other side, an us where they lie side by side peace and reconciliation after Gallipoli campaign in 1915, appreciation of human quali- in this country of ours… You the conflict. when the Australian and New ties of the other. the mothers who sent their Rt Hon Helen Clark Zealand Army Codrps – or the Out of that tragic conflict, a sons from far away countries, Prime Minister ANZACS - landed on the nar- new sense of nationhood was wipe away your tears. Your Thank you very much.

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 13 May 19, 2006

Ahmet Necdet Sezer President

Mr. Hüdai Yavalar Chairman of the Board of Directors Of the Atatürk Society of America

History knows few leaders who through their struggles and victories changed the fate of their nation, influ- enced the course of history and played an important role in the shaping of the world. These leaders are immortal; through their ideals, system of thought, way of life and legacy they live on in the heart of their nation and continue to illuminate the way for future generations. Atatürk is an enduring leader who by successfully concluding the War of Liberation and establishing the Republic because a source of hope and strength for other nations. He is a leader who has left his mark on history, established himself in the consciousness of humanity and whose achievements are better understood with every passing day. As the architect of a more illuminated Turkey, the great man that is Atatürk has gained the respect of all nations through his knowledge, caring tolerance and his peace loving and democratic personality. His victories, thoughts and revolutions have had a deep influence on the world. As President Bush pointed out during his visit to Turkey, “It was with the spirit of a reformer that Atatürk established Turkey which is a shining example of a nation founded on equal rights as well as a secular democracy”. Turkey will continue to travel on the path that Atatürk has illuminated with his universal th birth- principles and revolutions and it will remain an honorable member of the modern world with its secular and democratic character. Our great leader, whose memory we proudly cherish with unabated love and respect on his 125 day attributed great importance to peace and later established peaceful relations with all states against which be previously had to conduct war. His principle that foresees peace at home and peace in the world reflects his humanitarian thoughts and also circumscribes the world he dreamed of. According to Atatürk peace is “the best way leading to internationalth birthday welfare of and Atatürk happiness”. on the Withterritory this, of Atatürk pointed out to humanity the importance of peace in making the world a more hospitable place. We are pleased that a celebration is held on the occasion of 125 our friends and ally, the Unitedto be anStates. indicator We believe of not onlythis meaningfulthe universality event of of Atatürk the Atatürk but also Society of the of strong America relations between the two states. I remember our great liberator with affection and respect and wish to convey my best wishes to you and all those participating in the celebrations.

(Signed)

14 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 15 16 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 17 tors, lawyers, engineers, scientist, tence by age-old mentalities and writers and politicians. His credo in Mr. Speaker, I rise today, May tradition-worshipping.” this regard was stated as a simple 19, to commemorate the 125th Mr. Speaker, Ataturk’s reforms equation in a speech in 1926: “ If a anniversary of the birth of the covered virtually area of public society of men and women is con- founder of modern Turkey, life, political, cultural, legal, educa- tent to apply progress and educa- Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, a post- tional, and economic all geared tion to one-half of itself, such a World War I revolutionary leader toward bringing the new Turkish society is weakened by half. “ It is who demonstrated that Islam and nation to the level of what Ataturk unfortunate that, to this very day, modernity are fully compatible. called “contemporary civilization.” too many nations in the Middle His example provides instruction Some of the changes were monu- East cannot grasp that easy math. and hope for our own era. mental, such as abolishing the When I met Pakistani President Ataturk died at the young age of caliphate, recognizing equal rights Musharraf four years ago, I gave 57 in 1938. Yet, in a short period of for men and women, discarding the him a copy of Andrew Mango’s time starting with the end of World Arabic alphabet in favor of Latin authoritative biography of Ataturk. War I, Ataturk was able to build a letters, and adopting secular law. “ Follow Ataturk’s vision, “ I urged nation from the ashes of the Others were seemingly minor, such him,” and you will put Pakistan on Ottoman Empire, establish secular as reforming traditional styles of the path to progress.” rule, and lay the groundwork for dress and mandating surnames. Mr. Speaker, I am convinced democratic development. His His leadership style was epito- that this is the right advice for the vision for his overwhelmingly mized by the alphabet reform. A leaders of every Muslim nation. Muslim nation was dominated by language commission he appointed With forward-looking vision, lead- two concepts: secularism and endorsed the reform in 1928 and ership, and determination in the progress. In his words, “In an age urged that it be phased in over fif- mold of Ataturk, the entire region when inventions and the wonders teen years. Ataturk had a different could expect a future of secularism, of science are bringing change after time-frame in mind. He phased it in tolerance, democracy, and material change in the conditions of life, over six months, punctuating his progress. nations cannot maintain their exis- decision with trips around the country in which he personally gave public instruction in the new alphabet. This reform has wrought a fundamental change in Turkey’s outlook, as millions of Turks, schooled in the Latin alphabet, have turned westward for their second languages and the learning to which those languages are the key. As a champion of women’s rights, Mr. Speaker, Ataturk encouraged women to become doc-

18 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 19 Reflections

A LOVE STORY LENT A HELPING HAND BY KEMAL ATATÜRK

In Installment I, appearing in Voice of Atatürk (Spring 2006), the author wrote about his recollections of his visit just a year earlier to Mustafa Kemal’s birth-house in Selanik, and the street on which his grandfather, Ismail Hakki, and Mustafa Kemal played as children (these were times before Atatürk introduced a law requiring family’s to generate last names). He also wrote about cruising up the storied Dardanelles, and the Battle of Gallipoli — where in 1915 the two men, both 34, fought for eight months against the ANZACS. The experience of that horrific battle would come to define the new nation at its conception, and make kindred spirits of Turkey, Australia and New Zealand.

While Atatürk would go onto become his nation’s savior and the first President of the republic that he helped found, Ismail Hakki would die in 1916 fighting against the Arabs near Diyarbakir, in southeastern Turkey. The author’s father, the young Mustafa Kemal, would attend the military college, Kuleli, and at graduation, come face-to-face with his legendary namesake, but now the recipient of the honorific title, Atatürk, “Father Turk.” In this, the second installment, he will meet the school girl who is to become his wife, the author’s mother. And a second meeting with Atatürk will take place, with auspicious consequences for the young couple.

ostensibly to receive additional training at INSTALLMENT II. America’s other great medical institution. Accordingly, the family moved to By Bülent Atalay, Ph.D. Baltimore for the next two years. In 1929, with my mother and uncle — ten and thir- teen years old, respectively — my grand- THE KÖKDEMIR FAMILY parents returned to Turkey and settled in My maternal grandfather, Bahattin Ankara. The children had learned to speak Kökdemir, born in Sinop, on the Black Sea, flawless English, a skill that would serve was a young physician who had received them well the rest of their lives. Shortly his medical degree in Istanbul. Shortly after after they returned to Turkey with some graduation in 1915, he married my grand- newly acquired western social habits — mother, Refika. They had three children — they found that Turkey was amidst some of the first child, a son named, Ertugrul Atatürk’s social reforms, launched during Pertev, was born in 1916; their second their absence. Western style clothing was child, my mother, Nigar Esma Atalay, in, the traditional Middle Eastern garb — would be born three years later; the third fez, turban, veil — was out; the Ottoman- child, Hüsrev, would come almost a gener- Arabic script, written from right-to-left, ation later, in 1938. (My grandfather had, was being replaced by the Roman alphabet, however, been married once before, but written from left-to-right — reforms that that marriage had ended in divorce. From my grandparents welcomed, reforms that that marriage he had also a son and a would make their own adjustment in daughter.) The family posed for a portrait returning to Turkey so very much easier. in Istanbul (ca 1921), my uncle approxi- Family photo of the Kökdemir Family around 1921, a In Ankara my grandfather was to mately five, my mother just two. My grand- few years before they traveled to the United States. become a successful physician, an internist, father is seen wearing the customary fez, as well as a specialist in public hygiene. As my grandmother a scarf over her head. States with his family, and spend the next a physician he was well known to adminis- Then in 1926 when my grandfather was three years on the East Coast of America. ter to rich and poor alike, but especially the awarded a Rockefeller fellowship to under- After a year at Harvard, he was given an poor! As a child I remember occasions take postgraduate work in medicine at extension of his fellowship and allowed to when patients would pay him with a pot of Harvard, he would journey to the United transfer to Johns Hopkins Medical Center, yogurt, a live chicken from their chicken

20 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 But they would not forget each other. tile neighbors, the country seemed contin- One day a few months later, my father, ually on the brink of war. There was also uncommonly bashful, made an unusually another factor to take into account: a suc- brazen move. He telephoned my grandfa- cessful and well-heeled engineer had also ther, the physician, and arranged for a pri- asked for my mother’s hand, and a man not vate visit – not seeking any professional in constant jeopardy of being inducted into service. He was there to ask for my moth- the military. The conundrum was not triv- er’s hand in marriage. He explained to my ial. My mother expressed privately to my grandfather that his own father had died in grandmother that it was the young officer WWI, that he himself was a military officer that she distinctly preferred. who received a modest, but dependable After my grandparents discussed the salary, but that each month he faithfully issue between themselves, they decided gave a portion of his salary to his widowed that my grandfather should consult his mother. own mother, then living in Sinop. My grandfather was impressed by the Accordingly, he wrote a letter to my great personal visit — untraditional in that no grandparents, expressing his own uncer- go-betweens were involved. He had seen tainty. The answer, however, would not during his years in America that intermedi- come for several weeks. aries were not involved in asking for a girl’s hand. But about giving his blessings to the A SECOND MEETING WITH marriage, he admitted his reticence, “I ATATÜRK don’t want my only daughter to be married A ball was held in 1937 in Ankara at the to a soldier who might get killed one of Halk Evi with members of my father’s mili- these days, and leave her a widow. I must tary company assigned to serve as guards After the three years in the United States, my grandparents were visibly Westernized. Much to take this under advisement. I will get back and ushers. Among the guests would be their delight, they would find that Turkey had also to you.” Then after a pause, he continued, Maresal Fevzi Çakmak, five-star general embarked on a course of westernization, echoing “Please, call us in a month.” He even gave a and Secretary of Defense; Ismet Inönü, the vision of its founder. date for my father to call again. Vice-President, perennial “Second Man” of In discussing the dilemma with my Turkey, and futurepresident; and the coop, or not at all. And as a public hygien- grandmother, there was agreement general incomparable Kemal Atatürk himself. My ist with a pair of books that he had pub- agreement, he was very polite, and he was father was standing near an entrance, when lished on the subject and in the late 30s he deeply devoted to his mother. And he was Atatürk entered the grand ballroom of the would serve as a member of the parlia- handsome — “Eli yüzü düzgün.” But there Halk Evi followed by his retinue comprised ment, a mebbus, after being nominated by was that seemingly insurmountable barrier, of Ismet Inönü, Fevzi Çakmak, and other Dr. Refik Saydam, the celebrated Minister he was a soldier! And surrounded by hos- leaders. When he saw my father, Atatürk of Public Health. But disillusioned by poli- gestured to him, appearing to have recog- tics and politicians after just one term in nized him. After a short pause, he actually office, he returned to his medical practice. started walking over to my father, who When my parents first met, my mother immediately ran over to greet him. Atatürk was only seventeen years old, my father 25. asked, “Weren’t you introduced to me at She was a student in a local school, and my commencement ceremony at the Kuleli a father, a young officer on few years ago?” My father answered nerv- temporary assignment, teaching military ously that he was. “Then young man, come science at a nearby high school. It was not and sit with us at our table.” long before they became enamored with As my father’s friends, the other young each other, but maintained a proper dis- officers, all looked on in puzzled silence, tance. Much, much later my father would my father was shown his seat — between confess to me, rather sheepishly, that they Atatürk and Inönü. His anxiety must have had once met secretly, having arranged to been palpable. Atatürk then asked him, meet in front of the movie theater in the “Do you take raki?” (Raki is the familiar downtown square, Ulus Meydani. There anise-flavored liquor in the Eastern they would see a film together, come out of Mediterranean, variously known as “ouzo” the theater, still maintaining the most A photograph taken of my mother in Ankara in to the Greeks and “arak” to the Arabs. The proper decorum, and then bid good-bye. 1937, shortly before her engagement to my father. clear liquid turns translucent, milky white,

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 21 pants form a chain, but in this instance the pers something in his boss’ ear. Atatürk dance is performed by a group of men only. acknowledges the message, but takes a few Atatürk stood up, and as if on cue, the more sips before standing up. Again every- other members of the high brass all rose. one at the table springs up in deference. Then Atatürk turned to my father, “Kemal But Atatürk turns to my father, and bey, won’t you join us?” By then, my father announces, “‘Buyrun,’ C om e , Ke m a l B e y, was entirely overcome with emotion, hon- we are going to visit the doctor!” ored to be sitting next to Atatürk at the Atatürk, followed by my father and the high table, imbibing raki with his hero, and aide-de-camp walk outside the Halk Evi, now participating in a folk dance with him where the Presidential Düsenberg sits, and the other commanders. His friends, all along with two lines of motorcycles pre- lined up along the periphery of the room, pared to lead the way. With my father sit- watched in utter disbelief! Atatürk led the ting next to Atatürk in the car, the motor- dance, holding a handkerchief in his raised cade negotiates the five or six miles to right hand, and my father’s right hand with Bahcelievler, in the suburbs of Ankara. The his left. My father, in turn, held onto roar of the motorcycles brings out everyone Inönü’s right hand with his own left hand, in the neighborhood. When my grandfa- and so on. There appeared to be a hierar- ther steps out of his house, he cannot chy in the chain, from Atatürk down to the believe his eyes. It is my father, accompa- lower commanders, except for my father, nied by his “friend.” With this kind of tacit Atatürk, accompanied by Inönü and in the rear who was distinctly out of place, so junior in recommendation my grandfather is not right, Maresal Çakmak. age and rank to all the rest. about to refuse his daughter. I hope that when water is added. It is believed that After the Harman dali the men returned his version is not apocryphal — a product over two thousand years ago, the powerful to the table and began to sip their coffee. of my own fertile imagination, but it is not relative of liquor was already known in the Afterwards, some of the men reflexively outside the realm of possibility. Rather it is area. According to tradition, Aristotle, the turned their cups over, if or when a for- just that neither my grandparents nor my legendary philosopher and teacher of tuneteller appeared and read their fortunes parents are alive now and I cannot inquire Alexander the Great, offered his pupil the from the ground coffee deposited on the further. drink telling him that it was “lion’s milk.”) inner wall of the cup. Although, the last incident is one that I My father had never tasted raki before, but The foregoing represented my father’s was unable to confirm, the following he nodded that he did, “After all, it was narration during the drive down the ‘sequel-to-the-sequel’ is entirely verifiable Atatürk asking him.” After he gulped down Gallipoli Peninsula in 1967, of an incident — repeated to me over the years by my one glass, a kadeh, he was immediately that took place thirty years earlier, in 1937. mother and grandmother. Just a day before offered another, and another. And he was In hearing this, I remember asking rhetori- the incident at the Halk Evi, my grandfa- in no position to refuse. cally, “Of course, you told him then that ther had received the much-anticipated let- Then as dinner was being served, you were the son of his old friend, Ismail ter from his father (it might be remem- Atatürk asked, “Are you married? Do you Hakki, didn’t you?” And, again I heard my bered that my great-grandmother had been have any children?” My father, his tongue father’s familiar refrain, “No, no, I could asked to counsel on the choice of suitors — now altogether liberated by the raki, men- not bring myself to tell him. I didn’t want “the engineer or the officer?”). This was in tioned being smitten by a beautiful young even the appearance of favoritism.” accordance with a traditional, perhaps cen- woman, but that her father, an eminent “Favoritism,” I said in frustration, “…it turies old practice, calling for a designated physician, was reluctant to let his daughter would have made him so happy to hear person, most likely the matriarch of the marry a military man. He also mentioned that you were his childhood friend’s son.” family, to go to bed, and “sleep on it,” isti- that he was still hopeful, after all, the father It has now been approximately forty- hare’ye yatmak. The next morning, it was had not said, “No!” The normally unflap- years since that memorable drive to hoped, she would wake up with the answer. pable Atatürk became noticeably quiet; Gallipoli (Gelibolu) when my father first In my great grandfather’s letter to my then he gestured to his yaver, his aide-de- narrated the foregoing, and certainly it grandfather there was the report: “Your camp, to approach. He whispered some- conformed with my mother’s recollections mother went to bed. And when she woke thing in the man’s ear, and the man depart- of subsequent year. But a sequel may exist, up she announced that she had seen in her ed. All very baffling! unhappily one that I remember hearing dreams ‘… a man standing at the foot of But just then the musicians started play- just once — again on that trip along the the bed… he was wearing a uniform!’” ing Harman Dali, a folk dance of Ankara. historic peninsula. In this version, right This clinched my grandparents’ decision. The dance is evocative of the Jewish folk after the men drink up their coffee, Atatürk had expressed his pleasure, my dance, the Hava Nagila, where the partici- Atatürk’s aide-de-camp reappears and whis- great grandparents had expressed theirs.

22 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 My grandparents were sanguine with their Atatürk’s vision. decision. My mother was happy. And my When I was two or three years old and father was ecstatic! The engineer is never living with my parents in Ankara, my mentioned in family annals again. father would often go off on courier duty The next time my father contacted my to embassies in Europe. He would take the grandfather would be to plan the date of train, frequently the Orient Express, to var- the wedding. It was to be in late 1938. ious capitals – Axis, Allied, occupied and As it turned out, just before the wedding neutral alike. Because of security concerns, could take place, Atatürk passed away in he was ordered by his superiors in Ankara Istanbul on November 10, 1938. He died to always rent an entire compartment, and in bed in Dolmabahçe Palace on the to plug the keyholes with candle wax lest Bosporus. When one tours the enemy agents gassed him to get to the Dolmabahçe now, the guides will point to papers that he was transmitting back and the alarm clock by his bedside, poetically forth between Ankara and its embassies. stopped at 9:05am — as if by divine inter- Now, as I peruse his passports from the vention — at the moment of his death. war years, I can see that his visits included Although there is an apocryphal element the Turkish Embassies in Lisbon, Paris, here, there is little doubt that the collective London, Bucharest, Berlin, and Moscow. hearts of all the Turks skipped a beat on A page from my father’s passport, dated August 2, Note: the page for Berlin features a that day. November 10th has since been 1942, indicates his visit to Berlin. The pages of Swastika. the passport are virtually exhausted with visas to recognized as the day of mourning for the other countries, some of them written entirely by Less than a year after the termination of ‘Father of the Turks,’ the ‘Father-Turk.’ My hand. hostilities, in January of 1946 my father parents postponed their wedding for two was appointed assistant military attaché to months, finally marrying on January 8th, ners.” Inönü, Atatürk’s always loyal right- London. Just five years old, I remember 1939. hand man, however, was determined to fol- well sailing from Istanbul, by way of Izmir In civil weddings performed in Turkey low Atatürk’s directive, and Turkey would to Cairo; then after several weeks in Cairo, the protocol calls for the two most senior remain neutral. flying to London, with a stopover in Malta. individuals in the room — sometimes Between 1939 and 1942 my father was The photograph of my father, wearing his celebrities, often officials or elders — to assigned a post in the Office of Military uniform, was taken when he assumed the serve as the witnesses, one witness for the Intelligence at the Defense Department. post in London in 1946 (Figure II.6). My bride, the other for the groom. I would And among his tasks was to serve as an sister Gülseren was born in London in like to think that had Atatürk not died domestic currier and convey important 1946, but after just seven months, would be when he did, had my father approached messages received by the Minister of returned by my visiting grandparents to him and told him about his own father, Defense to President Inönü, occupying the Ismail Hakki, then Atatürk perhaps would Pembe Kösk (literally the “Pink Palace,” personally have been one of those witness- Turkey’s White House). es at the wedding. By far the most memorable message that he personally remembered carrying to MY FAMILY POST-ATATÜRK President Inönü from the Chairman of the Before he died Atatürk had foreseen the Joint Chiefs came from the Americans. war that was going to erupt in Europe, and Roosevelt urged Turkey to remain neutral had impressed on Ismet Inönü that Turkey in the war. The message read, “After the was not to participate, but “to sit this one war ends, Turkey is needed as a bulwark out!” In 1939 the war broke out, and the against the drive for expansion anticipated countries of Europe started being pulled in from Stalin and his Communist cohorts. one by one. Both the Allies and the Axis We will transfer to your armed forces some Powers began to impress on Turkey to join of the most advanced weapons we are their respective sides. Churchill reminded sending to the Allied Forces.” Turkey did Turkey that it had been on the wrong side remain neutral. After the war, the Marshall of the fray during the WWI, and he made Plan was launched, as was the North it amply clear that this time around it had Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), better stand on the Allied side; and Hitler, inviting Turkey as a charter member. Both for the opposition, argued the converse, of these developments bolstered Turkey’s Major Kemal Atalay, Assistant Military Attaché to “…better to side with the eventual win- western leaning, entirely compatible with London, 1946.

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 23 Turkey, where they would take care of her. Trustees of the school when the film was Two years later my father was promoted to made.) Lt. Colonel and assigned to a new post, as During the three years I spent at St. assistant military attaché to Paris. Andrew’s, and subsequently the 9-10 years After Paris, a pair of domestic assign- I spent doing undergraduate and graduate ments would follow — two years in Sivas, work in theoretical physics at a variety of then an assignment in Ankara, as an assis- institutions in the United States and tant to the Chairman of the Joint Chief’s of England, my parents were living in Turkey. Staff, Org. Nuri Yamut. These assignments My father had assignments to Malatya would be followed in 1953, with another (Figure II.7), then Gelibolu (Gallipoli), fol- foreign assignment — this time to the lowed by Izmir, where he was promoted to “sweetest of all plums” among diplomatic the rank of Brigadier General in 1960. posts. He was assigned as the military During the decade of the 60s, my father attaché to Washington, DC. had assignments to the NATO About the time that my father’s assign- Headquarters in Izmir. Then he was based ment to Washington expired in 1955, I was in Ankara, where he served as awarded the Warm Memorial Scholarship, Commandant of the Jandarma, and enrolled at St. Andrew’s School, in Undersecretary of Defense, then in Istanbul Middletown, Delaware. Founded in 1930 as the Commander of the First Army. In Seen in the photographed taken in 1968 is Ismail by the duPont Family, this is an academi- 1967, when he was receiving his final pro- Hakki’s grave in Silvan, with the inscription ren- dered into modern Turkish characters. cally rigorous and unusually beautiful motion, I had the singular honor of pin- school featured in the 1989 Robin Williams ning a fourth star on each of his epaulets. son of Yusuf Ziya, Chief Justice of movie, Dead Poets’ Society. (Indeed, I was I had missed all his other promotions Thessalonica.” The marker also identified serving as a member of the Board of through the ranks, and this was my very Ismail Hakki’s brigade as being based in last chance. Ohri, where my father was born in 1910. Ohri was then part of the Ottoman Empire REVISITING ISMAIL HAKKI and is now a town in Macedonia. My My father frequently spoke of his memory father had a local stonemason build a of his own father’s visit to Biga in 1916, a slightly more elaborate memorial, and the memory he always described as being a inscription in old Turkish replaced by one “dreamlike vision” — formed when he was in modern Turkish (using letters of the just five years old. He would retire in 1970, Roman Alphabet). but not before another transformative inci- I had always known that my maternal dent took place. In 1968, fifty-two years great grandfather (whom I still remember after his father had died, my father, now as from my childhood and subsequently from Commandant of the Jandarma, was on a a myriad family photographs) had been the visit to the southeastern city of Diyarbaki, chief justice in the City of Sinop on the ostensibly to inspect troops. One day as he Black Sea. But from the inscription on drove through the small village of Silvan he Ismail Hakki’s gravestone there was now was approached by a village elder. The the revelation of my paternal great grandfa- man, after introducing himself, claimed to ther’s name, and that he also had been a my father’s astonishment that he had per- chief justice. sonally known his father, Ismail Hakki. And he said that he had followed my EPILOGUE — DISTINGUISHED LIVES father’s progress from a distance, through I have long envied the Irish who organize his assignments and promotions through wakes for their dead, celebrating good lives the ranks. He added that he knew where and not just mourning for them. To be Ismail Hakki was buried. My father, sure, we may miss immensely those depart- stunned by this revelation, accompanied ed. Leonardo da Vinci’s words, “A life well- the old man to a nearby graveyard, where lived is long,” resonates with meaning for he actually saw for the first time his father’s both of my parents, who left remarkable weathered headstone, the site of his grave. memories, lived such wonderful lives. My The headstone was inscribed in old mother died in 1993 just barely into her My mother in Malatya around 1957. Turkish, right-to-left, “Major Ismail Hakki, seventies — somewhat young for our

24 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 times. She had lived an astounding life — the door, and not wait outside until the recognized by everyone who met her for guests had entered their cars and departed. her wisdom and selflessness, her wit and He never spoke ill of anyone else. Finally, I MILESTONES humor, the elegance and astonishing beau- cannot remember a day that passed when JULY ty. When General Matthew Ridgway (1895- he did not mention Atatürk with deep ven- ...... 1993) and his wife, “Penny,” came to visit eration! July 12,1932 Turkey in 1952, my mother was assigned as How appropriate it was that such a good Opening Day of Turkish Language Mrs. Ridgway’s escort during her visit. and honest man, so full of love, would die Institution Indeed, this turned out to be a time of on St. Valentine’s Day. Late in the summer ...... immense ambivalence for my mother – she of 1993, as I completed the manuscript for July 24, 1923 was with the Ridgways in Ankara, when a book that I had been writing for several Signing Lozan Reconciliation Agreement her beloved father passed away in Istanbul years, I felt the painful ambivalence in pen- in September 1952. A year or two later, ning the dedication, of noting the terminal when my father was serving as the military year of his life. attaché to Washington, the Ridgways came to visit us in our home — Ridgeway at the “To the memory of an extraordinary man pinnacle of the armed forces of the United — soldier, statesman, father — General States, my father a colonel in the Turkish Kemal Atalay (1910-2003).” Army, and indeed they all maintained a ______correspondence for years afterwards. Fifteen years later when Charles de Gaule The author, Bülent Atalay, is a professor of came to Ankara on a visit, my mother was physics and an artist. The article about his assigned the seat next to the great man at family’s connection to Atatürk is excerpted AUGUST the official state dinner. She exuded charis- from a book that he is writing as a tribute ...... ma, and she spoke French as well as to his late father, Orgeneral Kemal Atalay. August 09,1928 English. He is the author of the highly acclaimed Atatürk introducing Latin letters to Nation By any measure, my father had a long book Math and the Mona Lisa, published in Istanbul and distinguished career. Having graduat- by Smithsonian Books (2004), currently in ...... August 30, 1922 ed from Kuleli in 1930, he retired in its eighth printing, and translated into Independence Day Istanbul in 1970. My sister and I gave a sur- numerous foreign languages. The Turkish ...... th prise 50 wedding anniversary party for edition, Matematik ve Mona Lisa, was pub- August 05, 1921 our parents on January 8, 1989, and some lished by Albatros Books in Istanbul in Giving Atatürk; agnomen of Commander- of their closest and oldest friends were in January 2006, and has already had three in-chief by Turkish Parliament attendance. We showed slides (some of printings. Bulent Atalay’s website appears ...... which have been integrated into this story). at http://www.bulentatalay.com August 23, 1920 - September 23, 1920 Sakarya War My mother died in 1993 after a long and ...... debilitating illness. At the time, I tried get- August 13, 1920 ting in touch with her friend, Penny Sevr Agreement (Agreement of Captivity Ridgway, only to find out that General before Independence War) Ridgway had also passed away that year, at ...... age ninety-eight years. August 06, 1915 My father lived a longer life than my Victory of 1st Anafartalar War mother — having been born nine years earlier than she was and surviving nine SEPTEMBER years past her death — died on February ...... 14, 2003. He lived to see five of his eight September 01,1929 great grandchildren, a grandson and a great Abolishing lessons in Arabic and Persian grandson named after him. His defining from high schools virtues had been his kindness and wisdom, ...... his unassailable honesty and his legendary September 02, 1925 modesty; and above all his graciousness. Shutting down Islamic tombs and dervish He would never open a door, without lodges ...... insisting on someone else going through it September 09, 1922 ahead of him. He would never see guests to Bülent Atalay Victory of Izmir

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 25 A Letter From a Members

Turkish-Americans and other millions of Americans, as well as the To the Editor majority of 73 million of Turkish people in Turkey; through TV, radio and newspapers heard and remembered again on May 19, 2006 the immortal ‘words’ of Kemal Atatürk who in 1923 created July 4, 2006 the only secular and democratic nation of Moslem peoples in history. Voice of Atatürk, Editor, Atatürk Society of America American General MacArthur, a great strategist and military 4731 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 2006 hero of the Second World War during 1938-1945 and the victor and reformist of Imperial Japan; and general Gazi Mustafa Dear Editor, Kemal (Atatürk) victor of Gallipoli of the First World War during 1914-1918 and the gifted war leader, reformist and founder Today, on the 230th Anniversary of American Independence in of the Republic of Turkey; conceived a liking for each other 1776, I would like to take this opportunity to address to the mem- from the moment they met when MacArthur visited Turkey in bers and friends of the Atatürk Society of America (ASA) to thank 1932. During a long conversation, conducted in the warm them for founding and supporting it since its first establishment in atmosphere of sincerity, the two men, in touching on world sub- 1995. During the last eleven years, especially after September 11, jects, expressed some remarkable thoughts regarding the 2001, with the tireless and courageous efforts and with the gener- future, which were full of both hopes and fears. Many years ous contributions of ASA members and friends, “Atatürk Society have gone by since then, crowded with historical events and the of America” became a great institution in America like many oth- sufferings and misfortunes of war, the end of which cannot be ers which are organized by forward looking immigrants with great seen even today. Two great soldiers, who in their political prog- visions who built and made America into what it is today. Now nosis foretold the future with astonishing clarity. Atatürk’s words shall last forever in America along with those of To MacArthur’s question about the situation in Europe, Atatürk Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and other great Americans and cit- answered as follows: izens of the world. “The Versailles Treaty has not removed a single one of the rea- Thanks to ASA, during these critical times of ‘Clash of sons which caused the First World War. It has deepened the Civilizations’ between Western nations and Islamic peoples, chasm between the main rivals of yesterday. The victors, steeped in hostile feelings, dictated to the vanquished conditions of peace, without taking into account either ethnical, geopolitical, or economic peculiarities of the defeated countries. If you American gentlemen had not withdrawn from European affairs and insist- ed on the execution of Wilson’s program, we could today have a lasting peace. If Europe’s statesmen, casting aside national egoism and differences, do not tackle with all sincerity and determination the solu- tion of fundamental political problem in the interests of all, I am afraid that it will be impossible to avert a new catastrophe. Strictly speaking, the European problem has long passed the stage when it was caused by differences between England, France and Germany. Today, there has appeared in the East, a new power, which threatens civilization, and even the whole mankind. This terrible power, besides mobilizing all its moral and material resources for world revolution, employs new political methods as yet unknown to Europeans and Americans and is skilled in making very good use of the slightest mistakes and oversights of its enemies. In the war, which will break in Europe, the first victor will be Bolshevik Russia. The Bolsheviks, who are exploiting the feelings of the awakening peoples of the East and are conniving in their national passions and feelings, and who know how to excite their hatred, have become a power, which threatens not only Europe, but also Asia.” When Asia came to be discussed, MacArthur said the following: “I agree with you completely. I think that the war which breaks out in Europe, will flare up immediately in Asia, America will, of course, not remain indifferent.”

26 Voice of Atatürk Summer’06 Franklin D. Roosevelt, only 4-time elected President of the It was indeed a very proud and emotional moment for all pres- United States of America during 1933-1945, said the following ent in the celebration ceremony when His Excellency Ambassador about Atatürk: Roy Ferguson, in behalf of the Prime Minister of New Zealand, “The American people have watched with sympathetic interest talked about Atatürk’s great humanistic virtues, especially when he the energetic efforts of His Excellency Gazi Mustafa Kemal, quoted Atatürk’s very memorable message to the mothers of President of the Turkish Republic, to accomplish reforms of a sig- ANZAC soldiers who lost thousands of their sons at Gallipoli in nificant and varied nature to the end that his country might take the Strait of Dardanelles during 1915 landing campaign where its rightful place among the stable, peaceful and forward-looking Turkish mothers also lost tens of thousands of their sons. Atatürk nations of the world. The outstanding measure of success which summed up the reconciliation in his famous words: he has achieved is a cause for sincere congratulations.” “Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives… you President Roosevelt who became the Second World War leader are lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. of the Allied Nations against Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany and There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to Fascist Italy after Pearl Harbor Attack by Japanese Navy at Hawaii us where they lie side by side in this country of ours… You the on December 7, 1941; in his personal letter dated February 28, mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away 1937 and addressed to “Honorable John Van A. Mac Murray, your tears. Your sons are now living in our bosom and are in American Embassy, Istanbul, Turkey” wrote the following: peace. Having lost their lives on this land they have become our “Dear John: I have not had a chance before this to thank you sons as well”. for that delightful story about Atatürk. It is one of the ambitions I think that 6.5 billion inhabitants on our common fragile home of my life to meet him and I would even be willing to stay up all planet Earth, especially 1.3 billion people in 55 Islamic countries, night…” Probably one of the greatest historians in the 21st always can truly find a shining way in Atatürk’s words for a better Century, Arnold Toynbee has summarized Atatürk’s achievements human fate in the 21st century through freedom, democracy, as follows: human responsibilities as well as human rights, and science. They “In the 1920s Kemal Atatürk put through what was perhaps as will clearly understand now that their individual faith and political revolutionary a program as has ever been carried out in any laws must be reinterpreted and re-taught as compatible with the country deliberately and systematically in so short a span of time. natural laws as proven by scientific theories and discoveries about It was as if in our Western world, the Renaissance, the the 14 billion years old expanding Universe of our common Reformation, the secularist revolution at the end of 17th century, Creator . In the words of Atatürk’s most important dictum: the French Revolution and the industrial revolution had all been telescoped into a single life time and been made compulsory by “The truest guidance in life is science.” law.” It was most significant that Atatürk’s historical achievements As a believer in Atatürk’s philosophy and as I expressed in my and the meaning of his ‘words’ were explained so eloquently on few words during the ceremony, I am sure that sooner or later, all May 19, 2006 during our celebration of the 125th Birthday of peoples of the world will realize that: Atatürk in the historical Cannon Caucus Room of the House of Representatives of the American Congress in Washington, D.C.; “Peace and better human fate on planet Earth may be possible and by a former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives only when a universal legal system and ethics based on science during 1995-1999, the Honorable Newt Gingrich, also a great for the common descent survival of the human race on Earth are historian himself. taught to all and accepted by all Nations and the population “Gingrich’s experiences as the son of a career soldier convinced growth rate is stabilized at a level not more than zero by each him at an early age to dedicate his life to his country and to the nation under a system of world governance according to a new protection of freedom. He received a Master’s and a Doctorate United Nations Charter and enforced through the UN Security from Tulane University in Modern European History. Before his Council and a UN Force with super power” election to Congress, he taught History for eight years. He served as a member of Congress for twenty years. He is recognized Our celebration of the 125th Birthday of Atatürk in Washington worldwide as an expert on world history, military issues and inter- was a great historical event not only for the Turkish people but national affairs and is a member of the Secretary of Defense’s also for the American people and their leaders who seek and work Defense Policy Board. He is the longest-serving teacher of the towards, to express in Atatürk’s words, one other great dictum, Joint War Fighting course for Major Generals. He serves on the Terrorism Task Force for the Council on Foreign Relations, and is “Peace at home, peace in the world.” an Advisory Board Member of the Foundation for the Defense of Sincerely, Democracies. He is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. and a distinguished visiting fellow at Turgut Burakreis the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in Palo Alto, ASA member since 1997 California.” [email protected]

Summer’06 Voice of Atatürk 27 Certificate Recipients

Mr. & Mrs. Ziyaeddin & Melahat Akcasu Mr. & Mrs. Greg & Linda Laughlin Mr. & Mrs. William & Frieda Alli Drs. Ali & Fevziye Manizade Mr. Nathan Altshuler Mrs. Gokhan Mutlu Mr. & Mrs. Galip M. & Ann A. Arkilic Mr. & Mrs. Sevgin & Elizabeth Oktay Mr. & Mrs. H. Bulent & Ayte Atabek Mrs. Tezer Ovacik Mr. Argon Atac, M.D. Dr. & Mrs. Mustafa Oz Mr. & Dr. Munir & Mutlu Atagun Mr. Mahmut Ozan Ms. Emel Aytay Dr. & Mrs. Vacit & Ansiline Ozberkmen Mr. Erkin C. Baker Prof. Turker Ozdogan Mr. & Mrs. Zeki & Sevinc Balimtas Dr. & Mrs. Fikret & Suna Ozkok Mr. Turgut Burakreis Mr. Howard A. Reed Mr. Gundogan Cagal Mr. & Mrs. Manuel & Claudia T. Rivera Drs. Attila & Olcay Cigtay Mr. & Mrs. Celal & Olcay Secilmis Mr. & Mrs. Robert & Nazan Cooper Mr. & Mrs. Yuksel & Belma Selcukoglu Mr. & Mrs. Tolga & Ala Cubukcu Mrs. Ayla Simon Mr. & Mrs. M. Arif & Suzanne Eragan Ms. Elaine Diana Smith Mr.& Mrs. Oray & Ayse Esiner Dr. & Mrs. Adnan & Guner Sonmez Mr. & Mrs. Evan & Leman Fotos Mr. & Mrs. Taclan & Demet Suerdem Drs. John & Turkan Gerdanier Ms. Aynur Sumer Mr. Nurettin Gokcora Mr. & Mrs. Aydin & Mine Tlabar Drs. Kemal & Meral Goknar Mr. Turan Tombul Mr. & Mrs. Celik M. & Genevieve Guracar Drs. Jay Courtney & Lebriz Tosuner Fikes Prof. Necip Guven Dr.& Mrs. Cevdet Turan Mr. & Mrs. Tunca & Meral Iskir Mr. & Mrs. Yilmaz & Guler Turker Mr. & Mrs. Dixon & Ayla A. Jordan Pof.Dr.& Mrs. Aytekin Ulgen Mr. & Mrs. Harun & Ayse Kaya Mr. Orhan Unutmaz Mrs. Sema L. Karaoglu Dr. Oktay Ural Dr. & Mrs. Ali Keskiner Prof. Nejat Veziroglu Mr. Edib Kirdar Mr. & Mrs. Derya & Mary Yavalar Mr. & Mrs. Cahit & Maya Kitaplioglu Mr. Ibrahim Yayla Ms. Nur Koc Mr. Edgar Yucel Mrs. Sevda Kursunoglu Mr. & Mrs. Ugur & Suna Yucelt