tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602491883206911283.post5393668962080873095..comments2008-04-01T11:24:28.298+04:00Comments on Katy's Arabian Adventures: Turkey & the EUKatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13484446169164294164noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602491883206911283.post-57278529403188888162008-04-01T11:24:00.000+04:002008-04-01T11:24:00.000+04:00Hi Riace,I'm not choosing to ignore history or eve...Hi Riace,<BR/><BR/>I'm not choosing to ignore history or even paint the picture that Turkey is the example that all other states should follow because that's just ignorant. My point was to compare Turkey with other predominantly Muslim countries and to show that to these countries, Turkey should be the model. Though it [Turkey] has many, many problems, it is the closest thing to a functioning democracy in the Islamic world. That was perhaps not clear in my first post.<BR/><BR/>And yes, I am appalled at the human rights record of Turkey, but there are quite a few eastern European countries who have been let into the EU with similar records, not to mention a far weaker economy than what Turkey has seen. <BR/><BR/>I feel I am able to speak on the social issues of both Turkey and western Europe since I have lived in both for some time and in terms of women rights, I can't say that western Europe is that much further ahead. Maybe in terms of government initiatives to ensure female representation in the work place and in government institutions, but that doesn't change the social mindsets of many European people. <BR/><BR/>Furthermore, I don't feel that it is our place to "civilize" a population of people. What is to civilize anyway? It's just a way to make someone else more like us. And why would we want to do that? Out of fear; fear of something different. I'm not saying let's not impart the knowledge we have and share with them (when they seek it), but my point with this article was simply to express my dissatisfaction with how the EU treats Turkey (like a small, insolent step-child). More specifically, making threats regarding Turkey's EU membership, which I see we are both in agreement - it will never happen.Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13484446169164294164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602491883206911283.post-29740822284066551392008-03-31T19:53:00.000+04:002008-03-31T19:53:00.000+04:00Dear Cathyyou choose to ignore History. And even t...Dear Cathy<BR/>you choose to ignore History. And even the most recent events.EU is a union of Democratic countries. Turkey does not qualify! Many military coupes the last 40 years! Even now the movement of the court is to be considered as a coup. <BR/><BR/>Wake up! Turkey is not a bridge between West and East. Turkey is part of the Muslim Orient with a repulsive face! Read the reports of International Organizations about human rights. <BR/><BR/>You are right though when you claim that EU will never allow Turkey in. All we care about is a civilized Turkey. We can help Turkish people, in particular women, minorities, homosexuals etc get a better life. But we would never accept to be overwhelmed by a wave of jobless, uneducated, poor muslims looking for a place in our Social Security Services.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com