At Turkish Daily News two columnists are currently debating each other. Mustafa Akyol first criticized fellow TDN columnist Burak Bekdil three days ago. Today, the latter responded to the criticism. Both columns are interesting reads, if for nothing else then to see how respectful both treat each other, while fervently disagreeing at the same time with one another.
Of course, there is more to it than that: one could also see this as two wellknown Turkish columnists debating with each other about the tone of columns (and what this tone should be like), and about the words one chooses to express oneself (and what words should be used). Basically, Akyol believes that Bekdil’s columns – and thus tone of them – have become increasingly shrill (and aggressive). After the elections (July 22), Akyol believes Bekdil started to exaggerate the danger the AK Parti poses to Turkey’s secular system.
Bekdil responded by basically arguing that there is something changing in Turkey and that he is worried (with reason) about the direction the AKP leaders take Turkey in. I for one believe that Bekdil exaggerated it a bit, but I think that Akyol is not correct either. He does not seem to see any problems (he’s a supporter of the AKP as far as I know, so it is quite logical). There certainly are problems, Gül speech on secularism proves that. His interpretation of secularism is quite different from the interpretation most convinced secularists would give. This will create problems in the (near) future, I am sure. So, the truth is somewhere in the middle: Bekdil exaggerates it alll a bit, and Akyol acts too much as if it is all same old, same old.
At least, that is me speaking from the perspective of a foreigner who visits Turkey every now and then (and who talks to Turks on a daily basis). For what it is worth.
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