10 Ekim 2018, Çarşamba
saat: 22:58


Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. Yet, those who do study history are doomed to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeats it.

"Second, we should not forget the fact that our people harbor a deep hatred and mistrust toward the present administration. Everybody views official declarations as attempts at disinformation. In fact, even when the government distributed cotton seed to the provinces free of charge because of the American Civil War, some farmers refused to accept it. When asked the reason for their rejection of this munificence, they responded: “Nothing good can come from the state. Who knows what hidden agenda there may be? We would not dare to accept it.”
And how could people not be mistrustful? A hundred thousand policies have been put into effect. All caused harm because the foundations are corrupt. Many persons who had the confidence of the public came to occupy high office, but they could not accomplish anything, for the same reason: the rottenness of the foundations. Is there any possibility that in the future people will have a warm affection for the government unless they themselves supervise the administration?
Furthermore, when a while ago the French emperor used the occasion of the Cretan crisis to advise the Sublime Porte that it should seek the public opinion of the people of Turkistan [Turkey] regarding the necessary reforms, the Sublime Porte responded by saying: “We cannot commit suicide by drinking so lethal a poison as public opinion.”
In fact, the opinion of the public is not a poison but an elixir of health. Just as a physician can only help individuals regain health with the support of their organs, so also the administration’s measures to reform the character of the state, which is a moral personality, depend upon the assistance of the people who are the constituent elements of the state. The only measure that will eliminate the present oppression and profligacy, and put an end to the mistrust of the people, is the adoption of the method of consultation. In fact, what has been said above proves this claim."

(Namik Kemal - "And Seek Their Counsel in the Matter")


*
The world’s longest and saddest book: great shit nobody noticed.

istanbul
hosting