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Very specious reasoningReader comment on item: Is Turkey in Europe? Submitted by Shishir (United States), Aug 3, 2013 at 02:29 .Mr Cervik,your entire rationale on Turkey being in Europe is based on Turkish supremacism ,dubious history and bizarre logic as I will elaborate on below Historically Turkey is too European. Nearly half of Europe belonged to us until only a century ago and there is no European history without Turkey :-) Im sorry but that is just lazy.Historically "Turkey" was European well until 1453 and earlier before the Seljuks arrived.It was then the Byzantines which WAS European.Just because Europe was misappropriated by Asiatics it doesnt mean you become European.You had imposed your culture,religion and values on Europeans by force and coercion.Contrast this with another Asiatic people in Europe-the Hungarians-they are European because ,save for their language, they had assimilated to European culture rather imposing theirs on Europe. And just because you owned Europe ,it doesnt make you any more European than Britain owning India made the British Indian! 2. Politically Turkey is totally European, involved in all and every affairs and institutions of Europe. Political alliances are one thing.Cultural are another. India and Israel for instance have strong political alliance with very little in common.This doesnt make Israel Hindu or India Jewish! And how exactly is Turkey involved in "all and every affairs and institutions of Europe."? 3. Economically Turkey is very much European. Turkish economy is totally integrated with European economy in every aspect. As a market, as a partner, as a producer, as a provider. Are you serious?What is going for Turkey is that is not part of the EU. As for your argument that as a market,producer and provider ,that can be applied to many non European countries not just Turkey.If Turkey does contribute more than others, it is due to geographical convenience. 4. Geographically we are more European than UK, Cyprus, Malta and Ireland :-) This is an utterly dishonest and illogical argument.And your smiley face should not shield you from the contempt you deserve from uttering such drivel 5. Culturally... Hmmm thats the tricky part.. It depends on what you define European culture as. If your definition is based on religion yes we are not european. If you define European culture based on universal values of human rights, democracy, civil liberties, we are on a good track towards these. Religion may not be a big deal in Europe now but it was at one point and that is what defined Europe along with Classical Greek civilization(both of which your ancestors destroyed in Turkey). And your track record towards human rights,democracy and civil rights is impressive only by Middle Eastern standards ,not by European! 6. Strategically Turkey is indispensably European. Too good of a gem to lose to the other side and too good of a Triumph of victory to win to its own side. I doubt Europe desires a border with Syria or Iraq.So the strategic argument is out the window 7. By the parameters of "Dome of Civilization" Turkey has a feet under each. European, Islamic, Turkic, Mediterranean, Balkan, Asian. Bordered and influenced by 4 great cultures of the world. Russians in the North, Persians in the East, Arabs in the South and Greeks in the West. Now is not this a true blessing and treasure !? I think you mean Turks have their foot over the necks of European,Balkan and Mediterranean civlizations . And your argument for the appeal of being influenced Arabs ,Persians and Russians is yet another strike of Turkey being European Tell me honestly are you Debanjans long lost secular twin? Submitting....
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