The economic independency and development

When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was struggling for the freedom, he faced with a fact: the economic dependency. Turkish nation was very poor. They had a few things to support the army. They didn’t have sufficient food and outfit. The outfit of the troops were so bad that it wasn’t suitable for the climate conditions. Even thousands of troops died without shooting any bullet in Sarıkamış region (Northeastern Anatolia). Because they were frozen while marching to the Russian territory due to the summer outfit. The weapons weren’t enough and they were old-fashioned. But the western allies were supporting the Greek army. They gave the Greek army modern weapons and planes. Greek army was dependent to UK for the war in Anatolia. We can list more of those examples.

Even before declaring republic, he made plans to solve this problem. All of the plans were based on the economic development of new Turkish State. All preparations were made in the independency war period. After the victory, all plans became true, and economy started to rise up. Atatürk stated that if the military triumphs hadn’t been supported with economic triumphs, the military triumphs wouldn’t have any meaning. So, the most important thing is to have economic independency for a country. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had experienced it from the first hand. He always stated that new Turkish Republic has a national economic basis.

Always Atatürk…

How was Turkish Republic established even we fought against Imperialism and interior threats?

Starting from 1918 to 1923, Turkish nation had a tough fight for the freedom. After the WW1 the Western allies wanted to share Ottoman Empire’s territory. Anatolia is located in the center of two regions: Asia and European countries. Majority of the Anatolian region belonged to Turkish population (still today). With the damages of time, this population got tired and less due to the war causalities.

Balkan Turks were aware of the fact that Ottoman Empire had lost the sovereignty. As Ottoman Empire rejected to change, it became a bait for Western allies. Islam- based sovereignty collapsed because Arab parts of Ottoman Empire rejected to remain under Ottomans. Nationalism was raising and it became a key point for Turkish nation. Mustafa Kemal was one of the nationalists that grew up in military. He realized that everything had changed in Anatolia. Anatolian public wasn’t supporting Istanbul because they declared that those allies (enemies) were friends and not to resist against them. Anatolian public realized that Ottoman family was caring their own benefits. So, they united around nationalist team with the leadership of Mustafa Kemal. They decided to fight for their freedom. Some interior threats were helping invasion. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stated that interior threats were the most important threats. He relied on the clean spirit of Anatolian public. Mustafa Kemal, his colleagues and the entire Turkish nation united with a goal; to win this fight even though the cost (Death or Freedom). This unity brought us victory.

Always Atatürk….

How can a country survive and be strong in the world?

Atatürk is a wise stateman and soldier, that’s why he has great recipes to survive in a long lifetime for his works. Thanks to history, he had a great knowledge about the leaders and states. There are some hints about this subject;

1. Firstly, ones who will stand to rule the country should be qualified to rule the country. Weak or insufficient politicians will cause to weaken the state.
2. The politicians should resist for heavy conditions. They have to be stable even in a stressed situation. They should be ready to make good evaluations for the future.
3. Everybody in the country is responsible for the safety and development of the country. All of the people have missions for the country. Ones who love the country the most are the ones who fulfill his/her missions.
4. The primary missions of the politicians are to protect the freedom of the public and to provide the best economic conditions for the public. The benefits of the public are the most important rules.
5. The public has right to supervise the cabinet and politicians. The constitution is the main source to rule the country.
6. A country has to show the necessary development in education. Atatürk’s statement: There are two sorts of army, national army and teachers…
7. Science is the main guide for the development.
8. National economy should be supported with production. The economy shouldn’t be dependent to import.
9. The economic sources of a country should be evaluated for the benefits of the country. They shouldn’t be given to second or third parties.
10. Technological and political changes have to be followed, and it is necessary to react them as soon as possible.
11. Individuals have to be educated or trained according to the benefits of the country.
12. Respect to the other nations and the nature are the basic principles. Peace in the world brings us the ideal world for us.

Briefly we need to evaluate our politicians very well not to have any problem for the future while voting and supporting them.

How did Atatürk react the people against him?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is such a leader that he is aware of that there are some people reacting him. Because he never acts with his feelings, his intelligence is always one step ahead. He welcomes every situation with his intelligence. A person may not think as he is or may not agree him. He evaluates it in frame of intelligence. A sample from his life;

A villager was accused of insulting to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The authorities informed him about the situation. He asked the reason of accuse. They replied to him that he insulted him because he tried to make cigarettes with newspaper pieces due to the short of cigarettes. So, he burned. Atatürk replied to the authority by asking a question; Have you ever tried to smoke with newspaper pieces? He replied to Atatürk negative. Atatürk stated that he had tried once while he was in Tripoli. He added that it was very horrible. The villager was right. So, he told the authority not to accuse him of insulting himself. He advised the authority to provide him cigarettes and healthy smoking possibility instead of accusing him.

A real leader always questions the situation with all details. If there is any problem on the economy or policy, the citizens may react it in every manner. So, the primary mission of a state is to overcome the problems on the necessities of the public. Real leader cares of the benefits of public as primary mission.

Why is it so important to reach the civilized countries?

We have to mention that target of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is often mentioned wrong. Because the target is to reach the civilized countries (not to be Westernized) and also to be higher than them. Civilization means to have high standards in various fields. When a country achieves to reach the civilized countries, that country has right to take place in the international area. That’s Atatürk’s object for Turkish Republic.

Atatürk always stated when a country couldn’t get civilized, that country would be a bait for others. That’s why, civilization is a very important target. In every field-such as economics, technology and culture- it is very important to show development. On the other hand, if it can’t be achieved, that country will be faced a disaster. Briefly a country should be ready to compete with other developed countries. It requires to work hard and to be qualified. Education is the most necessary branch to achieve this goal. Qualification is also other necessary fact for a country. This fact brings a country to the top positions. Atatürk’s statement: Civilization isn’t far away from us, Turkish history is full of civilization examples. Pride with your history. Every citizen is responsible for development of a country. Civilization means to respect every idea and belief (EXCEPT THE HARMFUL AND HOSTILE ONES). Civilization is also to know how to live together. It is very important in today’s modern world.

Always Atatürk…

How does a state work?

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk determined the order of the new state in the beginning of his struggle. He developed his model with historical facts and observing Turkish public. Benefits of Turkish nation are over everything. That’s why Mustafa Kemal Atatürk designed the new Turkish State according to the Turkish nation’s benefits.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had some necessary rules for the Turkish State. His experiences and the people around him shaped those principles. You should also add historical basis of the events. Firstly, he was a Turkish nationalist. Nationalism is the basis of the Turkish Republic. The real power belongs to the public. Turkish Republic has a constitution. The state order is determined in frame of law. Division of powers (lawmaking, enforcement and justice) makes the state more stable. The primary mission of the state is to protect the public Top politicians should watch the benefits and welfare of Turkish public. They should be aware of the facts of Turkish nation and the world. They are responsible for the welfare of the public. They also should be transparent to the public. Honesty is also very important for the decent politicians.

Always Atatürk…

National Sovereignty

While Mustafa Kemal was designing the new Turkish Republic, he had only one basis: National Sovereign. As he believes in the public’s spirit, he founded Turkish Republic based on democracy. Some people had considered him as dictator or sultan. But he always rejected all those titles. Because he always thought as a member of Turkish nation. He had no privilege or limitless authority. That’s the reason why he had Turkish Senate founded in 1920.

In opposite of monarchy or dictatorship, the public has power on the top administration. The public votes their administrators and also supervises them. The authorities and missions are limited with a constitution. No one can act without any law. The public has right to state the opinions on various subjects or critize the administrators. The constitution gives both parties various rights in frame of law. Nobody has limitless freedom. The freedom of a person finishes when it violates other person’s rights. So, an order can be established in public. Division of powers is also very important. Those powers are law making, enforcement and justice. They have different organs to put them in order. Any person or any position can’t control them together. It creates chaos in public.

Always Atatürk….

A nation; A unity of language, culture and goal

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk is one of the leaders that can describe what the nation is exactly. Thanks to his history knowledge, he was able to design the best model of a nation. This model is so great that it has been working for 100 years. It is also a guide for the nations to be free. It also raises up a nation to developed countries level (even to higher level).

Firstly, it is important to realize the value of national values and culture. As it is the basis of being a nation, this makes the nation understand that they aren’t slaves. They do understand that they have their own culture and values. Their native language is one of the factors that make them united. A nation needs one factor, too: Goal unity. A nation should be united around a goal for example to be free or reach the civilized countries. Freedom is dependent on the full independency. Working hard and not to get tired of working for your nation are the key principles. If this goal is suitable for the benefits of the nation, that works more. It also should be realistic.

Always Atatürk…

Longing for Salonika….

Mustafa was born in Salonika (today’s Greek city) in 1881. He had his education in Salonika. So, he could speak Greek language and Ottoman Turkish language. He grew up and made friends in Salonika. After graduating from military school, he was commissioned in various frontiers and cities of Ottoman State. That means, he couldn’t be able to see Salonika again.

After Salonika was invaded by Greek army in 1912, it became a Greek city. Mustafa Kemal got very upset when he heard this news. He was terrifying for Salonika and also his mother and his sister were in the city. He was fighting for his country, he couldn’t be able to help them. It can be considered as a deep injure in his heart in his entire life. Up to the memories, after he found out that Salonika was invaded, he told his friends that they had never seen Salonika again. That was true. Even though after the victory, he couldn’t see the city where he was born.

The house that he was born in was bought by Turkish Republic and it was converted into the museum. Ut is also still being used as a division of Turkish Republic.

Always Ataturk……

A guide for a nationalist…

Wherever you live, a nationalist person has some features. A nationalist is a person who can ignore or minimize the personal benefits. There is only one goal for a nationalist: to work hard for the nation and the country. Even you get tired, there is no choice to quit. If you can get good ideas or suggestions from the people around you, you have many valuable sources for the success. Firstly, you have to know how to connect the right people for your mission.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is a perfect guide for a nationalist. His works, his principles and his positions toward the situations are great lessons for the ones who want to be successful. Firstly, he cares the nation that he is the member. Not the personal benefits, the national benefits are vital. A fight for a country is an endless struggle. It never ends. International agendas and the conditions of the country have to be known very well. So, you are able to make true evaluation. Every movement should be thought very carefully. To have history knowledge lets a person have a far-sighted feature. A nationalist never separates himself/herself from the nation. A country is powerful when it becomes one for a goal. Nationalist should know how to keep the promise like Ataturk. There will be some problems to come over. It is the nature of this mission. Ataturk was strong mentally; he could be able to come over every problem even how hard they were. This is another feature of a great nationalist.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk leads us in a successful path. That’s why he is the only leader of Turkish Republic.

Always Ataturk….