Posted on 06/10/2013 2:12:48 PM PDT by DBeers
For years, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was generally considered an example of “moderate Islamism”, a loose label that was generally based on a comparison with other Islamist dictatorships, like Iran, or with the various semi-secular autocratic regimes that dot the Arab and Muslim world. There was never a comparison with a liberal Muslim democracy, simply because none existed.
In other words, Erdogan earned his credential as the moderate, Islamist democrat in the Middle East, partly because of his success in Turkey, but also due to the lack of any democratic competitors. Admittedly, it was not just the west that labeled Erdogan as a “moderate”, but this pseudo concept was also popular in the Arab and Muslim world. A mixture of glamorous soap operas, exotic cities and beaches, and vibrant economic growth has led many Arabs to build a very idealistic image of Muslim Turkey.
On 27 May, this mirage was crushed with the eruption of protests and the ruthless police brutality in response. The eyes of many Arabs were opened to the illiberal side of Turkey; tense and divided and struggling to harmonise religion with politics.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailynewsegypt.com ...
Islamic controlled freedom and democracy, yeah right Obama...
Ataturk witnessed first hand the terrible real cost of backwardness. In less than twenty years of public life, this remarkable man created a secular state and brought Turkey into the modern era. The secularists had ruled Turkey for over eighty years with the Army being the ultimate guarantor of Ataturk’s legacy. Unfortunately the secularists imposed mostly socialist like policies on the country. Outside a few urban areas and for some privlidged groups, most of the country remained economically undeveloped and poor. It is not suprising that the impoverished, poorly educated, mostly rural majority has turned to fundamentalism. Political Islamists have held power for the past ten years and have really frightened the secularists as they have taken control of the army and security forces. Change comes to all human endeavors. Unfortunately it is not always good.
Yes, this is a terrible situation for freedom and reason.
It would be a disaster for Turkey to devolve into Islamism. The smart people there are forward thinking and not kowtowing to Erdogan. Where did they go wrong? Or are they, as someone suggested yesterday, simply outnumbered and getting more outnumbered every day thanks to the large birth rate among peasants.
I’ve heard that Muslims think they cannot be beaten by anyone because they reproduce like rabbits. The War of The Womb, they say. Heard that at a party years ago in Seattle at home of some Muslims. Highly educated and well-paid Iranians. Charming people but who knows what lurks...
Anyone have a good live feed of the riots?
Can’t find live feed. Can anyone help me out with direct link?
Sure would be nice if someone would trot out a camera. If feather there was a better occasion, I can’t think of it.
Protests in Turkey: Riot police use tear gas, rubber bullets to eject protesters from Taksim Square in Istanbul (PHOTOS)
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/riot-police-eject-protesters-taksim-square-istanbul-article-1.1369092
http://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/img/editorial/2013/06/11/100807396-978031_10152869276280313_1830293644_o.240x160.jpg
Cramer: Could Riots Set-Off Big Downturn?
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100807701
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