I'm a little late to the party celebrating 100 years of the Turkish republic. I read that the observances were subdued due to the war in Gaza. But I'd be most interested in what you observed. I remember being surprised and moved on November 10 at 9 am when I lived in Turkey 2009-11. Everyone would stop and observe the death of Ataturk. Is he still revered by the people? Here's what I gleaned from news reports, with a link to my visit to Ataturk's mausoleum and some documentaries about him. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/turkish-republic-100-years-later
The celebrations were subdued. Gaza was given as a reason but it has been a tough year for Turkey. Of course, if you remember the bicentennial celebrations in 1976, it was also a time of inflation and uncertainty in the United States. It is tough to keep a republic together for a century or two.
Yes. This reverence is still there. My first year here, scores of people maintained a 24-hour vigil in Cumhuriet Square in Izmire in front of his statue. At my school, which is international but which is administered under Turkish law, all the students went outside around 9 a.m. There were some patriotic speeches, explaining who Ataturk was, then at 9:05 a siren sounded and everyone was quiet for a minute. I understand that all the cars stop on the roadways and and people get out and stand next to their cars in respect.
I'm a little late to the party celebrating 100 years of the Turkish republic. I read that the observances were subdued due to the war in Gaza. But I'd be most interested in what you observed. I remember being surprised and moved on November 10 at 9 am when I lived in Turkey 2009-11. Everyone would stop and observe the death of Ataturk. Is he still revered by the people? Here's what I gleaned from news reports, with a link to my visit to Ataturk's mausoleum and some documentaries about him. https://jimbuie.substack.com/p/turkish-republic-100-years-later
The celebrations were subdued. Gaza was given as a reason but it has been a tough year for Turkey. Of course, if you remember the bicentennial celebrations in 1976, it was also a time of inflation and uncertainty in the United States. It is tough to keep a republic together for a century or two.
Yes. This reverence is still there. My first year here, scores of people maintained a 24-hour vigil in Cumhuriet Square in Izmire in front of his statue. At my school, which is international but which is administered under Turkish law, all the students went outside around 9 a.m. There were some patriotic speeches, explaining who Ataturk was, then at 9:05 a siren sounded and everyone was quiet for a minute. I understand that all the cars stop on the roadways and and people get out and stand next to their cars in respect.
Thanks, James. That's what I remember. It was very touching.