Thank you alice! I greet you all, too!
I am Muslim; many other Muslims would consider me a bad one though. :rolleyes: I like to watch things
but don't actually participate. My spiritual side is weak, I guess.
Yes, it is a fact that the Christian community is small. I take it as a pity. But some people
on this board supposedly believes that the religious minorities, especially the Orthodox community
is being oppressed by the "majority". Well, it is not exactly true. No Christian or Jew asks for permission
should he go to the church or sinagogue. People just won't care about the others are doing so long as
they are not attracted. If something looks different to them, they only give a weird look; harmless but
curious. It hasn't anything to do with religion, race, interest, etc. Turkish people are quite passive, I would
be greatly surprised if one came to you questioning what you are up to, no matter what it is that you are doing (as
long as you are not harming it, or doing a shameful thing). When I used to wear 5 huge earrings, nobody said
anything, asked a question concerning my beliefs, but I felt many were keeping an eye on me. It is a disturbance
in my place, to be the center of attraction though. Sorry, perhaps this paragraph is a digression, but
can give you an idea as to the behavior of Turks when they confront a different situation or person. It is not
a matter of discrimination or blasphemy of Christianity.
Then why is there so small a Christian community, the Greek community in particular. The Catholics have never been
populated in Turkey as did the Orthodox, so no consideration. Most of the Greeks migrated to Greece after 1923, they
swapped countries with their Turkish counterparts. Then in 1955 the majority of them had to leave as the result of
an embrassing assult to their properties and to lives of some.
But seeking religious causes for these would
be inconclusive, as the problems were political. Before 1923, the two nations deeply hurt each other in the
battlefields. Their exchange was a must. The terrible riot against the minorities in 1955 was caused by the
gossips of some very influential idiots, and crowds waiting for action were benefited. Gossip was that the house of
Atat�rk in Thessaloniki had been demolished by the Greeks. No communication then, no discrimination between the fact and
the myth, so these people believed it and reacted. Sad but true. Again no religious motive behind it, believe or not. hehe
You might recall the sinagogue bombings in Istanbul in Nov 2003 and ask about them: Weren't the attackers Muslim Turks?
Yes, sadly enough they were. Yet, they were terrorists..! Not much to add.
Before the Greek Kingdom declared independence from the Turkish Empire in the 19th century, from 15th century thereon
the Turks and Greeks showed that they could live together. There have been many Greeks promoted to Pasha, Vizier,
Governor status in the Empire. So what about the desecrated churches after 1453? Oh well, the concept of preservation of
monuments didn't exist at those times. Battles, conquers, desecration prevailed, not caring of monuments. Am I wrong? I am
only trying to anticipate those people in the Middle Ages. By chance I have come to read passages from Envoy to Constantinople of
Liudprandt of Cremona, narrated in the 10th century by an Italian ambassador to Byzantium. I assure you that the Catholic-Byzantine relations
had been far worse than the forthcoming Ottoman-Byzantine relations.
Some of the members of the board pray for that day which they will again be able to worship in Hagia Sophia. I
would want to witness it, but them sharing the huge place with the praying Muslims. Optimistic Mustafa.
It is sometimes
sad having to be realistic. Constantinople would nevertheless fall, to Turks or to Catholics. Do remember the 4th Crusade.
Do remember the demolishment of the Hippodrome, the Obelisk. Accuse Turks, but not for conquering the city. Accuse them
(in the present) for not preserving the monuments, whether they be of Christian origin or of Islamic. I feel pity for the
Church of Pantocrator, for example, the Zeyrek Mosque. The inside is almost in ruins. But it is a mosque currently, not
a church as it used to be. So is the once Church of St. Bacchius and Sergius. And so are the astonishing Ottoman baths,
palaces. They all hurt me, not just the mosques or just the churches.
To make it short, thank you alice for giving me the chance of introducing myself and why I am against extremist statements, from
either sides. The bunch of idiots (max 50 people) that intruded the seremony were taken under custody by the police. They
are no worry, believe me. The word Greek irritates my people still, but that's it. For a moment break through your religious
point of view, because it causes prejudice. I am a lover of Istanbul and Constantinople, I adore the Byzantine way of living,
the monuments. I don't have political concerns. Maybe most of you do, it is understandable because I know them from here. It is
history to be learned in those days' context, not to feed resentments of the present day.
Best regards,
Mustafa Karakaya
P.S. Sorry about the long post which could itself be another topic.
