So... which countries are our "friends"?

[winoman]

Do you have the Diyanet in mind?

I am not familiar with that term - though I suspect we may be talking of the same agency...

[radar]

Wow, although I oppose, I appretiate your knowledge about Turkish politics.

[Selcen]

ANAP has shown itself to be weak, ineffective and without any true policy. MHP is mostly fringe and will never (hopefully) apeal to many more then it does now. Virtue (or AKP now...) is Welfare party reborn - with smarter and less obvious folks runnign the show. Do they truly believe in democracy and Islam only as a sideshow? I'm not sure we (or anyone) can really answer this..and besides these are fluid things - personality driven, event drive..and reality can change in a day. And while I agree the rise of Isalm (at least on the national political scene) is - in part - due to the lack of viable alternatives...I also ask you if you really are so blind as to not see what is happening out on your streets - even in the cities - and among attitudes of people...and again - I contend that you are out of touch with (significant portions of) your population. Ignorance is bliss (and we Armenians can apprciate this Turkish ignornce when it comes to recognition/understanding your history beyond the well concocted myth)...so OK you are not worried...get back to me in a few years...I think you (and many other Turks) will be asking yourself how you could have been so blind...

You seem to know quite a lot about Turkish politics. The AKP is a more modernized and media-savy continuation of the Welfare Paty. I agree with you there. They won't commit the same blunders as their predecessors that's for sure. They do test the waters from time to time, but don't think they are backtracking because they are afraid of the military. Most of the people you describe migrated from the countryside and have difficulties in adjusting to city life. But their children have adapted well and will progress with future generations. The AKP for all its mistakes isn't a treacherous party. Nor is Turkey another Iran even if you like to imagine it like that.

[Selcen]

I am not familiar with that term - though I suspect we may be talking of the same agency...

The Directorate of Religious Affairs to be exact.

[Selcen]

no doubt...and yes I do...

Were you an exchange student or a visiting scholar there?
Or did you just enjoy some patisserie at the Bilkent Plaza?
I live in Beytepe, which is a nice suburb very close to Bilkent, so I often visit that place.

[winoman]

The Directorate of Religious Affairs to be exact.

Actually no - I was thinking of the MGK buearacracy...with what 20-30,000 folks at HQ in Ankara alone...of course as all Mosques and employees of such - including the local Mullah or what have you are employees of the Directorate of religious affairs - perhaps they come in at least a cloese second...sad eh? (on both accounts...)

[winoman]

Were you an exchange student or a visiting scholar there?
Or did you just enjoy some patisserie at the Bilkent Plaza?
I live in Beytepe, which is a nice suburb very close to Bilkent, so I often visit that place.

I have been there and know Beytepe - a plesent little community which is just west of the university row along whatever that major highway that is always under serious construction/detor. I've never eaten there (At Bilkent) but have had very nice Soujook at a little stand at METU...do you know the funny story about the empty/abandoned McDonlads there?

I'm fairly familiar with Ankara - been all over town..actually have done some lets call it evasive driver training there! .- I've been to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations a few times, stayed at the Shereton (nice there/around there), paid my respects to your drunken hero - that sort of thing. Ankara is certainly not at all my favorite place in Turkey - not even close...I much prefer Amasya, Antalya, Istanbul, Trabzon, Side...you get the idea...

[radar]

I have been there and know Beytepe - a plesent little community which is just west of the university row along whatever that major highway that is always under serious construction/detor. I've never eaten there (At Bilkent) but have had very nice Soujook at a little stand at METU...do you know the funny story about the empty/abandoned McDonlads there?

I'm fairly familiar with Ankara - been all over town..actually have done some lets call it evasive driver training there! .- I've been to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations a few times, stayed at the Shereton (nice there/around there), paid my respects to your drunken hero - that sort of thing. Ankara is certainly not at all my favorite place in Turkey - not even close...I much prefer Amasya, Antalya, Istanbul, Trabzon, Side...you get the idea...

I'm surprised that you are not full of hate. Others will get angry to you.
And it surprised me that you know much about Turkey. I live in Ankara and hate this city, too.

[Selcen]

I'm surprised you know about Beytepe let alone visiting it. Hardly anyone in Ankara has heared about it. Of course I know about that abandoned McDonalds in METU! I wonder what kept them so long before they closed it down. I've only been there once or twice. What were you doing in METU? I'm even more confused.

I hate to admit it but I've never been to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and only once to the Mausoleum about 15 years ago. Beytepe is a pretty insular place and there is no decent public transportation available here. So I'm mostly stuck here after I leave my office, which is also close by.

[winoman]

I'm surprised you know about Beytepe let alone visiting it. Hardly anyone in Ankara has heared about it.

Let me guess - your father works for the MOD...I know I'm right...been there too BTW...

Of course I know about that abandoned McDonalds in METU! I wonder what kept them so long before they closed it down. I've only been there once or twice. What were you doing in METU? I'm even more confused.

just visiting...

I hate to admit it but I've never been to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and only once to the Mausoleum about 15 years ago. Beytepe is a pretty insular place and there is no decent public transportation available here. So I'm mostly stuck here after I leave my office, which is also close by.

You are really missing out - a great musuem...one little flaw however - but so very typically Turkish...no mention of Armenians...no...none at all...so is this the official Turkish position - that there was no Armenian civilization in Anatolia? (actually I know the answer to this question as well)...well I know there was...I've been to Ani too BTW...and a bunch of other places where at least any Turkish destruction of ours has not been complete...