While We’re Preoccupied with the American Election, Does Anyone Care about Those Who Drowned on Lake Van?
Published in Sabah
(Turkey) on 20 July 2020
by Mehmet Barlas (link to original)
(Turkey) on 20 July 2020
by Mehmet Barlas (link to original)
Translated from
by Ben Kusmin.
Edited by Gillian Palmer.
Deep state actors and entrenched media in America are doing everything they possibly can to prevent Donald Trump from being reelected. According to a recently released telephone poll, Trump’s opponent, Joe Biden, is leading with a 55% approval rate, while Trump’s chances are at best in the 40s.
The Election
Of course, we must follow such news warily, because in the last election, Donald Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, also led in all the polls. Those casting votes are not members of the entrenched media or deep state actors. They are nationalists, gun owners and a segment of the population opposed to Blacks and liberals. Moreover, evangelicals numbering almost 50 million are also on Trump’s side.
Trump Is More Suitable
As a Turkish citizen, I of course want Trump to be reelected. By all indications, if Trump is reelected, America will continue to turn inward. Trump says he will rejuvenate America’s aging infrastructure, building new roads and new airports. Biden, meanwhile, evokes the foreign policy strategy of Barack Obama’s administration that we found so disturbing — proxy wars, support of terrorism and the stoking of instability. Biden has given no indication that he will deviate from this playbook. Add to this that it is not yet clear who Biden’s running mate will be.
Migrant Drownings
While we follow developments in American politics, the number of migrants who drowned in the capsized boat on Lake Van appears to be confirmed at 59. But then, news items about celebrities and the beautiful people on the beaches of Bodrum are more interesting than the fates of 59 unfortunate migrants.
Islamic Prayers at Hagia Sophia
The most interesting situation in Turkish political life, meanwhile, involves the topics main opposition parties are fixating on and steering toward the general assembly. For example, on the current agenda of the Republican People’s Party is the thorny issue of whether its leader, Muharrem Ince, should bear sole responsibility for praying at Hagia Sophia. Yes, we live in difficult and confusing times. The defeats of the final chapter in the glorious Ottoman Empire are behind us. But during that period, weren’t we Turks always considered migrants as well?
The Election
Of course, we must follow such news warily, because in the last election, Donald Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, also led in all the polls. Those casting votes are not members of the entrenched media or deep state actors. They are nationalists, gun owners and a segment of the population opposed to Blacks and liberals. Moreover, evangelicals numbering almost 50 million are also on Trump’s side.
Trump Is More Suitable
As a Turkish citizen, I of course want Trump to be reelected. By all indications, if Trump is reelected, America will continue to turn inward. Trump says he will rejuvenate America’s aging infrastructure, building new roads and new airports. Biden, meanwhile, evokes the foreign policy strategy of Barack Obama’s administration that we found so disturbing — proxy wars, support of terrorism and the stoking of instability. Biden has given no indication that he will deviate from this playbook. Add to this that it is not yet clear who Biden’s running mate will be.
Migrant Drownings
While we follow developments in American politics, the number of migrants who drowned in the capsized boat on Lake Van appears to be confirmed at 59. But then, news items about celebrities and the beautiful people on the beaches of Bodrum are more interesting than the fates of 59 unfortunate migrants.
Islamic Prayers at Hagia Sophia
The most interesting situation in Turkish political life, meanwhile, involves the topics main opposition parties are fixating on and steering toward the general assembly. For example, on the current agenda of the Republican People’s Party is the thorny issue of whether its leader, Muharrem Ince, should bear sole responsibility for praying at Hagia Sophia. Yes, we live in difficult and confusing times. The defeats of the final chapter in the glorious Ottoman Empire are behind us. But during that period, weren’t we Turks always considered migrants as well?
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