Friday, March 19 we traveled on to Ankara. There we visited the great monument to the "Father of Turkey", Ataturk.
Ataturk had a humble beginning as a farm boy in the countryside. He was born Mustafa Kemal and lived a humble life. He became a great military leader as a man and lead several very successful campaigns. He became active in the revolution in the 1920s and when the Sultan skulked out of Istanbul Mustafa Kemal was elected president.
Many changes and reforms were implemented by the new president. He moved the capital from Istanbul to Ankara, decided that the western style alphabet would be used, as well as the western calendar. He dictated that all people would adopt last names and he was given Ataturk as his last name. Ataturk means "Father of Turkey". The fez was banned and men were instructed to wear western style hats. Modern European attire was required and religion-based attire was discouraged. Ataturk declared Turkey to be a secular state and stated that religion and the law of the nation would be separate.
The monument to Ataturk is very large. It contains a museum tracing Ataturk's life and outlining his social policies and changes, as well as his military accomplishments. I was quite impressed by some of the things he said. He was very forward thinking.
The highest part of the monument is an open-air rom which houses the tomb of Ataturk. Everything is guarded by solemn young men in uniform, rifles in hand.
I went to the Ataturk monument with a low opinion of Ataturk as a womanizing drunkard. I came away with a new respect for a man who implemented major social changes in a short time with little turmoil. He may not have walked the walk, but he sure did talk the talk. I like the values he promulgated.
Ataturk had a humble beginning as a farm boy in the countryside. He was born Mustafa Kemal and lived a humble life. He became a great military leader as a man and lead several very successful campaigns. He became active in the revolution in the 1920s and when the Sultan skulked out of Istanbul Mustafa Kemal was elected president.
Many changes and reforms were implemented by the new president. He moved the capital from Istanbul to Ankara, decided that the western style alphabet would be used, as well as the western calendar. He dictated that all people would adopt last names and he was given Ataturk as his last name. Ataturk means "Father of Turkey". The fez was banned and men were instructed to wear western style hats. Modern European attire was required and religion-based attire was discouraged. Ataturk declared Turkey to be a secular state and stated that religion and the law of the nation would be separate.
The monument to Ataturk is very large. It contains a museum tracing Ataturk's life and outlining his social policies and changes, as well as his military accomplishments. I was quite impressed by some of the things he said. He was very forward thinking.The highest part of the monument is an open-air rom which houses the tomb of Ataturk. Everything is guarded by solemn young men in uniform, rifles in hand.
I went to the Ataturk monument with a low opinion of Ataturk as a womanizing drunkard. I came away with a new respect for a man who implemented major social changes in a short time with little turmoil. He may not have walked the walk, but he sure did talk the talk. I like the values he promulgated.
No comments:
Post a Comment