East And West Are Coming Together. Whether

I Think It's Horrible That We Turks Are Always Seen Under The Aspect Of Islam First. I Am Constantly Asked About Religion, And Almost Always With A Negative Undercurrent That Makes Me Furious.

The Bloody Years Of War And All The Atrocities In European History Have Taught The Europeans That Secular Politics Free Of Religious Hatred Is Mainly A Question Of Peace. This Concept Is Not Anchored In The Same Way In The Consciousness Of Turks, Which Has To Do With The Fact That The Secular Was Forced Upon Us By The Army.

The Real Choice We Have To Make Is Between Peace And Nationalism.

National Consciousness Is Truly A Miraculous Thing. When I Am Not In Turkey I Feel Even More Turkish Than In Istanbul. But When I'm Home My European Side Becomes More Apparent.

Any Intelligent Person Knows That Life Is A Beautiful Thing And That The Purpose Of Life Is To Be Happy," Said My Father As He Watched The Three Beauties. "but It Seems Only Idiots Are Ever Happy. How Can We Explain This?