Nermin Aydemir JTW Columnist printable version send your friend message to author add comment ()

Friday, 9 January 2009

Membership negotiations, between Turkey and the EU started in the end. Neither the rather strong nationalist shows nor the populist attacks of many European leaders succeeded to hinder this. Thanks to the good sense of diplomats and politicians from both sides.

The relationship has overcome a serious threat indeed. Many European politicians did not avoid using the issue of Turkey in their inner political calculations. Many did not avoid giving speeches about how a superior civilization the “undiluted” Europe is. Defining the membership of Turkey as an ordinary accession process of a more or less different culture was almost an indispensable fault, could break ties with the whole Islamic, Turkish and Eastern worlds in an era in which people need peaceful co existence more than ever. Thanks to the common sense. This is not a simple case of accession of a large country.  It will be not an exaggeration to say that civilizations choose the path of coming together in an era, in which the clash of civilizations is persistently promoted.

 The general attitude of the public in Europe is also another reason for raising hopes nowadays. The emphasis put on the peaceful co-existence in the Netherlands is a very good example for this progress. As it is known, the Netherlands is one of the countries which suffered very much from the raise of extreme nationalism, and particularly Islamaphobia since the beginning of 2000’s. Last year was the zenith of the hate against foreigners in the country of tolerance. The worldwide reputation of the Dutch multiculturalism was seriously challenged, especially after the murder of Theo van Gogh in November, 2004. But now, the Dutch should be congratulated in their efforts in fighting these problems.

The populist party of extreme nationalist Pim Fortuyn dissolved seriously, after the success in elections in 2002. Group Wilders which is only a bad imitation of the List of Pim Fortuyn is struggling to survive with only one seat in the parliament. The though policies of the Minister of Integration and Minorities, Rita Verdonk, against immigrants is no more welcomed in the Dutch society as it was before. On the contrary, meetings are held, in which thousands of people strictly criticize her though attitude against migrants in meetings. People carry slogans saying the Dutch had enough with racism and supporting the multicultural character of the country of windmills. The government did not watch the raise of extreme nationalism with silent consent, but made great effort to protect the liberal values in the centre of tolerance. Commissions have been developed in municipalities in the Dutch country to preserve the tolerance for immigrants in this society after the death of van Gogh. Muslim people celebrate their holly month Ramadan also with their “original” Dutch neighbours. The Dutch prime minister congratulated the Ramadan. Special comities are being established for preventing discrimination against Muslims in the Netherlands.

The Dutch railway association is nowadays doing something that puts even these into shadow. Posters are put in almost all railway stations, expressing excuses from the Jewish for their sending to concentration camps of Hitler. One is reminding people that the Jewish had been sent to Auschwitz 50 years ago, from the station they are. The other is saying “in the 40’s the Jewish had to go away, who now?” and telling not to let hatred rise again. Photographs of the Jewish are everywhere in stations,  and make us gather once more how people look like when going to death! And how great is the damage people can give to themselves. Nobody gained from the exaggerated nationalism in those years, nor will people gain today. The Dutch public opinion faced serious disturbances recent years but the Dutch people are doing something really wise. They try to show how people turned into killing machines only 50 years ago.
To conclude, thanks to the wise politics of the Dutch after long agitations.   Hope is raising again. The base of the terrorists and terrorist growing centres are dissolving day by day. In this context, the ethnic minorities in this country should also seriously collaborate with all these promising attempts to keep the peaceful coexistence of the country of tolerance today. The Netherlands is too beautiful to be left for a few extremists or their terrorist counterparts. Who knows, may be people going their work will feel safe again instead of being terrified every time when hearing the announcements “please watch your luggage carefully, never leave it unattended…”